As the National Hockey League (NHL) continues to expand into new markets, hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the league's growth. With the recent addition of Seattle's NHL team, attention is shifting to the upcoming deadline for protected lists and the potential player movement that will follow. The protected list, a crucial component of the NHL's expansion process, allows existing teams to safeguard their top talent and prevent the new franchise from poaching their stars. As the deadline approaches, fans and analysts alike will be scrutinizing the decisions of each team, speculating about which players will be protected and which will be made available for the expansion draft.

*This was originally published in May 2017 With NHL expansion to Seattle having recently occurred, the discussion around hockey will eventually turn to the deadlines for protected lists and possible players…