The Florida Panthers protected their defensive core from the upcoming NHL expansion draft _ but they left some scorers available to the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the list of protected players made public Sunday morning, the Panthers opted to protect eight skaters and a goalie instead of 10 players (seven forwards and three defensemen) to save one of their defensemen.
Florida kept Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad as expected but also held onto both Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic.
The Panthers also protected four of their core forwards in Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov, Nick Bjugstad and Vincent Trocheck.
Goalie James Reimer was also protected.
So, the Knights _ who will be coached by fired Panthers coach Gerard Gallant _ have a few options in the one Florida player it can select.
The NHL expansion draft and Vegas' initial roster will be unveiled during Wednesday's televised NHL Awards Show.
The Panthers left Jonathan Marchessault out there after he broke through last season by leading Florida with 30 goals. Marchessault is a free agent after this coming season.
Florida also left Reilly Smith exposed to Vegas after an uneven season in which he ended with 15 goals. Smith signed a new contract with the Panthers last summer and is signed through 2022.
Smith, 26, scored 25 goals in his first season with the Panthers in 2015-16.
Defensively, Jason Demers was also left available to the Knights less than a year after he joined the Panthers as a free agent from Dallas.
Demers signed a five-year deal with the Panthers on July 2.
Florida also left captain Derek MacKenzie and veteran forwards Jussi Jokinen and Colton Sceviour available.
The Panthers were rumored to be trying to move Marchessault on Saturday before the Vegas trade freeze went into affect.
Florida has also been mentioned as a team which may try and work a side deal with Vegas general manager George McPhee to perhaps protect a player or two on the exposed list.
The only NHL trades which can be completed this week have to include the Golden Knights.
THE VEGAS EXPANSION DRAFT
Florida Panthers
_Protected players (4 forwards, 4 defenseman, 1 goalie): Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad, Alex Petrovic, Mark Pysyk, James Reimer.
_Key players left unprotected: Jussi Jokinen, Derek MacKenzie, Jonathan Marchessault, Colton Sceviour, Michael Sgarbossa, Reilly Smith, Jason Demers, Roberto Luongo.
_Key free agents: Jaromir Jagr, Thomas Vanek, Jakub Kindl.
_Not eligible: Mike Matheson, Denis Malgin.
_Vegas selections: The Golden Knights will be able to select one player from each team's unprotected list. The team will unveil its initial roster with expansion draft picks during Wednesday's NHL Awards Show from Vegas (8 p.m., NBCSN).
