Welcome to The Sin Bin 2017-18 NHL Mock Expansion Draft.

The draft will be structured in accordance to the rules of the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, updated to the current year. So, here’s how the draft will work.

Each existing NHL franchise will be allowed to protect a total of 12 or 15 players depending on their choice of two options.

  • 1 goalkeeper, 5 defensemen, 9 forwards (15 total players)
  • 2 goalkeepers, 3 defensemen, 7 forwards (12 total players)

There are also experience requirements that must be met each team in order to ensure the expansion draft pool is not completely devoid of talent.

  • Each team must leave at least ONE goaltender that appeared in 10 games or more last season (2014-15) or 25 games in the previous two seasons unprotected. **This only applies to teams that choose to protect two goaltenders. If only 1 goaltender is protected, this requirement does not apply.**
  • Each team must leave at least ONE defenseman that appeared in 40 games last season (2014-15) or 70 games in the previous two seasons.
  • Each team must leave at least TWO forwards that appeared in 40 games last season (2014-15) or 70 games in the previous two seasons.

A blogger from each team will represent their franchise for the protection portion of the draft. For example, Lowetide.ca will represent the Edmonton Oilers and will make all decisions on who will be protected and who will be left unprotected and thus available for us to draft.

The entire unprotected player pool will be available to see here, and will be updated as the draft progresses.

After the pool is set, Jason Pothier and Dana Lane of The Sin Bin will begin selecting their teams based on these criteria.

  • The first 24 picks must be used on… 3 goaltenders, 8 defenseman and 13 forwards. (The final six picks can be at any position)
  • Only ONE goaltender or ONE defenseman can be selected from an existing franchise.
  • No more than 2 players can be selected from any single franchise in the entire draft. (If Team Lane selects two Ducks, Team Pothier may not select any)

At the conclusion of the draft, a total of 60 players will be selected by each team representing two from each of the existing 30 current NHL teams.

Let the fun begin!!!