Expansion Draft

An expansion draft is an event in professional sports where a new team gets a chance to select players from existing teams. When a league allows a new franchise to join, the current teams protect certain key players, leaving others available. During the draft, the new team picks from these unprotected players, helping them build a competitive roster. This process ensures that the new team can be competitive rather than starting with no talent, while also maintaining balance in the league. Expansion drafts are common in leagues like the NFL, NBA, and NHL when new teams are added.