The worst-kept secret in hockey was finally confirmed this week, with reports revealing that the NHL will expand to Las Vegas. It means we can all relax from wondering if expansion will happen, and focus on the matter at hand: mock expansion drafts. Seriously, how much time do you think TSN will devote to a mock expansion draft? A day? A weekend?

The folks at General Fanager have created a brilliant and fun tool allowing you to protect the players you want to and hold your own expansion draft. I encourage all of you to use it and share your expansion franchises down in the comments.

For now, I’ve decided to use it and show you how my draft worked out. Here’s the order things are in:

My Ottawa Senators keepers My thoughts while picking the keepers for each team My Las Vegas Black Knights / Black Aces / Gamblers / Chicken & Waffles roster

The Ottawa Senators’ keepers:

It’s hard to pass up on Marc Methot, but the Sens just have too many forwards worth keeping. Would you give up three of the forward names I have checked to keep Methot? I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sens acquire a goalie over the next year as Anderson continues to age, and then use their protection on him. Not keeping Curtis Lazar is a hard choice, but I think his ceiling’s low. I’d like to see the team try to trade him over the coming year to recoup something (possibly a promising goalie?).

League-wide Thoughts:

So that does it! And now, for the big reveal! You 2017-18 Las Vegas ______s:

Obviously, this depends on some of these players (Ruutu, Hanzal, Bonino, Oduya...) signing extensions, otherwise I don’t think they’ll be picked. This is actually a very expensive team, so it’s possible a couple, like Bolland or Lupul, are subbed out for cheaper picks. But overall, I think it gives a good idea of what’s to come. And yes, it means smilin’ Curteous Lazar leaves us.

So what do you think? Who will be protected and selected? Make your choices known in the comments!