The NHL and NHLPA reportedly held an initial meeting in New York on Thursday to discuss the league's ongoing expansion process, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

A framework for the expansion draft, including the rules existing teams would have to abide by in protecting their current rosters, was presented to league executives at the GM meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., on Wednesday.

Dreger notes that the rules governing the ostensibly impending expansion draft won't be negotiated until the NHL confirms whether it will add either one or two new outfits for the 2017-18 season.

Teams are currently expected to be allowed to protect either seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goaltender, or eight skaters of any kind plus a goaltender.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.