Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Yeah, but Bettman is saying he wants these expansion teams to be more competitive right off the hop. If that's the case, we might be looking at something like:
1 G
4 D
6 F
And that makes decisions a lot tougher.
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In which case every team would have to expose either a top-6 forward, or their best forward prospect.
Likewise, every team would have to expose either a top-4 blueliner, or their top defence prospect.
So the expansion teams would consist of nothing but top-6 forwards, top-4 defencemen, and blue-chip prospects.
Plus a 1st or 2nd overall pick.
You wouldn't be handing them the Stanley Cup on a platter exactly, but if a GM can't parley that into a championship you'd have to seriously question his ability to tie his shoes.
Either your NHL roster or your prospect base is completely open to being raided.
At the very VERY least, the NHL has to continue allowing ELCs to be automatically protected.