NHL Rumors: Flames approach to expansion draft, and teams weigh schedule options for next season
Anthony Scultore
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Today’s NHL Rumors kicks us off with the Seattle Expansion Draft. The Calgary Flames are one of the more interesting teams heading into the offseason as they plan on some roster reshaping. Two very big names said to be in play are Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, that could very well change the dynamic of their approach to the expansion draft.
Flames likely to expose Milan Lucic and Mark Giordano to Seattle Kraken
Frank Seravalli recently took a look at all the Canadian teams with regard to the expansion draft. He noted that Milan Lucic waived his no-move clause for the expansion draft as a condition of his trade. That allows Calgary to expose him.
Another big name that the Flames will be forced to expose is their captain Mark Giordano. With the need to protect longer defenseman like Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Rasmus Andersson, exposing the 37 year-old rearguard is a no brainier.
However, this could all change well before the Seattle Kraken make their first expansion selection.
NHL Teams weighing two options for next season
Great piece of work from the Sportsnet crew on Saturday Headlines. Per Elliotte Friedman the NHL presented teams at the GM Meeting with two options for next season which they are now weighing in on. Let’s begin with the fact we are looking at a return to standard divisions (bye North Division).
Option 1: Home and Home with opposing conference (32 games), 3 games vs other division (24 games), and 26 games within division (4x v 5 teams, 3x v 2 teams), a conference playoff system.
Option 2: Home and Home with 3 other divisions (48 games), 4 games vs each Division opponent (28 games), and 6 games for special scheduling (more Rangers v Islanders etc.), a divisional playoff system.
Neither proposal elicits a strong accepting response from me. I believe the teams will come back with some ideas of their own and change what the final options are.