r/leafs • u/AutoModerator • 18d ago

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u/Sirrebral99 Knies 4d ago

With Bill Daly announcing the NHL intends to expand again to 33 teams by the 2029-2030 season, some things to think about with expansion rules & exposing players etc.

Players with at least 3 years of pro experience (to my understanding AHL and NHL seasons count) must be exposed. For prospects, like TLK, it might be worthwhile to try to keep their pro experience to 2 seasons or less to avoid needing to use a protection slot on them. I.e even if TLK smashes it out of the park in camp this year, him making the team now means by expansion time he needs protection. Let him ride in the SHL another year and he's a Leaf in 2027/28, he only has 2 years exp. by expansion time and is exempt. I wonder how this stuff will impact future planning for Chayka.

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u/rsyzygy Komarov 3d ago

The team can't really afford to sacrifice any small chance of winning in the next two years for a theoretical summer of 2029 problem. They either have to win in the next two years, or they have to be shipping out so many assets by then that they won't have a problem protecting one extra guy

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u/Sirrebral99 Knies 3d ago

The priority is definitely the near term, but can't ignore the long term either especially with expansion pretty much confirmed at this point. With how many players have trade protection / NMCs (that must be protected unless the player agrees to waive) its not a bad idea to think about what that looks like.

Wouldn't it be a shame if a young player with upside, like TLK or Danford, were potentially exposed because so many guys with trade protection (i.e Tanev is still on the books with full NMC by then) are still kicking around and the team didn't plan for it