Theoretical "Expansion Draft" implications - Who to protect?

[DSM 114]

With all of this expansion chatter, I thought it might be interesting to see what a possible Expansion Draft could look like for the Red Wings. I also think it might be interesting to see who some of you would/not protect in a potential draft.

Since there has not been an expansion in the salary cap era, there really aren’t any rules to go by. For the sake of consistency, I figured we could use the rules from the 2000 Expansion Draft with tweaks tailored around the post 2005 lockout CBA(s). Also keep in mind that this would theoretically happen in June 2015.

Here are the rules from the 2000 Expansion Draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_NHL_Expansion_Draft):

“26 of the 28 teams existing in the league at the time of the draft were each allowed to protect either one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards. The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators had their entire rosters protected, as they were the two newest franchises in the league, only being in existence for one and two years respectively.

For teams protecting only one goaltender, there was no experience requirement for those left unprotected. For teams protecting two goaltenders, each goaltender left unprotected must have appeared in either 10 NHL games in the 1999–2000 season or 25 games in the 1998–99 season and 1999–2000 seasons combined. A goaltender had to be in net for at least 31 minutes in each game for the game to be counted against these totals.

At least one defenceman left unprotected by each team had to have appeared in at least 40 games in the 1999–2000 season or 70 games in the 1998–99 season and 1999–2000 seasons combined. At least two forwards left unprotected by each team had to have met the same requirements.

52 players were chosen in the draft, two from each participating franchise. Only one goaltender or one defenseman could be selected from each franchise. Both the Blue Jackets and the Wild were to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards. The final two picks for each team could be any position.”

What is not included in the rules from Wikipedia, are factors that excluded certain players from the draft (https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/alt.sports.hockey.nhl.mn-wild/HhMC1-4oqvU):

“Exempt from the Expansion Draft are (i) all first and second-year pros and
(ii) unsigned draft choices (except unsigned draft choices drafted from
European clubs in the 1996 Entry Draft or before and who remain unsigned).”

Based on these, that would mean that all of the Red Wings unsigned draft picks (mostly from 2013 and 2014 drafts, along with any unsigned college level players from previous drafts) along with:

G: Coreau, Paterson

D: Backman, Hicketts, Jensen, Marchenko, Nedomlel, Ouellet, Sproul

F: Athanasiou, Bertuzzi, Campbell, Frk, Mantha, Nastasiuk, Tvrdon

Noticeably absent are Teemu Pulkkinen and Tomas Nosek. Here is my logic behind this:

-For the sake of contract and waivers, the league already views Pulkkinen as a “3^rd year pro”. Even though he has only been in GR for two full seasons, the first year of his entry level deal was 2012-13, where the Red Wings assigned him back to his Finnish pro team rather than GR. That season counted against his waiver exemption, therefore I’m assuming it will count here.

-Nosek is a case that would not have been possible in the ’98-2000 expansion drafts. Before the 2005 CBA, all European players HAD to be drafted. Afterwards, the rules were changed and non-NA players fell under the same draft requirements as NA players, in that they were no longer required to be drafted after they turned 20 by a certain date, and could be freely signed by any NHL team, basically like a UFA (ie Ville Leino, Gustavsson, Brunnstrom). I’m not really sure how the league will view Nosek. By the June 2015 date of the “theoretical” draft, he will 23 with one year of NA pro experience and two years pro level in Europe. I’m going to assume that the league will count non-NHL contracted “pro-level” experience (AHL, ECHL, KHL, SML, SEL etc…) under the “first and second year pro” for undrafted players over a certain age. For this draft, we’ll make it 23.

Other conditions:

-I’m not sure how they worked in the previous expansion drafts, but I’m going to say that teams will have no choice but to protect players that have an active “No MOVEMENT Clause”. I would think that the NHLPA would raise a stink about these players moving to the expansion club, when their contracts were signed under the pre-tense that they could not be traded or waived without their consent. However, a player with a “No TRADE Clause”, can be left unprotected, since their clause only protects them from a trade. The expansion draft is a lot like waivers, which a team can still place a player with a NTC on without consent. Therefore, the Red Wings would have to include Pavel Datsyuk, Jimmy Howard and Stephen Weiss on their protected list.

