Potential Expansion Draft Rules

[Frank E]

That means at least, right?  Because that math only adds up to 26 players, and they have to pick 30.

That's the likeliest conclusion.

Given your post contains an unusual, for you, conflict, I would suggest amending it forthwith.  I would propose the wording "at minimum", or "at least".

You have my explicit permission to use either of my wordings. 

 

[herman]

That means at least, right?  Because that math only adds up to 26 players, and they have to pick 30.

That's the likeliest conclusion.

Given your post contains an unusual, for you, conflict, I would suggest amending it forthwith.  I would propose the wording "at minimum", or "at least".

You have my explicit permission to use either of my wordings.

Given that I copied that off NHL.com's post about the Expansion, I think you might have to take it up with them.

 

[Kin]

So apparently there's a stretch next week where all deals are frozen except for deals getting done with Vegas. Which, I'll be honest, I don't really understand.

 

[herman]

So apparently there's a stretch next week where all deals are frozen except for deals getting done with Vegas. Which, I'll be honest, I don't really understand.

With the protection lists being submitted inside that window, I think they wanted to limit the variables while Vegas decides. Submitting your list and then shuffling your unprotected (or protected) players during that time period would be rather unfun to GM VGK.

 

[Zee]

So apparently there's a stretch next week where all deals are frozen except for deals getting done with Vegas. Which, I'll be honest, I don't really understand.

With the protection lists being submitted inside that window, I think they wanted to limit the variables while Vegas decides. Submitting your list and then shuffling your unprotected (or protected) players during that time period would be rather unfun to GM VGK.

It would have to be that way wouldn't it?  Once Vegas gets a list of who is available, they would expect players to remain in place until they make their choices.  Not like other teams would just sit idly around, they can still talk to each other and work out deals that can't be announced/done until after the freeze is over.

 

[Kin]

So apparently there's a stretch next week where all deals are frozen except for deals getting done with Vegas. Which, I'll be honest, I don't really understand.

With the protection lists being submitted inside that window, I think they wanted to limit the variables while Vegas decides. Submitting your list and then shuffling your unprotected (or protected) players during that time period would be rather unfun to GM VGK.

Having a certain point after which GMs can't make moves that would alter the lists they submit makes a ton of sense. I'm wondering why you'd extent that to stop deals that applied to exempt players or draft picks.

 

[herman]

Having a certain point after which GMs can't make moves that would alter the lists they submit makes a ton of sense. I'm wondering why you'd extent that to stop deals that applied to exempt players or draft picks.

I'm guessing moves aren't likely to only involve exempt/protected players, and the ones that do can stand to wait a couple more days. Makes the logistics of the operation (approving deals) a whole lot easier on the league and puts the focus on the belle of the ball.

 

[Kin]

I'm guessing moves aren't likely to only involve exempt/protected players, and the ones that do can stand to wait a couple more days.

Right but I'd have figured the guys at the NHL offices were smart enough to figure out a policy that says teams can't make moves that affect their lists but otherwise can.

See? I did it in 15 seconds and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't detract from the mountains of press coverage Vegas' acquiring 3rd round picks will generate.

The NHL is a big operation with smart people. I don't think they always need to crush ants with sledgehammers.

 

[Zee]

I'm guessing moves aren't likely to only involve exempt/protected players, and the ones that do can stand to wait a couple more days.

Right but I'd have figured the guys at the NHL offices were smart enough to figure out a policy that says teams can't make moves that affect their lists but otherwise can.

See? I did it in 15 seconds and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't detract from the mountains of press coverage Vegas' acquiring 3rd round picks will generate.

The NHL is a big operation with smart people. I don't think they always need to crush ants with sledgehammers.

What's wrong with having all the focus on Vegas and the intrigue that comes with that for a few days at least.  Maybe they only acquire mid level picks, maybe they work out something bigger.  At least it's a talking point and gets fans in all cities excited to see what McPhee will do.  Not like they're shutting down activity for a month.

 

[Kin]

What's wrong with having all the focus on Vegas and the intrigue that comes with that for a few days at least.  Maybe they only acquire mid level picks, maybe they work out something bigger.  At least it's a talking point and gets fans in all cities excited to see what McPhee will do.  Not like they're shutting down activity for a month.

I think you're wildly overstating the interest in this regardless. The people who are interested in what Vegas is going to do before the expansion draft will be interested regardless of what other teams do and the people who aren't won't be. In those days I'm pretty confident that I'm still going to be more intrigued by what the Leafs do at the draft and free agency than anything McPhee does.

 

[Zee]

What's wrong with having all the focus on Vegas and the intrigue that comes with that for a few days at least.  Maybe they only acquire mid level picks, maybe they work out something bigger.  At least it's a talking point and gets fans in all cities excited to see what McPhee will do.  Not like they're shutting down activity for a month.

I think you're wildly overstating the interest in this regardless. The people who are interested in what Vegas is going to do before the expansion draft will be interested regardless of what other teams do and the people who aren't won't be. In those days I'm pretty confident that I'm still going to be more intrigued by what the Leafs do at the draft and free agency than anything McPhee does.

Well I'm interested, and to be honest a 4 day freeze isn't that big a deal.  It's a shorter time period than they normally freeze during Christmas.  I like the format and I've been reading up on all the potential maneuvers that GMs might do in terms of cutting deals/protecting players.  This only happens once in a while.

 

[Kin]

Well I'm interested, and to be honest a 4 day freeze isn't that big a deal.  It's a shorter time period than they normally freeze during Christmas.  I like the format and I've been reading up on all the potential maneuvers that GMs might do in terms of cutting deals/protecting players.  This only happens once in a while.

