One of the big issues about doing the draft in June before the season has been either cancelled or concluded is how it hurts GM maneuverability with trades. This summer was a big one for GM Jeff Gorton and the Rangers. He has a host of RFA’s to make decisions on and the possible future of Henrik Lundqvist on his hands. Regardless of what the rules will be for this draft on trades, I am pretty sure moving roster players is not going to be possible.
Understanding the Expansion Rules
In a nutshell here is what you need to know from a Rangers perspective:
- The NYR can protect up to 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goaltender (teams can also choose to protect 9 at any position)
- If a player has a no-move/trade clauses they must be protected (unless they agree to waive it)
- If a player has 2 years or less experience in the AHL or NHL they are automatically exempt.