Draft Pick Conditions (Protection)

[Iceman90]

Hello,


I know that first round picks in the game can be traded with conditions (protection) for

• First Protected
• Top 3 Protected
• Top 5 Protected
• Top 10 Protected

I've yet to see the CPU trade with these conditions so I haven't been able to observe what happens if the condition is met, but want to understand this before I trade with one of the conditions.

If I trade my first, and have "Top 3 Protected" as a condition, and the pick ends up being in the top 3 - what happens? Do I just keep the pick and the CPU ends up with nothing from the trade? Does the CPU get my next available first round pick in coming years?

I've never seen a trade in the NHL where a first round pick was traded with some kind of top x protection without the "else clause" saying what alternate compensation the team gets if the protection kicks in. Usually the condition says that the next year's pick would be moved instead.

If this works how I assume, that if the condition kicks in the pick just moves back to the original team I see this as being easily gamed. If I know my team will be bad, I can move my first rounder with a condition, get a player and then just get my pick back (and keep the player) in the end.

[Adam B]

If a pick is protected, then it moves to next year's draft. So if you for instance, had a top 10 protection on a 2025 first round selection, you could maintain it and then your 2026 first rounder will then go to the other team. However, that choice is now unprotected.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Adam B

If a pick is protected, then it moves to next year's draft. So if you for instance, had a top 10 protection on a 2025 first round selection, you could maintain it and then your 2026 first rounder will then go to the other team. However, that choice is now unprotected.

What if I don't have my pick the following year? It doesn't seem like the game will allow that pick to not be moved if a condition is in place. Am I wrong?

[Adam B]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

What if I don't have my pick the following year? It doesn't seem like the game will allow that pick to not be moved if a condition is in place. Am I wrong?

I believe much like real life - it's not so much "protection" but rather deferring. If you take away the option to defer, you can no longer protect your current pick.