I think there's a good chance 2-3 of Pageau, Tierney, and Dzingel will be dealt away for picks/prospects. Pageau is a UFA in 2020, Tierney in 2021, and Dzingel this off season. So all of their contracts expire prior to the expansion draft. Given we're a budget team looking to spend 8-9 million each on Stone and Duchene, I'd be surprised if we kept all three of them. I'd like to keep Pageau the most out of all 3, but I think with the emergence of White as a possible long term 2C, Pageau might price himself out of Ottawa as a top level 3C.
So while that list is expansive now, I don't think we'll have any issues protecting our forwards. While it'd be great if Balcers, Chlapik, and Brown all become top 6 players, the odds are much greater that at least 1 of them tops out as a third liner or even busts. 2.5 years is a lot of time to find that out. With that in mind, I doubt we have a real great piece unprotected up front. If we do, it's almost a good problem to have at that point.