-Not that it matters much, but I’m also going to assume that Adam Almquist comes into play as well. The rights to experienced unsigned European prospects were subject to availability in the previous expansion drafts. Since the Red Wings will hold onto Almquists NHL rights until July 1, 2016, and has 3+ years of “pro” experience, he will be subject to availability.

-Not that it really matters in the sake of protecting players, but I'm guessing the league will probably want the expansion team to select a combination of players with contracts that will have them operate above the salary floor atleast until free agency begins July 1, 2015.

So basically, here’s the game:

Pick a format: (1G 5D 9F) or (2G 3D 7F), or do both. Then decide which players to protect/not, remembering that:

-NMC Players have to be protected (Datsyuk, Howard and Weiss)

-If you protect 2 goalies, one that has played atleast 10 games in 2014-15 or 25 in 13-14 and 14-15 combined has to be left unprotected (Basically Gustavsson is your only option…)

-In either format, atleast one Dman and two forwards left unprotected have to have atleast 40 games of experience in 2014-15 or 70 in 13-14 and 14-15 combined. (Nearly impossible not to…)

Players subject to availability:

G: Gustavsson, Howard (NMC), McCollum, Mrazek

D: Almquist, Dekeyser, Ericsson, Kindl, Kronwall, Lashoff, Quincey, Smith

F: Abdelkader, Andersson, Aubry, Callahan, Cleary, Datsyuk (NMC), Ferraro, Franzen, Glendening, Helm, Jurco, Miele, Miller, Nosek, Porter, Pulkkinen, Sheahan, Tatar, Weiss (NMC), Zetterberg

With the proposed scenario (Howard having to be protected because of NMC), a lot of who the Red Wings protect rides on how much they value Mrazek. Do they think he’s such a large part of the future that they can afford to lose a current core player to keep him, or do they leave him unprotected to not lose a core player?

Here’s my thoughts for both:

1-5-9 Format Protected

G: Howard

D: DeKeyser, Ericsson, Kindl, Kronwall, Smith

F: Abdelkader, Datsyuk, Helm, Jurco, Nyquist, Sheahan, Tatar, Weiss, Zetterberg

2-3-7 Format Protected

G: Howard, Mrazek

D: DeKeyser, Kronwall, Smith

F: Datsyuk, Jurco, Nyquist, Sheahan, Tatar, Weiss, Zetterberg

For the record, I didn’t leave Franzen unprotected because I don’t want him, I did it because I’m assuming the building expansion team wouldn’t want to take on an aging player with five years left on his contract and would find more value in taking Mrazek or one of the Wings Dmen (obviously depending on format…)

How would everyone else do it?

[rick zombo 3,739]

If we lose Mrazek, Helm, Ericsson, or Abdlekader because that "Count Von Count meets Gollum" lookalike ******* troll want to put a rink beside a blackjack table, I'm going postal.

That being said, I'd go with

2-3-7

and do exactly what you did except I'd protect either Helm or Abdlekader over Weiss.

[DSM 114]

If we lose Mrazek, Helm, Ericsson, or Abdlekader because that "Count Von Count meets Gollum" lookalike f****** troll want to put a rink beside a blackjack table, I'm going postal.

That being said, I'd go with

2-3-7

and do exactly what you did except I'd protect either Helm or Abdlekader over Weiss.

That's assuming they can leave Weiss unprotected. I left Abdelkader and Helm unprotected since they are both UFA'S in 2016. I'm assuming that the expansion team would pass over them in favor of something more long term, or take one but then send them back in exchange for something more fruitful (Ala Doug Brown for Petr Sykora after the '98 expansion draft). Edited December 9, 2014 by DSM

[LeftWinger 4,961]

Teams only allowed to lose 1 player? Then everyone else is protected thereafter?

