Vegas, the NHL's 31st team, will begin play next season as the 15th team in the Western Conference and eighth in the Pacific Division. There are 16 teams in the Eastern Conference.

The players selected by the Vegas Golden Knights will be revealed during the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile in Las Vegas on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN).

The following rules were approved for the 2017 Expansion Draft:

Protected Lists

* Clubs will have two options for players they wish to protect in the Expansion Draft:

a) Seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender

b) Eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goaltender

* All players who have currently effective and continuing "No Movement" clauses at the time of the Expansion Draft (and who to decline to waive such clauses) must be protected (and will be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).

* All first- and second-year professionals, as well as all unsigned draft choices, will be exempt from selection (and will not be counted toward their club's applicable protection limits).

Player Exposure Requirements

* All Clubs must meet the following minimum requirements regarding players exposed for selection in the Expansion Draft:

i) One defenseman who is a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.

ii) Two forwards who are a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.

iii) One goaltender who is under contract in 2017-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the club elects to make a restricted free agent goaltender available in order to meet this requirement, that goaltender must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club's protected list.

* Players with potential career-ending injuries who have missed more than the previous 60 consecutive games (or who otherwise have been confirmed to have a career-threatening injury) may not be used to satisfy a club's player exposure requirements, unless approval is received from the NHL. Such players also may be deemed exempt from selection by the League.

Regulations Relating to Expansion Franchise

* Vegas must select one player from each presently existing club for a total of 30 players (not including additional players who may be acquired as the result of violations of the Expansion Draft rules).

* Vegas must select the following number of players at each position: 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders.

* Vegas must select a minimum of 20 players who are under contract for the 2017-18 season.

* Vegas must select players with an aggregate Expansion Draft value that is between 60-100% of the prior season's upper limit for the salary cap.

* Vegas may not buy out any of the players selected in the Expansion Draft earlier than the summer following its first season.

The 30 NHL Clubs must submit their Protection List by 5:00 P.M. ET on Saturday. The Golden Knights will receive the list of protected players at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday and must submit their selections by 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

2017 NHL Draft Lottery

The Golden Knights were awarded the sixth pick in the 2017 NHL Draft following the draft lottery, which took place on April 29. Vegas was given the same odds as the team finishing with the third-fewest points during the regular season.

Vegas will select third in each subsequent round of the draft (subject to trades and other potential player transactions).

Alignment

Vegas will begin play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in 2017-18. There will be no other changes to the NHL's alignment.

2017-18 Schedule Matrix

Each club will continue to play an 82-game schedule, with 41 home games and 41 road games.

The schedule matrix, which ensures that all teams play in all arenas at least once each season, will be adjusted to the following in 2017-18:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions - 8 Teams

Within Conference (Division): 28 games

* 7 Teams: 2 Home / 2 Away

* 7 x 4 = 28 games

Within Conference (Non-Division): 24 games

* 4 Teams: 2 Home / 1 Away

* 4 Teams: 1 Home / 2 Away

* 4 x 3 = 12 games

* 4 x 3 = 12 games

Non-Conference: 30 games

* 15 Home / 15 Away

* 2 x 15 = 30

Western Conference

Central Division - 7 Teams

Within Conference (Division): 26 games

* 4 Teams: 2 Home / 2 Away

* 1 Team: 3 Home / 2 Away

* 1 Team: 2 Home / 3 Away

* 4 x 4 = 16

* 1 x 5 = 5

* 1 x 5 = 5

Within Conference (Non-Division): 24 games

* 4 Teams: 2 Home / 1 Away

* 4 Teams: 1 Home / 2 Away

* 4 x 3 = 12 games

* 4 x 3 = 12 games

Non-Conference: 32 games

* 16 Home / 16 Away

* 2 x 16 = 32 games

Pacific Division - 8 Teams

Within Conference (Division): 29 games

* 6 Teams: 2 Home / 2 Away

* 1 Team: 3 Home / 2 Away

* 6 x 4 = 24 games

* 1 x 5 = 5 games

Within Conference (Non-Division): 21 games

* 4 Teams: 2 Home / 1 Away

* 3 Teams: 1 Home / 2 Away

* 4 x 3 = 12 games

* 3 x 3 = 9 games

Non-Conference: 32 games

* 16 Home / 16 Away

* 2 x 16 = 32 games