Redistribution Draft vs. Expansion Draft

Joker13 · 05-10-2026, 12:17 PM

Hello! I have created a 32 team Northern League of teams only in the northern U.S. and Canada, using the Standard Game. I want to relocate 2 of the current NHL teams, which is easy enough (Carolina back to Hartford, and Columbus to Cleveland). I have then created the 11 new teams that I want to have in the league, and I want to create a redistribution draft that fills those rosters from only the 11 teams from the current NHL that I am dropping. How do I go about doing that? It seems that I should be able to do that using the Expansion Draft feature, but I can't figure out how I can make every single player available on the teams that I am dropping because of the Protected Lists! The Expansion Draft settings do seem to allow me to protect zero defensemen and zero forwards, but it forces me to protect at least one goalie. Basically I don't want to have any players on the protected lists on the teams that I will be dropping. Also, I can't just release all of the players on those teams because they become free agents and the new teams sign them at will. That is not what I want...I want a true redistribution draft. Thanks to anyone who can tell me how to accomplish this!

redtiger7 · 05-11-2026, 11:01 AM

Is this a freshly started game, or you're already started and are expanding?

If it's a newly started game, there should be a check box when you first set up the game that lets you do an initial draft, redistributing the players as you're looking for.

Joker13 · 05-11-2026, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redtiger7

Is this a freshly started game, or you're already started and are expanding?

If it's a newly started game, there should be a check box when you first set up the game that lets you do an initial draft, redistributing the players as you're looking for.

The thing is, I don't want to draft up every team from the start, only the new teams that I've created, drafted from only the teams that I'm dropping! If the initial draft allows me to do that, then okay. My assumption was that this option is for drafting the entire league from scratch.

Sebastian Palkowski · 05-13-2026, 04:46 PM

With the expansion draft you can mostly do what you want. As you already noted, there is the exception that teams need to protect at least one Goalie (no limit for Forwards and Denfender). Malte and I tried to find a reason for it but to be honest are not sure why this is. We will further investigate it and then change it for FHM 13.

To get what you want you would need to do the "Goalies Draft" as Commish I guess. Not perfect but it should do what you want (if I understand correctly).

Joker13 · 05-14-2026, 11:47 AM

Thank you, Sebastian!

Castleview · 05-16-2026, 06:50 AM

You could also use commisioner mode to change the attributes of a bunch of low rated FA goalies, to make them all 5* ability.
Then put one on each team, so the team will protct that goalie instead.
Then change attributess back after the draft.

05-10-2026, 12:17 PM	#1
Joker13 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2026 Posts: 12	Redistribution Draft vs. Expansion Draft Hello! I have created a 32 team Northern League of teams only in the northern U.S. and Canada, using the Standard Game. I want to relocate 2 of the current NHL teams, which is easy enough (Carolina back to Hartford, and Columbus to Cleveland). I have then created the 11 new teams that I want to have in the league, and I want to create a redistribution draft that fills those rosters from only the 11 teams from the current NHL that I am dropping. How do I go about doing that? It seems that I should be able to do that using the Expansion Draft feature, but I can't figure out how I can make every single player available on the teams that I am dropping because of the Protected Lists! The Expansion Draft settings do seem to allow me to protect zero defensemen and zero forwards, but it forces me to protect at least one goalie. Basically I don't want to have any players on the protected lists on the teams that I will be dropping. Also, I can't just release all of the players on those teams because they become free agents and the new teams sign them at will. That is not what I want...I want a true redistribution draft. Thanks to anyone who can tell me how to accomplish this!

05-13-2026, 04:46 PM	#4
Sebastian Palkowski Developer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hamburg, Germany Posts: 5,583	With the expansion draft you can mostly do what you want. As you already noted, there is the exception that teams need to protect at least one Goalie (no limit for Forwards and Denfender). Malte and I tried to find a reason for it but to be honest are not sure why this is. We will further investigate it and then change it for FHM 13. To get what you want you would need to do the "Goalies Draft" as Commish I guess. Not perfect but it should do what you want (if I understand correctly). __________________ Buy Franchise Hockey Manager

05-16-2026, 06:50 AM	#6
Castleview All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2020 Location: Scotland Posts: 945	You could also use commisioner mode to change the attributes of a bunch of low rated FA goalies, to make them all 5* ability. Then put one on each team, so the team will protct that goalie instead. Then change attributess back after the draft. Last edited by Castleview; 05-16-2026 at 06:56 AM.

05-11-2026, 11:01 AM	#2
redtiger7 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,264	Is this a freshly started game, or you're already started and are expanding? If it's a newly started game, there should be a check box when you first set up the game that lets you do an initial draft, redistributing the players as you're looking for.

05-14-2026, 11:47 AM	#5
Joker13 Bat Boy Join Date: Apr 2026 Posts: 12	Thank you, Sebastian!