Expansion draft
Encyclopedia
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion team
s or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft. Although how each league conducts them varies, and they vary from occasion to occasion, the system is usually something similar to this:
Each existing team is told it can "protect" a certain number of its existing contracted players by furnishing their names to the league office on or before a certain date. The expansion team(s) then are allowed to select players not on the protected lists in a manner somewhat similar to an entry draft
. There are generally a maximum number of players that can be selected from any one team, at least without the team losing the player receiving something in compensation such as a future entry draft pick.
The teams subject to losing players are going to put all of the players they truly need on the protected list. This means that the expansion franchise is usually left to choose among players who are old, injury prone, failing to develop as the teams had intended, or perhaps so highly compensated that a team wishes to remove them from the payroll. For this reason, expansion teams are often noncompetitive in their early years in a league, although the advent of the free agent
system has modified this somewhat.
Most teams seem to try largely to make a team which will serve until it can begin to develop its own talent, although occasionally players discarded by their old teams benefit from the change in environment and become stars, either again or for the first time.
A similar process occurs when an existing franchise is disbanded and the players contracted to it become available to the remaining teams; this process is referred to as a dispersal draft
.
.
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
s or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft. Although how each league conducts them varies, and they vary from occasion to occasion, the system is usually something similar to this:
Each existing team is told it can "protect" a certain number of its existing contracted players by furnishing their names to the league office on or before a certain date. The expansion team(s) then are allowed to select players not on the protected lists in a manner somewhat similar to an entry draft
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
. There are generally a maximum number of players that can be selected from any one team, at least without the team losing the player receiving something in compensation such as a future entry draft pick.
The teams subject to losing players are going to put all of the players they truly need on the protected list. This means that the expansion franchise is usually left to choose among players who are old, injury prone, failing to develop as the teams had intended, or perhaps so highly compensated that a team wishes to remove them from the payroll. For this reason, expansion teams are often noncompetitive in their early years in a league, although the advent of the free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
system has modified this somewhat.
Most teams seem to try largely to make a team which will serve until it can begin to develop its own talent, although occasionally players discarded by their old teams benefit from the change in environment and become stars, either again or for the first time.
A similar process occurs when an existing franchise is disbanded and the players contracted to it become available to the remaining teams; this process is referred to as a dispersal draft
Dispersal draft
A dispersal draft is a process in professional sports for assigning players to a new team when their current team goes out of business, consolidates with another team, or for some other reason ceases to exist. Since most sports drafts are held in North America, this is where most dispersal drafts...
.
Baseball
Baseball expansion was initially hastened by the threat of a competing league, known as the Continental LeagueContinental League
The Continental League was a proposed third major league for baseball, announced in 1959 and scheduled to begin play in the 1961 season...
.
- 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft
- 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft
- 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft1968 Major League Baseball expansion draftThe 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball which would begin play in the 1969 season....
- 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft
- 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft
- 1997 Major League Baseball expansion draft
Basketball
- 1961 NBA Expansion Draft1961 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1961 NBA Expansion Draft was the inaugural expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 26, 1961, so that the newly founded Chicago Packers could acquire players for the upcoming 1961–62 season. The Packers were the second NBA team from Chicago, after the...
- 1966 NBA Expansion Draft1966 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1966 NBA Expansion Draft was the second expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held from April 30 to May 1, 1966, so that the newly founded Chicago Bulls could acquire players for the upcoming 1966–67 season. Chicago had been awarded the expansion team on January...
- 1967 NBA Expansion Draft1967 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1967 NBA Expansion Draft was the third expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 1, 1967, so that the newly founded San Diego Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics could acquire players for the upcoming 1967–68 season. Seattle and San Diego had been awarded...
- 1968 NBA Expansion Draft1968 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1968 NBA Expansion Draft was the fourth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 6, 1968, so that the newly founded Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns could acquire players for the upcoming 1968–69 season. Milwaukee and Phoenix had been awarded the...
