NHL Mock Expansion Draft 2027: Protection Lists Revealed

To evaluate a possible 2027 expansion, the NHL staged a mock draft and released the teams’ protection lists. The lists show clubs shielding star goalies, top‑line forwards and promising prospects.

Teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights made strategic choices to limit the pool available to future expansion franchises. The move gives league officials an early glimpse of how the expansion process may unfold.