FNHL Seattle Expansion Rules

[PsychoticPondGoons]

Conditions for Expansion & Operation:

(A) FRANCHISE BEGINS PLAY 2021-22,

(B) FRANCHISE OPERATIONAL AS OF 2020-21,

(C) CANNOT SIGN FREE AGENTS during the 2020-21 season; can trade for MiLR players and draft picks (Entry or Supplemental) anytime before expansion draft.

(D) EXPANSION DRAFT RULES:
1. Expansion draft will take place after FNHL Finals completed, prior to FNHL Supplemental Draft,
2. Expansion Draft to take place over 5-days May 19-23, 2021
3. Minimum: 10 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 regular roster goaltenders (OR 1 regular roster plus 2 MiLR Goalies),
4. Total salaries of Expansion Draft players must be minimum of $38.7m (50% of 2020-21 FNHL Cap Ceiling of $81.5m + 10% off-season overage if needed),
5. Cannot Buyout Expansion Draft Players before April 15, 2022 TBD - but can trade them,
6. Any original Seattle Expansion Draft player can be designated a Franchise Player,
7. FNHL Vegas Golden Knights, FNHL Buffalo Sabres & FNHL Anaheim Ducks are exempt from expansion draft,
8. Maximum of 5 teams can be exempt as decided by Seattle over and above VGK, BUF & ANH,
9. A team can only lose maximum 1 player in the expansion draft,
10. Maximum 2 regular roster goalies can be drafted by Seattle OR 1 regular roster goalie plus 2 MiLR goalies,
11. Able to protect 7 Skaters and 1 Goalie OR 8 Skaters,
12. Must expose 1 Goalie from the regular roster or expose 3 in MiLR if there is no qualifying regular roster Goalie to be exposed,
13. Any team losing a Goalie in the expansion draft will be compensated (2 Supplemental Draft picks plus 1 additional 2021 Entry Draft pick at the end of Round 1 when losing a regular roster goalie or 1 Supplemental Draft pick at the end of Round 2 in 2021 when losing a MiLR Goalie)
14. Must expose 3 defencemen,
15. All Franchise Players (FP) must be protected (FP’s will be frozen until after Expansion Draft, cannot be changed during that early off-season period),
16. Maximum 4 Entry Level Contract (ELC) players can be protected,
17. Maximum 5 expiring contracts (ending in 2021 and no extension) can be drafted by Seattle,
18. Exempt: MiLR except where 1 goalie needs to be exposed,
19. Teams can trade expansion draft exemption rights with Seattle (beginning Oct 31, 2020).
20. Original Expansion Draft & Roster Players Link To-Be-Updated

[EndGame]

I think #7 is because BUF and ANH have been floundering for one too many seasons whereas VGK is too new to pick from as with the NHL's expansion rules for Seattle.

[AntMan]

Some of these are new from the prior draft. Can we clarify the new items and discuss the merit of the addition?

[PigsRule]

Ask any question you have.

From our perspective (PPG and myself) we wanted to ensure Seattle had a decent roster post expansion draft. That meant new rules such as allowing for the drafting of players on expiring contracts (limited #) because of a team can’t afford to resign or isn’t interested in a pending FA, or wants to try to resign via FA cheaper, well Seattle should have a shot at that player.

Goalies, Seattle should have a decent selection without completely loading up 2 stud net minders. Of course, there’s also room for teams to negotiate with Seattle to stay away or negotiate with friendly teams to help protect assets.

Overall, we tried to allow Seattle a chance to create a competitive roster in year one.

Ultimately, Seattle can go the development route and deal assets for super prospects and handle being at the bottom of the standing s for 2-3 yrs before rising to the top.

[AntMan]

Ask any question you have.

From our perspective (PPG and myself) we wanted to ensure Seattle had a decent roster post expansion draft. That meant new rules such as allowing for the drafting of players on expiring contracts (limited #) because of a team can’t afford to resign or isn’t interested in a pending FA, or wants to try to resign via FA cheaper, well Seattle should have a shot at that player.

Goalies, Seattle should have a decent selection without completely loading up 2 stud net minders. Of course, there’s also room for teams to negotiate with Seattle to stay away or negotiate with friendly teams to help protect assets.

Overall, we tried to allow Seattle a chance to create a competitive roster in year one.

Ultimately, Seattle can go the development route and deal assets for super prospects and handle being at the bottom of the standing s for 2-3 yrs before rising to the top.

16 puts a limit on ELC players or first contract players. I suspect teams with 5 Or more ELC are not a threat to the cup and we shouldn’t fracture their rebuilding. I think Seattle likes this rule but it robs the leagues parity progress and was not capped in the prior expansion. I would think the owners would want a vote to add this but a good parity topic like rollback of cap.

15 does the 20-21 regular season conclude and allow for tags to be removed before expansion takes place? Else two franchise tagged goalies could cause an issue since they cannot both be protected. If it’s open season to remove tags.. likely won’t need this rule.

