To give expansion teams a better opportunity for instant success, the NHL should allow existing teams to protect six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. Only one-year pros should be exempt. Once a team loses a player in the draft, it can protect three more players. No team can lose more than two players. The current general managers won’t love that plan, but it would give expansion teams a good start.

-Kevin Allen of USA TODAY on an expansion draft. Read more on this topic from Allen.