Expansion has been a hot button issue in the National Hockey League over the past few years, and now, all signs are pointing towards the NHL not only expanding to 33 teams, but 34 as well in the coming years.
While nothing is yet confirmed, reports coming out of NHL insiders has revealed it's a matter of when, not if expansion will happen, so the question now becomes, how would this effect the Calgary Flames?
So today, we'll have a fun look at expansion for the first time since 2021, and while expansion is at least 2-3 years away, we'll choose the players that the Flames would protect if expansion were happening before the 2026/27 season.
Rules: 7 forwards, 3 defenseman, 1 goalie or 8 total skaters and 1 goaltender to be protected. Players with two or less seasons as a professional are exempt from being selected. Players with a no-movement clause will need to be protected by the team unless they agree to waive.
Today, we'll be going the 7/3/1 route, and given the Flames youth, this will allow them to keep the most possible exciting young talent, with the core remaining in tact even if there were two hypothetical expansion drafts happening at the same time.
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