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NHL Expansion Draft and Awards: Rules, Nominees, and How To Watch

After months of debate, speculation, guesswork, and prayers, the night has finally arrived – it’s finally time for the NHL Expansion Draft! (And Awards!) We’ll get to watch, pick by agonizing pick, who Vegas is taking, the deals they’ve made with other teams, and how the league as a whole will look when it’s all said and done.

From a Buffalo Sabres perspective, the choice for Vegas seems to be between Will Carrier and Linus Ullmark, barring a crazy side deal to take a big contract off Buffalo’s hands. Last night, Vegas GM George McPhee mentioned that they will make some “throwaway picks” for teams that don’t have much to offer, so could we see them potentially take someone like Dmitry Kulikov or Brian Gionta? TELL US GEORGE.

Stick around because we’ll be covering any rumors or leaks all day, and then come on back tonight at 8pm to chat as we react to the draft.


Sabres protected list released
Who do we want Vegas to take in the expansion draft?


How to watch the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft & NHL Awards

8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT | Wednesday, June 21

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

American TV: NBCSN | Canadian TV: Sportsnet

Live streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

2017 NHL Expansion Draft Rules

  • Vegas will take one player — no more, or no less — from each existing team.
  • They must select at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies.
  • 20 of the 30 players must be under contract in 2017-18.
  • The cap hit of all players selected in the Expansion Draft must be somewhere between $43.8 million and $73 million./

2017 NHL Awards Finalists

  • Hart Trophy (league MVP): Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Sergei Bobrovsky.
  • Norris Trophy (best defenseman): Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman
  • Vezina Trophy (best goaltender): Sergei Bobrovsky, Braden Holtby, Carey Price.
  • Calder Trophy (top rookie): Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Zach Werenski.
  • Selke Trophy (best defensive forward): Ryan Kesler, Patrice Bergeron, Mikko Koivu.
  • Lady Byng Trophy (most gentlemanly forward): Johnny Gaudreau, Vladimir Tarasenko, Mikael Granlund.
  • Masterton Trophy (dedication / perseverance): Craig Anderson, Andrew Cogliano, Derek Ryan.
  • NHL Foundation Award (community service): Wayne Simmonds, Travis Hamonic.
  • Mark Messier Leadership Award: Nick Foligno, Ryan Getzlaf, Mark Giordano.
  • Ted Lindsay Award (MVP as voted by the players): Brent Burns, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid.
  • Jack Adams Award (best coach): Mike Babcock, Todd McLellan, John Tortorella.
  • General Manager of the Year: Peter Chiarelli, Pierre Dorion, David Poile. /

2017 NHL Awards Odds (via Bovada)

  • Hart: Connor McDavid (2/13), Sidney Crosby (4/1), Sergei Bobrovsky (11/1).
  • Norris: Brent Burns (1/5), Erik Karlsson (5/2), Victor Hedman (25/1).
  • Vezina: Sergei Bobrovsky (1/4), Braden Holtby (11/5), Carey Price (22/1).
  • Calder: Auston Matthews (1/20), Patrik Laine (11/2), Zach Werenski (18/1).
  • Selke: Ryan Kesler (5/7), Patrice Bergeron (7/4), Mikko Koivu (15/4).
  • Lady Byng: Johnny Gaudreau (1/1), Vladimir Tarasenko (1/1), Mikael Granlund (4/1).
  • Jack Adams: Mike Babcock (5/7), John Tortorella (9/4), Todd McLellan (11/4)./