Quote:
Originally Posted by Burner
where do the expansion teams fall in the regular draft??
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Every expansion has been slightly different...
- 1991 was the Lindros draft, so the existing teams wanted to protect the first overall that year, so San Jose picked second in the first round, but first in all the other rounds.
- In 1992, Ottawa and Tampa got the top two picks in each round, alternating in each round.
- In 1993, Anaheim and Florida didn't get to pick until 4th and 5th each round.
- In 1998, Nashville had the 2nd pick in each round (Florida won the lottery to pick first overall, bumping the Preds back to 3rd for the first round).
- In 1999, Atlanta had the 2nd pick in each round.
- In 2000, Minnesota and Columbus had the 2nd and 3rd picks in each round, alternating in each round (the Islanders won the lottery, bumping them back by one in the first round).
Based on that, I'd guess that any expansion team(s) will get the 2nd/3rd picks in each round after the first, with the top three spots in the first round being awarded in the lottery. The expansion teams will likely not be in the lottery, so they'd be bumped back three in the first round.