The NHL was a different operation back then, not nearly as sophisticated in so many ways compared to today, and the expansion draft was different, too. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights, blessed with ambitious ownership and a smart, experienced executive, used the expansion draft process to acquire enough good players that — incredibly — the team went to the Stanley Cup Final in its first year. The other positive thing you can say is that the NHL, first with the Vegas expansion and now through the process of bringing Seattle in, has made expansion a lot more interesting. Colorado’s Erik Johnson and Sabres winger Jeff Skinner also waived their no movement clauses and could go in the expansion draft. Expansion doesn’t make the NHL better.

Source: thestar July 16, 2021 21:00 UTC