NHL Salary Cap Questions > Kesler protected for Expansion?
Kesler protected for Expansion?
Asked Dec 31, 2020 by Brandon B
I know Ryan Kesler still has a NMC, but since he is on LTIR and most likely will never play again, are the Ducks still forced to protect him in the expansion draft?
Answer
Dec 31, 2020
Players with No Move Clauses can waive it for the purposes of expansion, so Kesler could agree to waive it so Anaheim would not need to protect him. However, even if he did not agree to waive it, the League may also deem a player who has a career ending injury as "Exempt from Expansion" and therefore would not require protection. Either way, Anaheim will not need to protect Kesler in the expansion draft.
