A future ruling by the NHL looms large over the expansion-draft decisions of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Right winger?David Clarkson is among the five players listed on the official protection list that the league distributed to all 31 clubs last month.Thats because Clarkson has a no-movement clause, just like teammates Brandon Dubinsky, Sergei Bobrovsky, Nick Foligno and Scott Hartnell. All five are on the list of 66 names who must be protected for the expansion draft -- which is June 17 -- unless they waive their no-movement clause.Clarkson, 32, hasnt played since March 11 and is once again on long-term injured reserve. He has three more years on his deal after this season at a $5.25 million cap hit. Needless to say, the last thing the Jackets want to do is use one of their protected list spots on him.Teams have two format choices for their protected lists: either 7-3-1 (seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie) or 8-1 (eight skaters regardless of position and a goalie).At some point, the NHL will rule on injured players such as Clarkson, Nathan Horton (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Ryane Clowe (New Jersey Devils), all three of whom are on the list of 66 protected players.Expansion draft rules have provisions allowing us to accord certain contracts different treatments in cases where a player is suspected of having career-ending injuries, deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to ESPN.com last month.That doesnt mean, of course, the ruling will be the same for all three players. Clowe is on the Devils coaching staff now, so his player career is clearly over. It seems almost impossible that Horton will play again. So the Devils and Leafs might get favorable rulings there. As for Clarkson, who knows? Maybe hell play again, maybe not.In any case, should the NHL for whatever reason rule that the Jackets still must protect Clarkson, Columbus will have to hope it can convince him to waive his no-movement clause.Or what if the new Vegas franchise actually wanted Clarkson -- for no other reason than using his cap hit would help the Golden Knights reach the minimum payroll number the league has set? Its food for thought.Lets have some fun here and predict who will be on Columbus protected list while assuming, for now, that somehow it wont have to protect Clarkson. Well go with the 7-3-1 format route:ForwardThe Jackets must protect Hartnell, Foligno and Dubinsky, per their no-move clauses. Id also protect?Brandon Saad, Cam Atkinson, Alexander Wennberg and Boone Jenner. That would expose the likes of William Karlsson, Josh Anderson and Matt Calvert.Now, I suppose you also have to ask, what to do with Hartnell, 34, who has two more years on his deal after this season at a $4.75 million cap hit? Do you ask him to waive his no-move (or buy him out) and protect Karlsson, Anderson or Calvert again?The organizations top forward prospects -- the ones of note anyway -- are all exempt, by the way.?Prospects are off the table, as are first- and second-year players.DefenseId protect Seth Jones and Ryan Murray, for sure. Then the Blue Jackets have to decide between Jack Johnson and David Savard. Id go with Savard, who is three years younger, but thats a tough call. One of those two guys will get exposed if they go the 7-3-1 route. Youngsters such as Zach Werenski and Markus Nutivaara are exempt and dont need protection.GoalBobrovsky, of course, is already protected, but its worth mentioning that AHL prospects Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg are both eligible for the expansion draft. So Vegas would have a crack at either one. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Jerome-Brown-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Corey-Graham-Jersey/ . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Sidney-Jones-Jersey/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Donnel-Pumphrey-Jersey/ . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Customized/ . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1.Soomin Lee continued his bogey-free start to the week to open up a three-shot advantage after another weather-disrupted day at the Shenzhen International. Latest leaderboard Shenzhen International The South Korean, who held a share of the overnight lead alongside Alexander Levy, followed his opening-round 66 with a birdie-filled 65 at Genzon Golf Club to move clear of nearest challenger Joost Luiten.Five hours of play was lost due to two separate thunderstorms on Friday, with the majority of the field yet to finish and 36 players unable to get their second rounds underway before play was suspended due to darkness. Lee made a fast start with three consecutive birdies from the 11th, before a hat-trick of gains around the turn lifted him above Luiten at the top of the leaderboard. Joost Luiten reached the turn in 30 Luiten, who has finished inside the top-10 in five of his last eight events, holed his approach at the 11th and added four straight birdies from the 15th to close a back-nine 30.The world No 64 moved seven undder through 11 holes before the threat of lightning saw play suspended, adding another birdie from five feet at the fourth before carding two blemishes along the closing stretch.dddddddddddd The two bogeys left Luiten on 10 under for the week and extended Lees cushion over the chasing pack, as he finished with a seventh birdie of the day at the par-five ninth. Irelands Paul Dunne was three shots further back alongside South Africas Brandon Stone after the pair carded rounds of 69 and 70 respectively. Dunne heads in to the weekend six strokes off the pace Overnight joint-leader Levy managed just three holes before play was suspended and shares fifth spot with Lee Slattery, while Bubba Watson birdied the only hole he completed. Victor Dubuisson, three under for the tournament, withdrew with a hand injury during his round after hitting his tee shot deep into trees at the second.Watch the Shenzhen International throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: R1 recap: Levy goes low First round highlights Shenzhen Intl leaderboard Golf live on Sky Sports 4 Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '