Report: NHL expansion rules would resemble Vegas process

While some NHL owners may resent the historic expansion success of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights, Gary Bettman seems undeterred.

With the first-year Golden Knights tied for the most points in the Western Conference, the NHL commissioner intends to keep the same roster-building process for future expansion franchises, TSN reported Tuesday.

According to the report, Bettman specifically cited expansion hopeful Seattle, which reportedly expects to know by June if the city will be granted an NHL franchise.

If Seattle were to gain a team, it would become the 32nd in the league, matching the National Football League. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild were the previous expansion teams to join the NHL in 2000 until Vegas this season.

Vegas has enjoyed unprecedented success in its first season, with its 87 points leading the Pacific Division by 10 points over the second-place San Jose Sharks. No NHL expansion team has ever finished with a winning record in its debut season, not including the original six franchises (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York Rangers).

In order to construct the Vegas roster last summer, the other existing teams were allowed to protect all players in their first or second seasons. From the remaining rosters, each team could protect either seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie or eight skaters (includes forwards and defenders) and a goalie.

--Field Level Media