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.Cheap NFL Jerseys .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. MLB Jerseys From China . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.wholesalejerseyscheap.net/ . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. 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NFL Jerseys China Authentic .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team.MOSCOW, Idaho -- Aaron Duckworth ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns to help Idaho stave off a second-half charge from Montana State, 20-17, in the season opener for each team on Thursday night.Both of Duckworths scoring runs came in the first quarter, including a 43-yarder which gave the Vandals a 10-7 lead -- which they held the rest of the night.Matt Linehan threw for 128 yards and Austin Rehkow kicked field goals of 44 and 34 yards for the Vandals.The Bobcats Chad Newell raan for 105 yards and a touchdown, and Tyler Bruggman threw for 191 yards and a 12-yard scoring toss to Justin Paige.ddddddddddddMontana State cut Idahos advantage to 20-17 with 9:22 left after a 3-yard TD run by Newell. After stopping the Vandals on fourth-and-1 with 5:21 remaining the Bobcats had a final opportunity to win it, but went three-and-out. ' ' '