The Inevitable NHL Expansion

[Josh]

The next NHL expansion draft is becoming reality. The league openly accepting proposals was obviously the first hurdle, and now today the GMs were all presented with the framework for potential expansion draft scenarios.

https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-general...on/c-279662234

Bettman makes some interesting comments about not being on any specific timeline while stating somewhat of one; he says that the earliest expansion teams could play is 2017-18 and that if it's not in the works by June of this year, it would be 2018-19 or later.

[thedaigle1]

Turris
Zibanejad
Pageau
Stone
Hoffman
Lazar
Paul

Karlsson
Ceci
Wideman

Anderson

Ryan, MacArthur, Methot, and Phaneuf have large enough contratcs that I wouldn't worry too much.

My guess is that Smith gets taken.

[Josh]

I have a feeling only one team will join the league for now - Las Vegas. That would mean each team can only lose one player. Ottawa could swing a deal where we give up a draft pick in order to protect an additional player.

[Josh]

Would O'Conner need to be protected?

[thedaigle1]

Players with under two years service time would be untouchable. Rookies/prospects are thus off the board. Still no idea how NTC/NMC's will work.

[Alfie11]

Going into this expansion draft, the Sens should figure out their identity as a team. They're spending $25M on Phaneuf-Methot-Ryan-MacArthur. Considering our internal budget, that's huge. I don't have a big problem with any of the players, but they have a chance to dump one of them if they're not a fan of their play.

[Josh]

Players with under two years service time would be untouchable. Rookies/prospects are thus off the board. Still no idea how NTC/NMC's will work.

Two years service time as a pro. Since he's playing in the AHL, wouldn't he then need to be protected?

[thedaigle1]

Two years service time as a pro. Since he's playing in the AHL, wouldn't he then need to be protected?

Depending when expansion happens, Anderson/Hammond will be pending UFA's so maybe O'Connor gets protected instead.

[Alfie11]

O'Connor might not even be worth the time by next year. I understand Binghamton had a rough season, but 8-17-2 with a .892SV% and a 3.34GAA doesn't really scream protect to me.

[matchesmalone]

O'Connor might not even be worth the time by next year. I understand Binghamton had a rough season, but 8-17-2 with a .892SV% and a 3.34GAA doesn't really scream protect to me.

Perhaps. He was also still a rookie pro, but he'll have to do a lot of developing, fast, if he's ever going to be an NHL goalie. Not sure why all the talk/hype about him anyway. I suppose it makes sense to put him higher on the depth chart because of age, it has been pretty clear all along that Marcus Hogberg is our top goaltending prospects, and while Chris Driedger is a little riskier, perhaps has the highest ceiling of them all. Based on this season, I would take both of them ahead of O'Connor.

[thedaigle1]

For me the bottom line is that an expansion team would be crazy not to nab a goalie from Anaheim or Tampa. Their are half a dozen other teams I'd look at stealing a #2 goalie from before Ottawa.

[Alfie11]

Perhaps. He was also still a rookie pro, but he'll have to do a lot of developing, fast, if he's ever going to be an NHL goalie. Not sure why all the talk/hype about him anyway. I suppose it makes sense to put him higher on the depth chart because of age, it has been pretty clear all along that Marcus Hogberg is our top goaltending prospects, and while Chris Driedger is a little riskier, perhaps has the highest ceiling of them all. Based on this season, I would take both of them ahead of O'Connor.

Exactly. O'Connor could be a good goalie one day, but before worrying about losing him, I'm worrying about him actually being a good prospect.

[Alfie11]

For me the bottom line is that an expansion team would be crazy not to nab a goalie from Anaheim or Tampa. Their are half a dozen other teams I'd look at stealing a #2 goalie from before Ottawa.

This is another good point. Although every teams fan base worries about losing their players in an expansion draft, we need to look at it from Vegas' POV. It's highly unlikely that Matt O'Connor will be the best available option come draft time.

[Josh]

It's all but official: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nh...041755540.html

Las Vegas in for 2017-2018.

Teams will not need to protect NMC players that expire in the summer of '17 - i.e. Chris Neil.

[matchesmalone]

Ugh. 31 teams? Vegas but no Seattle?

For crying out loud NHL, do the sensible thing: two expansion teams, one in Vegas, one in Seattle. 16 teams in the East, 16 in the West.

... Obviously Seattle would have to apply for an expansion team first but, I mean, come on. It just makes too much sense not to happen soon.