Not only would this be the first expansion draft in the cap era, but the first since the free agency age dropped from 31. In today's game, entry level players and prospects hold a greater value than they ever did before. For this reason, the previous expansion draft rules are completely irrelevant.
I think they are proposing allowing teams to protect ~25/50 contract players, and 10 non-contract reserves (juniors, college, overseas) to be protected.
This would allow some teams (contenders) to protect more NHL players and others (rebuilders) to protect more prospects and youth.
There would have to be a minimum and maximum number of roster players and goaltenders protected in any scenario, and possibly a minimum level of cap (signed contracts under protection. For instance a team would have to protect a minimum of 5 roster players and $25M, and a maximum of 15 roster players and 2 organizational goaltenders.
Another possible contention could be timing of an expansion draft. In June? Before or after the draft? Status of pending UFAs? In July? Current year drafted (and possibly previous year drafted) players excluded (as the expansion franchise would have participated in that (those)draft(s))?
I'm quite sure that the desire from all parties would be to have an expansion team participate in 2 entry drafts, but would that be possible? If the BOG approves expansion in August, would a team be willing to wait 2yrs to start play?
And finally, an issue in the last 2 drafts was that expansion teams drafted players for other teams and then moved them in trade. Somebody suggested the Flames could choose to expose Gio because he would be ~34 and 5yrs remaining on contract. While an expansion team may have no interest in Gio, perhaps the oilers were to offer LV a 1st rounder to draft Gio and trade him. I feel there should be some protection for any active player drafted to have to play a minimum of 10games before being traded.
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