- 1970 NBA Expansion Draft1970 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1970 NBA Expansion Draft was the fifth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 11, 1970, so that the newly founded Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers could acquire players for the upcoming 1970–71 season. Buffalo, Cleveland...
- 1974 NBA Expansion Draft1974 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1974 NBA Expansion Draft was the sixth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 20, 1974, so that the newly founded New Orleans Jazz could acquire players for the upcoming 1974–75 season. New Orleans had been awarded the expansion team on March 7, 1974...
- 1980 NBA Expansion Draft1980 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1980 NBA Expansion Draft was the seventh expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 28, 1980, so that the newly founded Dallas Mavericks could acquire players for the upcoming 1980–81 season. Dallas had been awarded the expansion team on February 3, 1980...
- 1988 NBA Expansion Draft1988 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1988 NBA Expansion Draft was the eighth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 23, 1988, so that the newly founded Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat could acquire players for the upcoming 1988–89 season. Charlotte and Miami had been awarded the...
- 1989 NBA Expansion Draft1989 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1989 NBA Expansion Draft was the ninth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 15, 1989, so that the newly founded Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic could acquire players for the upcoming 1989–90 season. Minnesota and Orlando had been awarded...
- 1995 NBA Expansion Draft1995 NBA Expansion DraftThe 1995 NBA Expansion Draft was the tenth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 24, 1995, so that the newly founded Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies could acquire players for the upcoming . Toronto was awarded an expansion team on September...
- 2004 NBA Expansion Draft
- 2006 NBA Development League Expansion Draft2006 NBA Development League Expansion DraftThe 2006 NBA Development League Expansion Draft was the first expansion draft of the National Basketball Association Development League . The draft was held on September 19, 2006, so that the newly founded Colorado 14ers, Bakersfield Jam, Anaheim Arsenal and Los Angeles D-Fenders could acquire...
- 2007 NBA Development League Expansion Draft2007 NBA Development League Expansion DraftThe 2007 NBA Development League Expansion Draft was the second expansion draft of the National Basketball Association Development League . The draft was held on September 5, 2007, so that the newly founded Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Utah Flash and Iowa Energy could acquire...
- 2008 NBA Development League Expansion Draft2008 NBA Development League Expansion DraftThe 2008 NBA Development League Expansion Draft was the third expansion draft of the National Basketball Association Development League ...
- 2009 NBA Development League Expansion Draft2009 NBA Development League Expansion DraftThe 2009 NBA Development League Expansion Draft was the fourth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association Development League . The draft was held on September 2, 2009, so that the newly founded Springfield Armor and Maine Red Claws could acquire players for the upcoming 2009–10...
- 2010 NBA Development League Expansion Draft2010 NBA Development League Expansion DraftThe 2010 NBA Development League Expansion Draft was the fifth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association Development League . The draft was held on August 31, 2010, so that the newly founded Texas Legends could acquire players for the upcoming 2010–11 season...
Football
- 1960 NFL Expansion Draft1960 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1960 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Dallas Cowboys, selected its first players. The NFL awarded Dallas, Texas a franchise to compete for revenue with Lamar Hunt's Dallas Texans of the upstart American Football League...
- 1961 NFL Expansion Draft1961 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1961 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Minnesota Vikings, selected its first players. In August 1959, a group of Minneapolis businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League...
- 1966 NFL Expansion Draft1966 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1966 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Atlanta Falcons, selected its first players...
- 1967 NFL Expansion Draft1967 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1967 National Football League Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the New Orleans Saints, selected its first players. On November 1, 1966, , NFL owners awarded its 16th team franchise to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana...
- 1976 NFL Expansion Draft1976 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1976 National Football League Expansion draft was held on March 30 – 31, 1976. The expansion teams, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, each selected 39 players from the other 26 NFL teams. When one player was chosen from an existing team, that team was then permitted to...
