Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Vail
I don't think there is a lot of worry about losing middling prospects like Hickey or Jankowski. An expansion team is only allowed to draft at max 23 players. They can't afford to draft these kinds of prospects if they hope to be competitive from day 1. Now, if there are guys who are clearly ready to step in, that is different. Project prospects don't help them.
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Do we know that? In 2000, each team took 26 players (1 from every team except Atlanta and Nashville, for obvious reasons).
I would think an expansion team would look to take around 14 NHL ready players, ~8 prospects ready to to compete for a job, and ~8 more that are a few years away.
If they did limit it to 23, 26, etc. teams, then the teams at the bottom of the standings should be exempt.