The NHL today announced some new rules for the expansion draft and provided key dates and times that had been left a little hazy in the past.

There will be a trade, waiver and signing freeze during the period that Vegas has the protection lists in hand until after the expansion draft selections are announced.  Only Vegas will be able to make deals or sign players.

The potential for chaotic trades, mass confusion, and Vancouver doing something really dumb just got nipped in the bud.

The expansion draft related trades Vegas can make

Teams will also have a period where they can ask players to waive their no-movement clauses for the expansion draft.  This time period potentially overlaps the Stanley Cup Finals, so a special exception had to be made, betraying a little lack of planning in this whole process.

It has been previously reported that waiving of a no-move clause is for the expansion draft only.  The clause is re-instated after if they are selected or not.

June 12: Deadline for teams to ask that a player waive their no-move clause.  For Nashville and Pittsburgh, the deadline is the day after the cup final if that’s later than June 12.  The time is 5 p.m. (all times are Eastern Time).

June 14: The last possible day for the Stanley Cup Final

June 15: The buyout window opens.  For players with no-move clauses, the team must ask first if they wish to go through waivers before being bought out.  To effect a buyout prior to the expansion draft, that request has to be made on this day.

June 16: Last chance to place players on waivers is noon.  Players who were asked to waive their no-move clause for the expansion draft have until 5 p.m. to agree.

June 17: Waiver and trade freeze begins at 3 p.m. for all teams except Vegas. A moratorium on signing players to new SPCs begins at the same time (this includes a team’s UFAs and RFAs as well as any other new signing).  The protection lists must be submitted by 5 p.m.

Expansion draft protection lists are due June 17

June 18: The NHL will distribute the approved lists by 10 a.m. to all NHL teams. The exposed UFA/RFA interview period for Vegas opens at the same time.

June 21: Vegas must submit their list of the lucky 30 players to the NHL by 10 a.m. and include any new SPCs signed for free agents.  The names will be released as part of the NHL awards that evening.

June 22: The trade, signing and waiver freeze is lifted at 8 a.m. and all returns to normal.

The draft begins June 23, so the window to make trades is very compressed prior to the actual draft beginning.  But the window to talk about them, is as long as it ever was.

Expansion Draft