- 1995 NFL Expansion Draft1995 NFL Expansion DraftThe 1995 National Football League Expansion Draft was held on February 15, 1995. The two new expansion teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars alternated picks from lists of unprotected players from existing franchises. Existing NFL teams made six players available, and the new...
- 1999 NFL Expansion Draft1999 NFL Expansion DraftThe Cleveland Browns had spent three years with its operations suspended after Art Modell had taken the Browns' organization and players to Baltimore, Maryland to form the Baltimore Ravens at the end of the 1995 NFL season...
- 2002 NFL Expansion Draft2002 NFL Expansion DraftThe 2002 National Football League Expansion Draft was the most recent National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the Houston Texans, selected its first players. On October 6, 1999, in Atlanta, NFL owners had unanimously voted to award the 32nd NFL franchise and the Super...
- 2012 CFL Expansion Draft2012 CFL Expansion DraftThe 2012 Canadian Football League Expansion Draft was a proposed three-round CFL draft scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 2012 which is designed to assign players from existing CFL teams to the expansion franchise in Ottawa, Ontario...
Hockey
- 1967 NHL Expansion Draft1967 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1967 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1967, in the ballroom of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's six expansion teams for the 1967–68 season: the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars,...
- 1970 NHL Expansion Draft1970 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1970 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 9, 1970. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1970–71 season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks.-Draft results:-Trades:...
- 1972 NHL Expansion Draft1972 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1972 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1972. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two then-new expansion teams for the 1972–73 season, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames.-Draft results:-See also:...
- 1974 NHL Expansion Draft1974 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1974 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 12, 1974. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1974–75 season, the Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals.-Draft desults:-See also:...
- 1979 NHL Expansion Draft1979 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
- 1991 NHL Expansion Draft1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion DraftsThe 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts were held via telephone conference call on May 30, 1991. The dispersal draft took place to fill the roster of the league's only expansion team for the 1991–92 season, the San Jose Sharks, first from the Minnesota North Stars pool of players. An expansion...
- 1992 NHL Expansion Draft1992 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1992 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 18, 1992. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1992–93 season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Rules:...
- 1993 NHL Expansion Draft1993 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1993 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 24, 1993, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1993–94 season, the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Rules:...
- 1998 NHL Expansion Draft1998 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1998 NHL Expansion Draft was held in on June 26, 1998. The draft took place to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 1998–99 season, the Nashville Predators.-Rules:...
- 1999 NHL Expansion Draft1999 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1999 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 25, 1999, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The draft took place to fill the roster of the league's expansion team for the 1999–2000 season, the Atlanta Thrashers.-Rules:...
- 2000 NHL Expansion Draft2000 NHL Expansion DraftThe 2000 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 23, 2000, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 2000–01 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.-Rules:...
Soccer
- 1997 MLS Expansion Draft1997 MLS Expansion DraftThe 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
- 2004 MLS Expansion Draft2004 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2004 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 19, 2004 and consisted of 10 rounds. The two new teams, C.D. Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake, drafted players from the other 10 Major League Soccer teams....
- 2006 MLS Expansion Draft2006 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2006 MLS Expansion Draft, held on November 17, 2006 was a special draft for MLS expansion team Toronto FC. Toronto FC selected 10 players from a pool of players from current MLS clubs.-Format:...
- 2007 MLS Expansion Draft2007 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2007 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 21, 2007, and is a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team San Jose Earthquakes...
- 2008 MLS Expansion Draft2008 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2008 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 26, 2008, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Seattle Sounders FC. They made 10 selections from a pool of players from the other 14 MLS clubs.-Format:...
- 2009 MLS Expansion Draft2009 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2009 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 25, 2009, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Philadelphia Union.-Format:...
- 2010 MLS Expansion Draft2010 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2010 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 24, 2010, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion teams Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers.-Format:...
- 2011 MLS Expansion Draft2011 MLS Expansion DraftThe 2011 MLS Expansion Draft was held on November 23, 2011 as a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion team Montreal Impact.-Format:* Existing teams were allowed to protect 11 players from their rosters...