PLEASE TAKE FRANZEN!!!!

(I can honestly see Holland protecting Franzen and exposing a better player.)

Edited December 9, 2014 by LeftWinger

[nawein 324]

What about Larkin? What's the rules on college players?

[The Greek 323]

I would rather pretend that this isn't a possibility. God, I hate the idea of expansion.

[DSM 114]

Teams only allowed to lose 1 player? Then everyone else is protected thereafter?

Yes. Unless it's a two team expansion like 2000. But even then, you could only lose two players and only one could be a goalie or dman.

What about Larkin? What's the rules on college players?

He is exempt for a long time... He fits under where I said "unsigned draft picks". Any player still in juniors or college would be exempt.

Basically any player the Red Wings drafted in 2013 or 2014 doesn't even get mentioned in a June 2015 expansion draft.

I would rather pretend that this isn't a possibility. God, I hate the idea of expansion.

Agreed.However, I'm thinking Gary does not agree... Edited December 9, 2014 by DSM

[Jesusberg 1,256]

I would basically go with the 2-3-7 format, and those who were selected, but two things pop out at me.

#1: I wonder if Columbus and Minny would be protected. They've been around since 2000, so I'm not so sure they should be. With four extra teams to take talent from, I wonder if the number of players drafted would still be 26. If not, some teams could only have one player selected from their team (though, I imagine they could bump it to 30 players to keep it "fair").

#2: By the time this happens, neither Gustavsson or McCollum (not that he meets the criteria right now) will be under contract - both of their contracts expire this off-season. I wonder if Detroit (if it's legal/possible) goes out and signs an older vet to keep in the system with the possibility of expansion looming, thus protecting Howard and Mrazek. Otherwise, the team doesn't have a goaltender that meets the 10 game minimum criteria, unless I'm missing something here.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Jesusberg

[nawein 324]

For some reason my brain left me and I thought he signed, which obviously isn't possible. In that case, I'd go with your 2-3-7 choices.

[DSM 114]

I would basically go with the 2-3-7 format, and those who were selected, but two things pop out at me.

#1: I wonder if Columbus and Minny would be protected. They've been around since 2000, so I'm not so sure they should be. With four extra teams to take talent from, I wonder if the number of players drafted would still be 26. If not, some teams could only have one player selected from their team (though, I imagine they could bump it to 30 players to keep it "fair").

#2: By the time this happens, neither Gustavsson or McCollum (not that he meets the criteria right now) will be under contract - both of their contracts expire this off-season. I wonder if Detroit (if it's legal/possible) goes out and signs an older vet to keep in the system with the possibility of expansion looming, thus protecting Howard and Mrazek. Otherwise, the team doesn't have a goaltender that meets the 10 game minimum criteria, unless I'm missing something here.

I would think CBS and MIN would be included. In the '98 expansion, the Ducks, Sharks, Lightning, Panthers etc. took part and they were all expansions in the early 90's.

The ten game minimum criteria is confusing to me as well. For this "theoretical" situation in which the draft takes place this coming June, Gustavsson and McCollum could still get claimed.

*It looks like the Wiki rules mean to say "each team that is protecting 2 goalies, needs to expose atleast one with the experience requirements". They are more clearly stated in the second link I posted.

It was basically stating that at minimum, each team had to leave available at least one goalie, one defensemen and two forwards with certain experience.

ONE GOALTENDER

-For clubs protecting one goaltender, no experience requirement.

-For clubs protecting two goaltenders, either 10 NHL games played in the

1999-2000 season or 25 NHL games played over the last two seasons (1998-99

and 1999-2000).

A goaltender must have played in a minimum of 31 minutes in a game before it

would qualify as a game played for these purposes.

Games played include regular season and playoff games.

