New York Islanders Turbulent History with NHL Expansion Draft

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May 18, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; A general view of the arena in the overtime period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

1998 and 99: Moving to the South

Nashville was added to the NHL in 1998. Teams could protect a single goalie, five defensemen and nine forwards or two goalies, three defensemen and seven forwards. Nashville was to take a single player for every team.

From the Islanders, they selected Jean-Jacques Daigneault. A player the New York Islanders had acquired just earlier that season from the Mighty Ducks as part of the Travis Green trade. His six points in 18 games were hardly going to be missed by the Isles. He didn’t even last the season in Nashville, who traded him for future consideration to Phoenix six months later.

In 1999 the NHL went to Atlanta and furthered their resolve to expand in non-traditional markets. They had three teams in California, two teams in Florida and a team right in the dessert with the Coyotes. Atlanta should have been a sure thing.

The protection rules were the same as the year before. What could go wrong?

The Thrashers took defenseman David Harlock from the New York Islanders who put up six points on a team that finished dead last with 39 points and a -143 goal differential. Just ever so slightly worse than San Jose.