The NHL's general managers are taking heat for their apparent reluctance to release protected and unprotected lists ahead of the upcoming expansion draft, but one of the league's top decision-makers says there's a chance they'll go public.

"The official answer was it looks like we're going to keep them private, (but) the unofficial answer was nothing's private and it's going to get out," Colin Campbell told Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Thursday.

The NHL's executive vice-president and director of hockey operations reiterated his acknowledgement that any information the GMs attempt to keep from fans and the media will be reported anyway, citing that as a reason they're now considering sharing the lists.

"They may (ultimately) be (public), they may be because of that, it's going to get out there, you know it'll get out there," Campbell said.

Another consideration was whether or not to televise the expansion draft itself, which will take place from June 18-20, with the selections scheduled to be revealed June 21.

It isn't yet being billed as a made-for-TV event, but Campbell told "Prime Time Sports" co-host John Shannon that's also on the table.

"They talked about that a lot too, John," he said. "It's possible, yes."

The GMs initially decided they did not want to share the lists, as ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported Wednesday, and the executives' sentiment was criticized by multiple media outlets.

Considering the flack some NHL teams take for not disclosing contract details, providing vague injury updates, and now hoping to keep these expansion-draft lists secret, it's refreshing to hear a top league official admit he's aware that there's little point to hiding the info if it's just going to emerge regardless.

Campbell's comments might be seen as reactionary due to the backlash, but they should still be viewed as progress.

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