ONE DEFENSEMAN

-Either 40 NHL games played in the 1999-2000 season or 70 NHL games played

over the last two seasons (1998-99 and 1999-2000).

Games played include regular season and playoff games.

TWO FORWARDS

- Either 40 NHL games played in the 1999-2000 season or 70 NHL

games played over the last two seasons (1998-99 and 1999-2000).

Edited December 9, 2014 by DSM

[Jesusberg 1,256]

I would think CBS and MIN would be included. In the '98 expansion, the Ducks, Sharks, Lightning, Panthers etc. took part and they were all expansions in the early 90's.

The ten game minimum criteria is confusing to me as well. For this "theoretical" situation in which the draft takes place this coming June, Gustavsson and McCollum could still get claimed.

If we're protecting two, does McCollum even count? He's played one game in the NHL.

For some reason, I was thinking July and not June, hence me thinking Detroit could sign someone to protect their goaltenders right away. While I get this theoretical draft would occur this June, I imagine it's going to be next June or the one after (if this happens). I think it would be tough to find someone fitting the criteria to sign in Detroit's situation - it's all but certain that we're going to roll with Mrazek as the back-up next season. Someone like Fasth or McElhinney could meet the requirements (depending on how much they play this season), but it's hard to imagine they'd be up for playing in the AHL. I'm assuming that if they don't have a 3rd goaltender that meets the 10/25 game criteria, they'd have to expose one of Howie or Mrazek? Bleh if so.

[DSM 114]

If we're protecting two, does McCollum even count? He's played one game in the NHL.

For some reason, I was thinking July and not June, hence me thinking Detroit could sign someone to protect their goaltenders right away. While I get this theoretical draft would occur this June, I imagine it's going to be next June or the one after (if this happens). I think it would be tough to find someone fitting the criteria to sign in Detroit's situation - it's all but certain that we're going to roll with Mrazek as the back-up next season. Someone like Fasth or McElhinney could meet the requirements (depending on how much they play this season), but it's hard to imagine they'd be up for playing in the AHL. I'm assuming that if they don't have a 3rd goaltender that meets the 10/25 game criteria, they'd have to expose one of Howie or Mrazek? Bleh if so.

McCollum counts, as in he would be available to choose, but not towards the 10/25 game experience.

If this draft did happen this summer in June, Gustavsson fits the bill perfectly since impending UFA's count. Mike Richter actually got claimed in one of the drafts, but became a UFA a week later and re-signed with the Rangers. Leaving him unprotected allowed the Rangers to protect more players.

The Red WIngs managed this back then by hanging onto guys like Maracle and Hodson, and at one point trading for Bill Ranford.

You are correct though. In order for the the Wings to protect both Howard and Mrazek, they would need a goalie that they can expose. If they came upon a situation where they didn't have one, they could either trade for one at the trade deadline or aqcuire an impending UFA goalies rights before the expansion draft to expose.

You bring up a good point about a 2016 expansion draft though... Maybe if an Expansion draft is looming, the Red Wings might keep Mrazek in GR for 15-16, and sign a cheap backup for Howard for a year so that they have someone to expose. Interesting thought...

Edited December 9, 2014 by DSM

[Jesusberg 1,256]

McCollum counts, as in he would be available to choose, but not towards the 10/25 game experience.

If this draft did happen this summer in June, Gustavsson fits the bill perfectly since impending UFA's count. Mike Richter actually got claimed in one of the drafts, but became a UFA a week later and re-signed with the Rangers. Leaving him unprotected allowed the Rangers to protect more players.

The Red WIngs managed this back then by hanging onto guys like Maracle and Hodson, and at one point trading for Bill Ranford.

You bring up a good point about a 2016 expansion draft though... Maybe if an Expansion draft is looming, the Red Wings might keep Mrazek in GR for 15-16, and sign a cheap backup for Howard for a year so that they have someone to expose. Interesting thought...

