The NHL is expected to make a decision on its current expansion process before the NHL Awards on June 22.
"Prior to the Awards event, the Board of Governors will meet, and I anticipate being able to provide a more definitive word on where the expansion process stands," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced in his annual press conference prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
He added that while he "would not handicap what's going to happen," he's "fairly certain" they'll know more after the Board of Governors' meeting.
Bettman said the league's executive board is expected to decide on a recommendation of four possible expansion options by June 15, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Options: 1. No expansion; 2. Expansion but deferred to later date; 3. Expansion by 1 team; 4. expansion by 2 teams.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 30, 2016
That recommendation will be shared with the Board of Governors in time for the June meeting.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly added that the earliest expansion could happen is the 2017-18 season, while it's possible it could be deferred for a year or more, reports Yahoo! Sports's Greg Wyshynski.
With Las Vegas being one of the cities involved in the expansion process, Bettman was also asked if the possibility of the NFL's Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas impacts the city's bid for an NHL team.
"We're judging the Vegas application on its own merit," Bettman replied, as quoted by Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Daly added: "The NFL has not been discussed within the executive committee."
Quebec City is also going through the NHL's formal expansion process.
The deputy commissioner also elaborated on expansion draft rules. While adding the regulations have "developed over time," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, Daly provided one example of a rule that's already been changed:
One change to proposed expansion draft is there's no longer a minimum amount of cap space that needs to be exposed.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 30, 2016
Daly said players with no-movement clauses will be protected from being claimed in an expansion draft, while those with no-trade clauses will not.
Expansion teams won't have any distinct advantage in their first NHL draft, as they'll participate in the lottery with no guarantee where they'll pick in the first round.