14 I don’t remember but reasonable to assume all teams will meet this if nhl games count is not a factor.

13 hurts Seattle’s ability to negotiate a bigger deal. St. Louis or Colorado were not compensated in the prior expansion. I think this goes away but I’m open to compensation in arrears. Teams w two good goalies should be sweating and paying a luxury tax. The expansion draft provides the vehicle to tax.

18 is new; I don’t see it playing a role but maybe one team protects the Milr interests by adding a FA goalie to expose? Or games played matters?

Definitely good to have the rules list published. I like that you were proactive to possibly expanded rule set. 13 certainly caught me by surprise and I am interested in understanding the other rules for balance to league and draft value proposition.

[dickiedunn]

My guess would be that "15. All Franchise Players (FP) must be protected (FP’s will be frozen until after Expansion Draft, cannot be changed during that early off-season period)," indicates as stated that if you have a Franchise Player, you can't remove the designation until after the expansion draft, which is similar to the NHL's rule about all NMC players being protected. That designation cannot be switched.

#13 is a pleasant and welcome surprise, compensation for teams that lose a goalie.

Given each team can only lose one player, there does not seem to be anything detrimental to any team.

[ALL4U2NV]

Conditions for Expansion & Operation:

(A) FRANCHISE BEGINS PLAY 2021-22,

(B) FRANCHISE OPERATIONAL AS OF 2020-21,

(C) CANNOT SIGN FREE AGENTS during the 2020-21 season; can trade for MiLR players and draft picks (Entry or Supplemental) anytime before expansion draft.

(D) EXPANSION DRAFT RULES:
1. Expansion draft will take place after FNHL Finals completed, prior to FNHL Supplemental Draft,
2. Expansion Draft to take place over 5-days May 1-5, 2021 TBD
3. Minimum: 10 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 regular roster goaltenders (OR 1 regular roster plus 2 MiLR Goalies),
4. Total salaries of Expansion Draft players must be minimum of $38.7m (50% of 2020-21 FNHL Cap Ceiling of $81.5m - MINUS 5% rollback),
5. Cannot Buyout Expansion Draft Players before April 15, 2022 TBD - but can trade them,
6. Any original Seattle Expansion Draft player can be designated a Franchise Player,
7. FNHL Vegas Golden Knights, FNHL Buffalo Sabres & FNHL Anaheim Ducks are exempt from expansion draft,
8. Maximum of 5 teams can be exempt as decided by Seattle over and above VGK, BUF & ANH,
9. A team can only lose maximum 1 player in the expansion draft,
10. Maximum 2 regular roster goalies can be drafted by Seattle OR 1 regular roster goalie plus 2 MiLR goalies,
11. Able to protect 7 Skaters and 1 Goalie OR 8 Skaters,
12. Must expose 1 Goalie from the regular roster or expose 3 in MiLR if there is no qualifying regular roster Goalie to be exposed,
13. Any team losing a Goalie in the expansion draft will be compensated (2 Supplemental Draft picks plus 1 additional 2021 Entry Draft pick at the end of Round 1 when losing a regular roster goalie or 1 Supplemental Draft pick at the end of Round 2 in 2021 when losing a MiLR Goalie)
14. Must expose 3 defencemen,
15. All Franchise Players (FP) must be protected (FP’s will be frozen until after Expansion Draft, cannot be changed during that early off-season period),
16. Maximum 4 Entry Level Contract (ELC) players can be protected,
17. Maximum 5 expiring contracts (ending in 2021 and no extension) can be drafted by Seattle,
18. Exempt: MiLR except where 1 goalie needs to be exposed,
19. Teams can trade expansion draft exemption rights with Seattle (beginning Oct 31, 2020).
20. Original Expansion Draft & Roster Players Link To-Be-Updated

  If you look through a handful of teams, you can see how this works fairly.
Full disclosure, VEGAS is exempt but if we weren't, we would be able to respect these expansion rules. Well organize IMHO.

[ALL4U2NV]

Conditions for Expansion & Operation:
13. Any team losing a Goalie in the expansion draft will be compensated (2 Supplemental Draft picks plus 1 additional 2021 Entry Draft pick at the end of Round 1 when losing a regular roster goalie or 1 Supplemental Draft pick at the end of Round 2 in 2021 when losing a MiLR Goalie)

This is a great call to compensate a team losing a goalie.
Goalies are highly valued in FNHL. Good to see this rule!

[Rock On]

This is a great call to compensate a team losing a goalie.
Goalies are highly valued in FNHL. Good to see this rule!

I think that's a good decision as well.

[AntMan]

Well AntMan is not for it as I paid the price w no compensation. Precedent was set as no compensation. 

I don’t think a team heads above the pack like Nashville should be propped up by this. Two goalies is a luxury and you have all season to make a trade. To that point the Kraken have more trade leverage on six or so teams w/o the addition of the rule.