Rangers' Nick Holden: Protected in expansion draft

Holden is on the Rangers' protected list for Wednesday's expansion draft, the New York Daily News reports.

He's thus relatively well established as a member of the Rangers' defensive corps heading into next season. Holden came to New York this past offseason looking like he was well on his way to adopting the label of journeyman blueliner, but he rewarded the Rangers with the finest season of his career, picking up 11 goals and 23 assists along with a plus-13 rating in 80 games. He managed that with marginal power-play time, too. Of course, his sky-high 13.1 shooting percentage (on a meager total of 84 shots) will be hard to replicate, so Holden will surely look to increase the quantity of pucks he puts on net next season.