Watch the NHL Expansion Draft Live Online with a VPN

NHL draft

The National Hockey League holds the NHL Expansion Draft. These events are uncommon because they only happen when a sports league creates one or more expansion teams. In 2021, this will happen because of the new expansion hockey team, the Seattle Kraken. Several networks will cover the event on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 8 PM EST in Seattle. Those networks are ESPN2 (US), SN, SN Now (Can). Both of these channels require a subscription and for you to be in the US or Canada since they are on pay-TV networks if you want to watch. What players will the Seattle Kraken get from the other teams? You can find out everywhere worldwide with a VPN.

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How to Watch the NHL Expansion Draft from Anywhere

As we mentioned, the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft will take place on July 21st, 2021, at 8 PM EST. To watch it, follow these directions:

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30 day risk-free money-back guarantee).
  2. Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device.
  3. Connect to a VPN server in the U.S. or Canada, depending on your preference.
  4. Login to your ESPN or SN account. If you don’t already have one, you can sign up for the Sling Orange option on Sling TV ($35/mo) or SN Now ($19.99/mo). Remember, you need to be connected to a VPN when signing up if you are not there.
  5. Once you are logged in, you can enjoy the 2021 NHL expansion draft and other sports on the networks.

How is the Expansion Draft Different from the Entry Draft?

As we mentioned, expansion drafts only happen with expansion teams. Unlike normal drafts where teams choose players from lower hockey leagues, the Seattle Kraken gets to go shopping for its players. They get to fill their ranks with players already in the NHL. They select 1 player from each existing team (except for the Vegas Golden Knights or VGK). The players that the team chooses include at least 14 forwards, 9 defensemen, and 3 goaltenders. That said, the other teams have 2 protection options. They can choose to protect 7 forwards, 3 defensemen, and a goaltender or 8 skaters made up of (F/D) & a goaltender.

Why is VGK Excluded from the Expansion Draft?

When the NHL granted the 31st franchise to the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, they struck a deal. Since the VGK will not take a share of the 650 million dollar fee that the Seattle group is going to pay to the NHL for the new expansion, the team does not have to worry about protecting its players. That’s a definite advantage for the VGK since the team has done relatively well since the franchise opened in 2017. You can bet that Golden Knights fans are quite happy that this year’s expansion draft won’t affect them. However, they will not likely be immune to future expansion drafts.

Whether you want to watch the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on Sling TV, SN Now, or other streaming services, you can enjoy all of the excitement during July 21st, 2021, in Seattle. If you are a fan of the NHL, please feel free to share this post with your friends so they can enjoy it as well.

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