I don't mind the way this is shaking up. For the contentious issues, this is how I would like to see it happen:
- Drafted players not under contract should not be eligible. They are not yet employees of the NHL. You can make a case for players from the CHL, as they need to be under contract 2 years after draft or re-enter the draft anyways. That is where the expansion teams should have a shot at those players, like everyone else, at the draft. Plus you get into grey areas with the NCAA players, I would just prefer to avoid it all together. You don't want teams trying to coerce kids to leave school before they want to/are ready just so they can avoid the expansion draft.
- NTC/NMC players are eligible for the draft, but they must waive to go to the team. So it's a risk to take them, but also a risk to expose them. If Vegas wants to blow a pick on a player that may not waive, fine. If the Predators want to leave Weber exposed and risk having him waive, that's up to them.
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