Seattle Hockey: Way too early mock expansion draft version 1.0
In a little over a year from now, the Seattle hockey expansion draft takes place. Here is a way too early mock draft.
Welcome to Pacific Northwest Sports first “Way Too Early” mock expansion draft for the still-unnamed Seattle hockey team. The sports world is turned on its head due to COVID-19, and leagues are scrambling to find ways to start/continue their seasons.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman rolled out hockey’s return to play, which will take place this summer at neutral locations. The bad news is the 2020-21 season will get pushed back a month or two, but the good news is that it shouldn’t entirely derail the planned Seattle hockey expansion draft.
Until the 2019-20 season finally ends and teams go through free agency and arbitration this summer/fall, drafting a team is exceedingly difficult. That’s why we call it way too early. However difficult it may be for us, it’s likely tripled for GM Ron Francis and his staff. Per the set expansion draft rules, there are many perimeters existing teams must follow when submitting their protected lists.
Rules
One of the biggest criteria is that teams may protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, one goalie, or eight skaters, one goalie. At least two forwards and one defenseman, with a contract for the 2021-22 season, must be exposed. Finally, teams have to make available one goaltender, who is either signed or is a restricted free agent for that season. At this point, there are precious few players that even qualify, let alone leave unprotected.
Because of the restricted pool, its almost impossible to put the whole thing together, so a few modifications are necessary. For this mock draft, all players who are unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2020 or 2021 seasons can’t be protected. However, players who are restricted free agents after the 2020-21 season can be protected.
As contracts are signed, players moved via free agency or trade, and the rumored amnesty buyouts go forward, we will get a better picture of who will be available. Additionally, there is no way to account for trades Francis makes or backroom deals he puts together before and during the draft. For now, with the help of Capfriendly.com’s Expansion Draft Simulator, this is our preliminary team.