[News] Proposed expansion draft rules. Expansion decision expected before 2016 draft.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

How does expansion work as it relates to their minor league affiliate networks?

I don't think it matters much.

Players with NHL contracts will fall under the NHL expansion draft rules.

In general players with AHL/ECHL contracts sign at a year at a time so they have the flexibility to move to other teams as the parent's teams needs change.

[sureLoss]

LeBrun on TSN says unsigned draft picks 1 or 2 years from their draft are exempt. HOWEVER, if the unsigned draft pick is more than 2 years from their draft date, they need to be protected or will be exposed.

Huge implications for NCAA and some Euro prospects.

For example, with the Flames- Hickey could be exposed if he isn't signed after next season.

[JiriHrdina]

Flames have some of the worst depth in the league. On a relative basis I think they are amongst teams that will be hurt the least

[Canada 02]

might affect Ollas-Mattsson or Rafikov for the Flames; more generally later round picks. Probably not that big a deal

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

LeBrun on TSN says unsigned draft picks 1 or 2 years from their draft are exempt. HOWEVER, if the unsigned draft pick is more than 2 years from their draft date, they need to be protected or will be exposed.

Huge implications for NCAA and some Euro prospects.

For example, with the Flames- Hickey could be exposed if he isn't signed after next season.

Kind of dumb for them to go that route tbh. If I'm a college kid, I would probably be tempted to just test UFA if I'm claimed in an expansion draft. It's not like there will be any more opportunity with an expansion team as LV will likely have decent depth but nothing high end. Lots of serviceable players to climb over and LV won't even have the fact that they drafted the kid on their side to potentially generate loyalty.

Also, why would signing a Hickey protect him from the expansion draft? He's eligible because he was drafted 3 years ago but the drafting team just needs to sign him to 'reset the clock'? Makes no sense.

[browna]

Most of this has probably been stated in the thread before, but:

-I think the thing to remember through all this is that it's one player per team.

-For every potential unproven player that the Flames may lose, there are 30 teams having the same dilemma, and not everyone is losing a player.

-An "equalization draft", where every team could end up picking in some format during or after the expansion team would fill their roster, would be crazy cool.

Also, T Mobile Arena in Vegas opens in under 3 weeks...given that the announcement is before June, I think the decision for expansion is all but done, at least for LV first.

[CASe333]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Pat Falloon...when Scott Niedermayer and Peter Forsberg were still available. Ouch.

Yep ouch. I still have one of every Pat Falloon rookie cards in existence. Sadly the protectors are worth more now.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm thinking a parting of ways between Rogers and Bell with one getting the expansion team. In such an arrangement, I'm sure it would be worked out to each parties interests. What happens to the Raptors, Toronto FC, the Argos and their holdings would be interesting as well.

Yup. I've long held the same belief. It's the easiest, cleanest way to get a second team in the GTA.

As far as the rest of MLSE's assets go, I see two reasonable scenarios: The one I think more likely is that one party sells all of their shares in MLSE to the other in exchange for $x and the right to operate an NHL expansion team in the market.

The other possibility is to divide MLSE by facility. One side keeps the ACC, Leafs, Raptors and Rock. The other gets BMO Field, TFC, the Argos and the NHL expansion team.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Flames have some of the worst depth in the league. On a relative basis I think they are amongst teams that will be hurt the least

Kerr and Stenberg were debating this on the drive home last night, and if the draft were held today, they were struggling to protect 3D 7F.

But considering this will be held next year (most likely), that changes things.

Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Gio, Brodie and Hamilton are six right away. You probably want to protect Frolik as well. From there, you have to decide if you want to protect Jokipakka as your eighth, or look at guys like Ferland, Bouma, Hathaway (if he establishes as a regular) and the likes to fill the other three forward slots.

Someone like Jankowski is a really interesting case under the proposed rules. If an expansion draft were held today, we'd have to protect or risk losing him since he is more than two years out of the draft and unsigned. But if it were held next year, he would be ineligible as a first year pro.

[Alberta_Beef]

What I find interesting in all this is the suggestion that they could only expand by just a single team.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

What I find interesting in all this is the suggestion that they could only expand by just a single team.

That's the most likely scenario, imo. The NHL clearly wants a balanced 16-16 alignment, and to that end, the league pretty much set itself up for Las Vegas and Seattle expansion. The problem is that Seattle is dragging its heels trying to get the NBA first. My bet is that the GMs find out before the draft that Las Vegas is accepted, Quebec City is rejected, and the league will wait for Seattle to get its crap together. Or maybe Kansas City if an owner pops up.

Quebec City is being held in reserve for a potential relocation. The hitch there is that Florida's attendance is way up this year, so suddenly the risk of relocation is greatly diminished.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That's the most likely scenario, imo. The NHL clearly wants a balanced 16-16 alignment, and to that end, the league pretty much set itself up for Las Vegas and Seattle expansion. The problem is that Seattle is dragging its heels trying to get the NBA first. My bet is that the GMs find out before the draft that Las Vegas is accepted, Quebec City is rejected, and the league will wait for Seattle to get its crap together. Or maybe Kansas City if an owner pops up.

Quebec City is being held in reserve for a potential relocation. The hitch there is that Florida's attendance is way up this year, so suddenly the risk of relocation is greatly diminished.

Carolina's owner is bleeding money and has been trying to sell the team for a few years. It may come to the point where they might need to consider moving that team.

[Ashasx]

Why don't they just move Carolina to Vegas instead of adding a team the league doesn't need.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Carolina's owner is bleeding money and has been trying to sell the team for a few years. It may come to the point where they might need to consider moving that team.

Bring back the Whalers!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Why don't they just move Carolina to Vegas instead of adding a team the league doesn't need.

I can think of 500,000,000 reasons.

And who says it's not needed? The owners probably don't agree with you.

[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.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Carolina's owner is bleeding money and has been trying to sell the team for a few years. It may come to the point where they might need to consider moving that team.

True. Absent a quick turnaround on the ice and some playoff success, the Canes might parallel the Thrashers.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Carolina's owner is bleeding money and has been trying to sell the team for a few years. It may come to the point where they might need to consider moving that team.

I wouldn't rule out the Islanders either, they already want out of Brooklyn and have nowhere to go. The move out of Nassau has also alienated some of their fan base so moving from Brooklyn may not generate the same level of backlash as it would have before.

I would also suggest Seattle is a better idea for relocation as it gives them more time to get their arena problems fixed. But then again any of Portland, Kansas City or Houston would also be considered for relocation if they have an ownership group willing to buy or relocate them.

[cam_wmh]

What's the lease agreement like with PNC & the Hurricanes?
Easy to exit from, under financial duress?

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

LeBrun on TSN says unsigned draft picks 1 or 2 years from their draft are exempt. HOWEVER, if the unsigned draft pick is more than 2 years from their draft date, they need to be protected or will be exposed.

That's the dumbest. Just the dumbest. They're not even employees yet and yet the NHL wants to put them in an expansion draft?