I'm just making up Kane as a possible trade commodity with Buffalo since the dollars are pretty comparable; I've heard nothing like that at all from the media. Which has nothing to do with the fact I seriously doubt the Pens want any part of him anyway. However, they could theoretically keep him the rest of the season and then expose him if they so chose. Of course, there's no way to know if McPhee would draft him (from the Sabres or the Pens).
But as a damaged (and apparently getting more damaged by the week) player, I see Kane as one of those for whom the Sabres likely will
never get what they feel as though he's worth.....based, if nothing else, on what they traded for him in the first place. For the record, Kane has no NTC of any type; meaning he could be exposed by Buffalo (which I seriously doubt they want to do, but might be so forced).
As for Flower,
the only thing we know for absolute certain is his NTC (like Sid's and Geno's and others) requires him to be protected in the expansion draft if he's still on the roster. And since teams can only protect
one goaltender, the Pens goaltender therefore
has to be Fleury.
In the alternative, MAF can agree to waive his NTC.....giving GMJR the ability to move him prior to the deadline (thereby giving them the opportunity to protect MM).....or he can put together a deal whereby McPhee agrees
not to grab an unprotected Matt Murray from the Pens. Without either of those situations being in place, the general consensus is that McPhee absolutely
will take Murray in the draft; quite possibly as his
1st pick.
Of course, you know all of this already (and are just more worried about getting to Florida than thinking it through)
But the short answer to your question above is
no; if MAF could be left unprotected in favor of Murray, there's little doubt that's precisely what the Pens would do.
Meanwhille, I find myself wondering how privately (and badly) GMJR wishes he could leave somebody like
Geno unprotected.