Blues release protected list for 2021 Expansion Draft

Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong has made a decision on which players will make up his protected list for the
2021 NHL Expansion Draft, which will be held Wednesday, July 21
at 7 p.m.
Fans can watch coverage on ESPN2 or listen to coverage on 101 ESPN from 6 until 8 p.m.

Teams were given the option to protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and one goaltender.
Just as he did in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft for the Vegas Golden Knights, Armstrong chose the first option, which allowed him to protect 11 players rather than nine.

PROTECTED LIST

Fowards
Ivan Barbashev
Jordan Kyrou
Ryan O'Reilly
David Perron
Brayden Schenn
Oskar Sundqvist
Robert Thomas
Defense
Justin Faulk
Torey Krug
Colton Parayko
Goalie
Jordan Binnington
On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken will NOT be able to select any of the players listed above.
In addition, it's important to note that all first-and second-year players are exempt from the Expansion Draft and do not need to be protected.
Exempt players and prospects, regardless of whether they are upcoming restricted or unrestricted free agents, are:

EXEMPT

Forwards
Nikita Alexandrov
Erik Foley
Dakota Joshua
Klim Kostin
Mathias Laferriere
Hugh McGing
Jake Neighbours
Evan Polei
Alexei Toropchenko
Keean Washkurak
Defense
Scott Perunovich
Tyler Tucker
Goalies
Colten Ellis
Joel Hofer
That leaves the following players available for Seattle to choose in Wednesday's Expansion Draft. The Kraken will only be able to select one player from the list below.

AVAILABLE

Forwards
Sam Anas
Sammy Blais
Tyler Bozak
Kyle Clifford
Mike Hoffman
Tanner Kaspick
Mackenzie MacEachern
Curtis McKenzie
Austin Poganski
Zach Sanford
Jaden Schwartz
Nolan Stevens
Vladimir Tarasenko
Nathan Walker
Defense
Robert Bortuzzo
Vince Dunn
Niko Mikkola
Mitch Reinke
Steven Santini
Marco Scandella
Jake Walman
Goalies
Evan Fitzpatrick
Jon Gillies
Ville Husso