Team Franchises may protect a player they picked from the previous year draft in the First, Second or Third rounds based on protection eligibility.

All teams must submit their protection pick by the end day, the day prior to the draft date.    

This will allow all protected players to be reviewed prior to the start of the draft for protection status.  

Prior to the start of the draft, the draft master will ask if there are any teams who wish to withdraw their protection before they are written to the team sheets.  

You are allowed to withdraw your protection on draft day in case of an injury.   A new protection cannot be made unless approved by the exectutive.

All protections will be written to the draft sheets and the Draft Master will  announce them to allow everyone to scratch them off their draft lists and the draft will begin.

2023/2024 -  66 points or less are elibible to be protected.

2022/2023 -  66 points or less are elibible to be protected.

2021/2022 -  64 points or less are elibible to be protected.

Players who do not finish in the top 64 plus ties in last years NHL individual scoring are eligible to be protected in the first round of the Walter Mitty Draft for this draft year.

If the same player did not finish in the top 64 plus ties in last years NHL individual scoring and also in the season prior to that, (2 years in a row not in the top 64) they are eligible to be protected in the second round of the Walter Mitty Draft  for this draft year.

If the same player did not finish in the top 64 plus ties in last years NHL individual scoring and also in the two seasons prior to that (3 years in a row not in the top 64) they are eligible to be protected in the third round of the Walter Mitty Draft for this draft year.

Common Questions based on current protection eligibility.

My rookie last year finished out of the top 64 scorers what round is he eligible for protection:  
Answer 3rd round. (3 years in succession not in the top 64 .. 0 points the two years prior to last)

My player  had 55 points last year and 80 points the year before what round is he eligible:  
Answer 1st round. (Only 1 year not in the top 64)

My player had 40 points last year, 60 points the year before and 10 points the year before that?Answer 1st round (Only 1 year not in the top 64 .. last year)

My player had 80 points last year, 70 points the year before that and 66 points the year before that?
Answer:  Walter Mitty Penalty Shot