I get that we would be fine if it were this season, but I feel like it's going to be pushed back a year or so. I would be absolutely shocked if there was an expansion draft this June. That's where I'm worried, as we won't have a goaltender who has the experience requirements outside of Howard and Mrazek. Though, as you mentioned, they could keep Petr in the minors for another season. Not exactly an ideal situation for the Wings.

Alternatively, they could swing a deal for a vet goalie (like the Ranford situation) before the expansion draft. Giving up assets just to protect your goaltenders isn't exactly ideal either, though. Goaltending really is the only situation I'm worried about at this point. It would suck to lose Helm or Abdelkader, but not as much as losing Howard or Mrazek. I almost envy a team like Toronto - "Here, take Reimer. Go right ahead."

[DSM 114]

I get that we would be fine if it were this season, but I feel like it's going to be pushed back a year or so. I would be absolutely shocked if there was an expansion draft this June. That's where I'm worried, as we won't have a goaltender who has the experience requirements outside of Howard and Mrazek. Though, as you mentioned, they could keep Petr in the minors for another season. Not exactly an ideal situation for the Wings.

Alternatively, they could swing a deal for a vet goalie (like the Ranford situation) before the expansion draft. Giving up assets just to protect your goaltenders isn't exactly ideal either, though. Goaltending really is the only situation I'm worried about at this point. It would suck to lose Helm or Abdelkader, but not as much as losing Howard or Mrazek. I almost envy a team like Toronto - "Here, take Reimer. Go right ahead."

Then again, giving up those assets to protect a better asset is an OK situation when you are going to lose something measureable anyway. Coughing up a middling prospect or a 4th rounder to bring in a McElhinney type before the expansion draft would be way better than having to expose Mrazek or Howard, who would both go claimed without hesitation....

You are right though, no way an expansion happens until atleast June 2016. Nashville built an arena in 1996 and made their presentation the the NHL in 1997. The NHL made their announcement in June of that year, and put the draft in June 1998. That gave teams plenty of time to prepare.

I just made this as a hypothetical "What if", to give "GM's" bored with NHL15 a voice. lol

Edited December 9, 2014 by DSM

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

I would basically go with the 2-3-7 format, and those who were selected, but two things pop out at me.

#1: I wonder if Columbus and Minny would be protected. They've been around since 2000, so I'm not so sure they should be. With four extra teams to take talent from, I wonder if the number of players drafted would still be 26. If not, some teams could only have one player selected from their team (though, I imagine they could bump it to 30 players to keep it "fair").

#2: By the time this happens, neither Gustavsson or McCollum (not that he meets the criteria right now) will be under contract - both of their contracts expire this off-season. I wonder if Detroit (if it's legal/possible) goes out and signs an older vet to keep in the system with the possibility of expansion looming, thus protecting Howard and Mrazek. Otherwise, the team doesn't have a goaltender that meets the 10 game minimum criteria, unless I'm missing something here.

Mrazek is out of waiver options after this season. That wouldn't work.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Mrazek is out of waiver options after this season. That wouldn't work.

"Petr Mrazek's waiver exemption of 5 year(s) and 73 games remains in place through to the end of the 2015-16 season. However, that exemption will end immediately when he appears in 73 career NHL regular season and playoff game(s). He has played in 14, meaning he is 59 away from his exemption ending."

http://www.capgeek.com/waiver-calculator/?player_submit=1&player_id=2134

Edited December 9, 2014 by Jesusberg

[DSM 114]

Again, this is all "theoretically" based on an (unlikely to actually happen) June 2015 expansion draft based on the rules for the last expansion drafts.

It's also unlikely that those rules would be the formula for a "Cap Era" expansion draft. Two things didn't exist during the last expansions: The salary cap and the notion of "higher league parity".

I wouldn't be surprised if the league adds new provisions for a salary cap expansion.

