Here are your Nashville Predators

Protected lists

As expected Nashville's general manager David Poile selected maximum five goalies. He is going to trade some of them in a quest for a solid line-up.

Here are the 26 players picked by the Predators: G Frederic Chabot, LOS G Mike Dunham, NJD G Mike Richter, NYR G Mikhail Shtalenkov, ANA G Tomas Vokoun, MON D Joel Bouchard, CGY D Bob Boughner, BUF D J.J. Daigneault, NYI D Al Iafrate, SAN D Uwe Krupp, COL D John Slaney, PHO D Rob Zettler, TOR F Chris Armstrong, FLA F Blair Atcheynum, STL F Paul Brosseau, TAM F Doug Brown, DET F Andrew Brunette, WAS F Patrick Cote, DAL F Jeff Daniels, CAR F Craig Darby, PHI F Doug Friedman, EDM F Tony Hrkac, PIT F Greg Johnson, CHI F Denny Lambert, OTT F Mike Sullivan, BOS F Scott Walker, VAN

"When you're given 26 selections, it was never our goal to take 26 good NHL players," Poile said.

"There'll be some players that may not make it to Nashville. There are some that are signed for minor-league purposes. There is a lot that goes into making up our team. Today was just a starting point."

The biggest names on among Nashville's picks were G Mike Richter from the NY Rangers and D Uwe Krupp from Colorado, both will be unrestricted free agents July 1. However, even if the Predators fail to sign them, they will receive a compensatory draft pick in 1999 Entry Draft.

The Rangers left Richter unprotected because they believe they can sign him anyway as a free agent. Also the Rangers can't lose a goalie in 1999 expansion draft to the Atlanta Trashers because they "lost" a goalie this year.

"We have taken him for the compensatory pick, which we believe, based on this year's compensatory picks, will be a high second-round draft choice," Poile said of Richter. "I firmly think the Rangers are going to try to sign him, will sign him.

"Uwe Krupp is in the same situation," he continued. "That is something I may have a comment on a little later on. We do get a compensatory pick with that and there may be something else that goes with that situation."