The worst kept secret has been confirmed, as the NHL will expand to 31 teams in the 2017-2018 season. Las Vegas is the destination, as has been rumored/basically confirmed for the past few months. The team will play in the Pacific Division. The team paid a record $500 million in expansion fees to the 30 NHL owners, none of which needs to be shared with the players.

More importantly, the expansion draft rules have been finalized. The major points we know: The Rangers can protect 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, and 1 goalie, or 8 skaters and 1 goalie. They can only lose one player to the draft as well. As rumored, any player with a no-move clause must be protected and counts towards the protection list. Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, and Henrik Lundqvist are the players with no-moves. First and second year pros (Brady Skjei, Pavel Buchnevich) are exempt, as are unsigned draft picks.

NHL expansion to Quebec City has been deferred as the city works things out.

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