The first thing to consider is that the expansion team would need to reach the minimum salary floor. The league probably knows that the expansion team won't have a snowballs chance in hell to compete in the now thin UFA market and would struggle to reach the cap floor without having provisions in the expansion draft. They would also want the new team to atleast be able to compete on level with basement level teams. Something they can't do with one draft worth of prospects and the pack of career AHL players or mediocre veterans that moved in the '98-2000 expansion drafts.

My guess is that the league will also put in rules stating that teams have to expose a certain number of players that have a cap hit over a certain level and/or a certain number of years remaining on their contract. Something like:

Each team must leave unprotected atleast:

-Four players (1G, 1D, 2F)

-One of which is under contract for atleast the next season with a cap hit at or over $3.5m

-One of which is under contract for alteast the next season with a cap hit from $2m-$3.5m

-Two of which are under contract for atleast the next season with a cap hit from $700k($150k over league minimum)-$2m

Then the league would mandate that the expansion team take a certain number of players that meet each criteria, like: Atleast 3 of the $3.5M+ players exposed and 5 from the $2m-$3.5m category, and atleast 7 from the $700k+ category.

Would be a good opportunity for some teams to offload bad contracts (ala Lecavalier), but also guarantees the expansion team atleast a small amount of NHL talent for their inaugural season, and a jump start at meeting the salary floor for their first season (most likely in the same fashion Edmonton did this past season, by overpaying mediocre UFA's like Nikitin and Pouliot!).

[DSM 114]

"Petr Mrazek's waiver exemption of 5 year(s) and 73 games remains in place through to the end of the 2015-16 season. However, that exemption will end immediately when he appears in 73 career NHL regular season and playoff game(s). He has played in 14, meaning he is 59 away from his exemption ending."

http://www.capgeek.com/waiver-calculator/?player_submit=1&player_id=2134

Beat me to it. Goalies get an extra year over skaters of the same age. Both Howard and Ryan Miller spent four in the AHL for Detroit and Buffalo before losing theirs. Since Mrazek signed only a year after being drafted, he got five years.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Again, this is all "theoretically" based on an (unlikely to actually happen) June 2015 expansion draft based on the rules for the last expansion drafts.

It's also unlikely that those rules would be the formula for a "Cap Era" expansion draft. Two things didn't exist during the last expansions: The salary cap and the notion of "higher league parity".

I wouldn't be surprised if the league adds new provisions for a salary cap expansion.

The first thing to consider is that the expansion team would need to reach the minimum salary floor. The league probably knows that the expansion team won't have a snowballs chance in hell to compete in the now thin UFA market and would struggle to reach the cap floor without having provisions in the expansion draft. They would also want the new team to atleast be able to compete on level with basement level teams. Something they can't do with one draft worth of prospects and the pack of career AHL players or mediocre veterans that moved in the '98-2000 expansion drafts.

My guess is that the league will also put in rules stating that teams have to expose a certain number of players that have a cap hit over a certain level and/or a certain number of years remaining on their contract. Something like:

Each team must leave unprotected atleast:

-Four players (1G, 1D, 2F)

-One of which is under contract for atleast the next season with a cap hit at or over $3.5m

-One of which is under contract for alteast the next season with a cap hit from $2m-$3.5m

-Two of which are under contract for atleast the next season with a cap hit from $700k($150k over league minimum)-$2m

Then the league would mandate that the expansion team take a certain number of players that meet each criteria, like: Atleast 3 of the $3.5M+ players exposed and 5 from the $2m-$3.5m category, and atleast 7 from the $700k+ category.

Would be a good opportunity for some teams to offload bad contracts (ala Lecavalier), but also guarantees the expansion team atleast a small amount of NHL talent for their inaugural season, and a jump start at meeting the salary floor for their first season (most likely in the same fashion Edmonton did this past season, by overpaying mediocre UFA's like Nikitin and Pouliot!).

