What happened: Under the formats used for Vegas and Seattle, clubs could protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters and one goalie. A player could waive an active clause solely for expansion-draft purposes while retaining broader trade protection.
Why it matters: Mandatory slots reduce a club’s flexibility and may leave a more valuable teammate exposed. Any future expansion process would establish its own eligibility rules and contract cutoff dates.
By the numbers: The two most recent expansion drafts offered protection totals of 11 players under the position-based format or nine under the eight-skater format.
What to watch: Watch for a formal expansion process and the publication of protection rules. Contract language may become a larger issue once draft dates are established.