This was in October 2016, some eight months ahead of the expansion draft that would stock the Vegas operation due to commence play in 2017-18.
The protection rules were stringent. For a $500 million entry fee, the NHL was not about to produce a latter-day version of the 12-60-6 first-year, 1972-73 Islanders or the 8-67-5 first-year, 1974-75 version of the Caps or the 10-70-4 inaugural, 1992-93 version of the Senators.
No sir. The parity-obsessed league meant to reward William Foley, its newest club owner, with a roster that would be able to contend as quickly as possible.