One of the biggest factors that is beginning to loom large in the decision making of the Minnesota Wild is next offseason’s impending expansion draft. Although the rules for expansion are not quite set in stone yet, it appears that the new club in Las Vegas will be taking one player from each team in the draft. With signings happening now and further into the summer, the Wild would be prudent to keep an eye on the effect this will have on the expansion draft.
The protection rules also not quite set, but all indications are that the protection rules will be something along the lines of teams would have be able to protect seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie; or they could protect eight skaters of any mixture and one goaltender.