I agree that they may attach some conditions for the players being exposed, but I don't think there would be any shortage of those "bad contracts" available (Semin, Mike Richards, Brian Campbell and Matt Carle come to mind). While I think teams should have a minimum amount of salary exposed, if the criteria is too specific, it's going to handcuff a good number of teams. For example, outside of Michal Neuvirth, Buffalo doesn't have another player in the 2.0-3.5 range.

I think the onus should really be on the expansion teams. They can overpay UFA's, make deals, etc., but I agree there should be a minimum amount of cap dollars made available - maybe not just so specific on the number of players and their ranges. It's another obstacle (the cap), but I think teams would be relieved to unload some of their contracts for sure.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Jesusberg

[DSM 114]

I agree that they may attach some conditions for the players being exposed, but I don't think there would be any shortage of those "bad contracts" available (Semin, Mike Richards, Brian Campbell and Matt Carle come to mind). While I think teams should have a minimum amount of salary exposed, if the criteria is too specific, it's going to handcuff a good number of teams. For example, outside of Michal Neuvirth, Buffalo doesn't have another player in the 2.0-3.5 range.

I think the onus should really be on the expansion teams. They can overpay UFA's, make deals, etc., but I agree there should be a minimum amount of cap dollars made available - maybe not just so specific on the number of players and their ranges. It's another obstacle (the cap), but I think teams would be relieved to unload some of their contracts for sure.

Another good point.

I just threw that out there. Maybe instead of players salaries, it would hinge on leaving a certain percentage of the teams projected salary cap from one way contracts for the next season unprotected. Obviously that would also be combined with factors based on experience.

I would think that the League would do whatever they can to keep the new team from being hamstrung by untradeable bad contracts that would keep them a bottom feeding team for years. UFA'S already get way overpaid every summer. The expansion team would have to go even beyond that. Having to pay a Dman like Kyle Quincey top pairing dollars would be the path to another Atlanta Thrashers, which I'm sure Bettman does not want...

[DickieDunn 2,571]

There is no way the new team is going to be ready to draft next summer. They are just starting to see of it's feasible, I'm not sure I'd they even have an arena built, much less a team name season ticket base, sales reps, GM, or anything else a team needs.

[DSM 114]

There is no way the new team is going to be ready to draft next summer. They are just starting to see of it's feasible, I'm not sure I'd they even have an arena built, much less a team name season ticket base, sales reps, GM, or anything else a team needs.

Very true. As I said before, this is more a less a "What if". I'd seen some articles on other hockey sites, where they discussed what players certain teams may hypothetically expose. Even though I did expect everyone here to just immediately throw out Franzen and Weiss.

Edited December 10, 2014 by DSM

[DickieDunn 2,571]

The Franzen hate is ridiculous. I'd probably leave him exposed if I could only protect 7 forwards, but not because of his play. Is much rather lose Helm.

[Guest DeGraa55]

The Franzen hate is ridiculous. I'd probably leave him exposed if I could only protect 7 forwards, but not because of his play. Is much rather lose Helm.

But if it's in a few years...

Z dat nyquist Tatar Weiss jurco Sheahan would all be better to keep.

Few more years add in mantha Larkin and a few other potentials. But minus dat.

Franzen qualifies perfectly for the 3.5m+ contract....

[DSM 114]

But if it's in a few years...

Z dat nyquist Tatar Weiss jurco Sheahan would all be better to keep.

Few more years add in mantha Larkin and a few other potentials. But minus dat.

Franzen qualifies perfectly for the 3.5m+ contract....

I would think they'd leave him exposed anyway. My guess is that they'd figure the expansion team would find his age and contract unattractive for a team that will be trying to build a core.

IIRC, the Red Wings left Larry Murphy unprotected for atleast the 1999 and 2000 expansion drafts. In the seasons preceding the drafts, he had scored 10 goals each time and had 52 and 40 points respectively. However, he was passed over for a mediocre backup goalie (Norm Maracle) in 1999, and two AHL forwards (Darryl Laplante and Stacy Roest) in 2000.

Edited December 10, 2014 by DSM