Protected Player List Available

The Bandits protected player list for the upcoming expansion draft is below. Interestingly, they did not protect a goalie.
http://www.nll.com/news/nll-announces-protected-player-lists-ahead-of-expansion-draft/

Protected:
Brownell Kevin (Defense)
Byrne Josh (Offense)
DeSnoo Mitch (Defense)
Durston Jordan (Offense)
Evans Shawn (Offense)
Hoggarth Thomas (Defense)
Jones Mitch (Offense)
Martin Justin (Defense)
Priolo Steve (Defense)
Smith Dhane (Offense)
Weiss Nick (Defense)

Available:
Acton Reid
Bennett Matthew
Bridle Dallas
Buque Alex
Cosmo Anthony
Diruscio Davide
England Craig
Fournier Ryan
Fraser Chase
Harris Vaughn
Herreweyers Zach
Higgins Zach
Kedoh-Hill Alex
Malloy Dylan
O’Brien Bill
Reid Zac
Schott Ethan
Steenhuis Mark
Wagner Ryan
Will Adam

 

Only major surprise is goalies. Then again, not sure it matters.
Maybe Buque goes to San Diego instead of Fraser.
Hoping Harris stays as well.

 

I hope Harris stays also. I get the feeling that Higgins, Buque, and Diruscio are pretty much interchangeable and their performance is more dependent on the defense in front of them. Buque was exciting to acquire at first and he may still be solid, but statistically there was basically no difference last year between him and Higgins. I'd be open to giving the Big Fish a real shot also.

 

Jack Goods' article with quotes from Chugger on the protected list: https://buffalonews.com/2018/07/03/bandits-opt-to-leave-all-three-goalies-unprotected-for-expansion-draft/

 

Yeah I’d hate to lose Harris or Fraser but what are you gonna do. Any one of the goalies can go, who cares.

 

Obviously the Bandits feel the same way you do.

 

My guess is that the Bandits lose Fraser and England (if the detached retina is healed). I just don't think they lose 1 of the goalies with Scigliano and Bold out there, and I don't see the Seals or Wings taking 2 goalies with their 9 picks.

 

Yeah, If there's a serviceable runner who's willing to report, you're probably right that neither team takes two goalies........You can't even really quantify how much better any of the goalies left unprotected would be than the goalie you can just sign after the first round of training camp cuts, so, grab a runner that can play and use a third round entry draft pick for your PS goalie.

This said, it sounds like Bold is setting up a business where he is, so, you have to wonder if his response to being drafted might be "GFY, I'm sitting out".

 

Will the expansion draft be broadcast/streamed anywhere?

 

We lose Harris and DiRuscio in the draft.

 

We reacquire Harris from Wings in exchange for Zac Reid.

We also trade Ethan Schott and 2nd round pick (#17) to Seals for Bryce Sweeting.

 

Glad to have Harris back. Possible over payment for Sweeting if the rumors about work commitments getting in the way are true. I did not think we had a second rounder this year. I thought we traded that pick to the Swarm to draft Schott last year.

 

My reading of this is that Harris is not back. On the draft the commissioner said Reid was traded in exchange for the Wings taking Harris in the draft. In Chuggers’ press release he thanked all four (Reid, Harris, Schott, and DiRuscio) for their time in Buffalo.

 

that's an odd deal......wonder who the wings were fixing to pick that necessitated such a move

 

Very strange indeed. Maybe one of the goalies? That might explain picking DiRuscio over Buque or Higgins.

 

Oops, the Wings were looking to take Fraser so they sent Reid to them in order to take Harris instead.

 

yeah, pieced that together from a few sources......maybe both GMs can call this a small win......Day still needs a shipload of NLL defencemen, but at least he came out of today with a guy that might count as one of those, plus a decent two way prospect.

Bandits keep the prospect that they were higher on.

 

Glad we were able to keep Fraser, I think he takes a big leap next season. Worth sending them a random run of the mill guy to keep him.

 

I'm glad they kept Fraser also. I wanted to keep the Big Fish as I think he's a good personality that I wanted to root for. The fact that neither team took Buque tells you they're not sold on him either. I wonder if Buffalo pursue any other goalies (if there's even any one out there). I'm thinking they're best bet is probably to shore up the defense and give it another go with Buque and Higgins. Even if they are average, they have to be better with a better defense in front of them.

 

It looks like Bold is a UFA.....would Buffalo fly him in to be in the mix with Buque and Higgins? Getting Sweeting from the Seals and then likely adding McKay and Gillray (if Chugger doesn't make a move for Austin Staats if Staats is declaring from the draft) would really upgrade the defense. They would be young but their futures are big.