Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Red Wings are on break until Monday, and their bye coming just days before the March 1 trade deadline could alter the makeup of the team.

The expansion draft will play a role in trade activity this year, as teams could lose a player to the Vegas Golden Knights in the June 21 expansion draft. . Teams can protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and a goaltender. Vegas must pick at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies, but can only pick one player from each of the existing 30 NHL franchises. Protections lists are due June 17. Vegas must submit selections by June 20.

The Wings are expected to use the 11-player formula. Today’s focal point: Forwards.

More Wings:

Best bet for Detroit Red Wings? Start selling, then start losing

Who are the top prospects in the 2017 NHL draft?

Exempt: Dylan Larkin (because he only has played two years of pro hockey).

Protect: Justin Abdelkader, Andreas Athanasiou, Anthony Mantha, Frans Nielsen, Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar (wouldn’t be a surprise if Nyquist or Tatar traded, opening up a spot) and Henrik Zetterberg. Why Zetterberg? Zetterberg could seem an unlikely choice for Vegas because he will be 37 when next season begins and he is signed through 2020-21 at an annual salary cap hit of $6.08 million. However, his actual salary in 2018-19 is $3.35 million, and then a million each of the last two seasons. He is an exemplary leader who still delivers on ice, and as such might appeal to Vegas general manager George McPhee. Now, if Zetterberg develops injury problems down the stretch, there'd be less risk to expose him.

Expose: Darren Helm, Tomas Jurco, Luke Glendening, Riley Sheahan. Helm has just six goals and 11 points in 32 games and is signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $3.85 million. The jury still is out on whether Jurco can establish himself in the NHL. He isn’t a grinder. Can he score if given a chance on a skill line? His development has stalled, but it’s worth remembering he is only 24. Glendening is fast, but he doesn't play with the edge he displayed his first couple of seasons. He is signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $1.8 million. Sheahan has gone 58 games without scoring a goal this season. He is the go-to guy against opposing big centers because of his size.

Dilemma: If Nyquist or Tatar is traded, do the Wings protect Helm or Sheahan? Helm is a serviceable top-nine forward, but Sheahan has the appeal of being five years younger. Plus, Sheahan has one year left on his contract, at $2.075 million. The possible play: give Sheahan a chance to show this season is an aberration, and if it is not, then he is off the books in 2018.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.