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Vegas Golden Knights: NHL Releases List of Players Exempt from Expansion

By Richard Cardinale

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 22: A general view of the Las Vegas NHL team name Unveiling ceremony on November 22, 2016, at The Park at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Josh Holmberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 22: A general view of the Las Vegas NHL team name Unveiling ceremony on November 22, 2016, at The Park at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Josh Holmberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Vegas Golden Knights can’t select veterans who are LTIR eligible.

Let’s give a quick rundown of the rules of the expansion draft: 30 teams will ante up one player to the Vegas Golden Knights. Those 30 NHL franchises will have the choice of picking which players they’d like to protect from expansion.

Some young players who are on rookie contracts or haven’t played in the NHL are exempt from the draft. Another significant rule to take into consideration is the new expansion club has a minimum limit of players they can take at each position.

The Golden Knights minimum limit is 14 Forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders. After that, it’s up to Vegas to select whatever they want for their last four picks. The Golden Knights also have to take the minimum limit of 20 players under contract for the 17-18 campaign. Vegas has to reach the 60% cap limit as well just like any other NHL team. But the NHL added a new layer of rules to the expansion draft on Wednesday.

The NHL announced a list of veteran players the Golden Knights won’t be able to pick. All the players on the list are on the long-term injured reserve list and won’t be available to play in 17-18. So for example, if Team X were hoping Vegas would take a player contract on the long-term injured reserve for a draft pick, they better think again.

Here’s the full list according to Craig Custance:

Dave Bolland -Arizona
Craig Cunningham -Arizona
Chris Pronger -Arizona
Cody McCormick -Buffalo
David Clarkson -Columbus
Johan Franzen -Detroit
Joe Vitale -Detroit
Ryane Clowe -New Jersey
Mikhail Grabovski -NY Islanders
Pascal Dupuis -Penguins
Nathan Horton -Toronto
Stephane Robidas -Toronto

It’s a no-brainer list. I don’t see any of these players playing in 17-18 with their current ailments. Some of those players may never play the game again, unfortunately. Therefore, Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee can’t pick them just to reach the 60% limit of the salary cap.

Next: Three Potential Rivals for the Vegas Golden Knights.

It’s not a big rule by any means, but it’s a rule McPhee must follow. This rule ensures that the Vegas Golden Knights will have to make “real” picks instead of wasting a few just to reach the cap. That’s how the expansion draft should work. A great ruling by the NHL in my opinion.

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