I'm pretty confident I haven't said i think this is a "big deal" just that I think it's indicative of the league not having a very good grasp of nuance when it comes to problem solving or, indeed, that they don't do a great job of identifying what actually is a problem for them.

Like you said, you're interested in what Vegas does. Would you be less interested if San Jose and Dallas make a minor deal during that time frame? Do you think that San Jose and Dallas making a minor deal will make anyone who isn't interested in what Vegas does more so?

 

[Zee]

Well I'm interested, and to be honest a 4 day freeze isn't that big a deal.  It's a shorter time period than they normally freeze during Christmas.  I like the format and I've been reading up on all the potential maneuvers that GMs might do in terms of cutting deals/protecting players.  This only happens once in a while.

I'm pretty confident I haven't said i think this is a "big deal" just that I think it's indicative of the league not having a very good grasp of nuance when it comes to problem solving or, indeed, that they don't do a great job of identifying what actually is a problem for them.

Like you said, you're interested in what Vegas does. Would you be less interested if San Jose and Dallas make a minor deal during that time frame? Do you think that San Jose and Dallas making a minor deal will make anyone who isn't interested in what Vegas does more so?

Well you originally said you didn't understand why the freeze was in place.  I don't believe the NHL did it because they believed other trades would be a problem for the league to handle, I think they did it to focus all the attention on the new franchise that's entering the league.  To be honest I think it's the right move.  For 4 days the only moves will be through Vegas, and it centers around the NHL awards show, and just before the entry draft.  I think it's good for the league to highlight the new team like this, lord knows they'll be bad for awhile and this is about the only excitement they'll get in the near future.

 

[bustaheims]

I think you're wildly overstating the interest in this regardless. The people who are interested in what Vegas is going to do before the expansion draft will be interested regardless of what other teams do and the people who aren't won't be. In those days I'm pretty confident that I'm still going to be more intrigued by what the Leafs do at the draft and free agency than anything McPhee does.

Especially considering just about anything Vegas does before the expansion draft is not going to announced until the results of the expansion draft are announced. Once the transaction freeze hits, there will zero in terms of transactions being announced until after the NHL Awards/Expansion Draft Announcement Ceremony.

 

[Kin]

Well you originally said you didn't understand why the freeze was in place.  I don't believe the NHL did it because they believed other trades would be a problem for the league to handle, I think they did it to focus all the attention on the new franchise that's entering the league.

Right. I "don't understand it" as opposed to having a more nuanced and just as sensible policy. You talk like "the attention" is some finite resource that the NHL gets to choose how and where it's directed but like I've said, the idea that this will actually increase the interest in what Vegas is doing seems pretty hard to justify in any meaningful sense or that the reverse would somehow lessen the attention Vegas is getting.

What Vegas does will get coverage only if it's newsworthy. That's true regardless of what else is going on. If they make minor moves the Fan isn't going to run a 2 hour special on what Vegas did and if they make big moves that'll be mentioned just the same. Like I said, ants with a sledgehammer.

 

[Zee]

I think you're wildly overstating the interest in this regardless. The people who are interested in what Vegas is going to do before the expansion draft will be interested regardless of what other teams do and the people who aren't won't be. In those days I'm pretty confident that I'm still going to be more intrigued by what the Leafs do at the draft and free agency than anything McPhee does.

Especially considering just about anything Vegas does before the expansion draft is not going to announced until the results of the expansion draft are announced. Once the transaction freeze hits, there will zero in terms of transactions being announced until after the NHL Awards/Expansion Draft Announcement Ceremony.

Why would they wait to announce any transactions until the expansion roster is selected?  As far as I understand it, all transactions can be done with Vegas during the 4 days and announced as normal no?

 

[herman]

Right but I'd have figured the guys at the NHL offices were smart enough to figure out a policy that says teams can't make moves that affect their lists but otherwise can.

See? I did it in 15 seconds and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't detract from the mountains of press coverage Vegas' acquiring 3rd round picks will generate.

The NHL is a big operation with smart people. I don't think they always need to crush ants with sledgehammers.

I'm all for that; I think where my point of view on this is people are going to tend to want to be lazy, unless there is a prize to be had. I don't know that there is enough value or detriment one way or the other to warrant picking the route that has more work.

The trade freeze probably will put the rumour mill and rosterbators into overdrive. Even though it's a bit of a one-off, the NHL could have set up a roster pool contest on their website similar to the playoff bracket to drive interest/traffic with a nominal prize of new VGK jerseys or a heavier prize of trips to the first couple of games or something for the winner(s).

 

[bustaheims]

Why would they wait to announce any transactions until the expansion roster is selected?  As far as I understand it, all transactions can be done with Vegas during the 4 days and announced as normal no?

Because, the league has instructed that transactions aren't to be announced until the expansion draft results are announced.

 

[Zee]

Why would they wait to announce any transactions until the expansion roster is selected?  As far as I understand it, all transactions can be done with Vegas during the 4 days and announced as normal no?

Because, the league has instructed that transactions aren't to be announced until the expansion draft results are announced.

Damn, so it'll be 4 days of speculation and rumors.

 

[bustaheims]

Right but I'd have figured the guys at the NHL offices were smart enough to figure out a policy that says teams can't make moves that affect their lists but otherwise can.

Well, at that point, you're limiting deals to those that only involve players not eligible for the expansion draft and draft picks - which would essentially make for a trade freeze any way.