Malhotra Ripe for Picking

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

With the expansion draft on the horizon, people around the Rovers knew that there was very little chance that those facing unrestricted free agency would be protected by the club. Veterans Mark Recchi, Cory Stillman, and Sean Hill all knew that they would be facing the possibility of being selected by a new club. However, late word from the commissioner's office regarding the status of two young players forced the club into a difficult decision, one which will likely see Manny Malhotra in an expansion uniform very soon.

The ruling was on the status of forwards Alexander Frolov and Adam Hall, whom the club had thought were exempt from the expansion draft under the 10 RHL game rule (each having played less than 10 regular season games in RHL14). However, upon further clarification that the rule included playoff games in a given year, both required protection and forced the decision on Malhotra. "Basically we were caught a bit off guard", Stringer said of the ruling, "but I guess that was something that I should have sought clarification on two seasons ago. I didn't. So then it came down to (Jeff) Halpern or Malhotra. We want to give ourselves every chance to retain Jeff through the auction process".

Halpern did not have his salary demand met by the team, so he will be testing free agency with the Rovers having the right to match. In making this move, the club risks losing Malhotra and then not being able to retain Halpern, however they feel that trying to keep Halpern is that important. Malhotra joins the aforementioned Recchi, Stillman, Hill, and goaltender Johan Hedberg as Rovers eligible for selection in the expansion draft. Forwards Demitra, Draper, Jokinen, Legwand, Halpern, Frolov, Laaksonen, Murray, and Hall, defenseman Pronger, Markov, Johnsson, Regehr, and Brewer, and goaltender Marty Gerber have all been protected, while forwards Bergeron and Horton, defensemen Liles, and Montador, and goaltender Chris Mason are exempt from selection.