Like anyone else I am surprised that Vegas has done that they have. I thought they would have the depth they do but would lack top pairing defenceman and not have a good top line. I was a bit surprised by some of the deals they worked out at the expansion draft.
But let's face it if the chemistry between Karlsson, Smith, and Marchessault was predictable, another GM would have made the deals to unite those guys.
They did get a far more favorable expansion draft...than again they did pay every other owner a shad under 17 million to join the league. I'll be interested to see how they do next year. I have to think they will normalize a bit. But they could still be the best team in the Pacific.
I doubt the next expansion team will be this good. But I bet they hesitate a lot less to drop the money on the expansion fee now having seen what is possible.
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Patriots QB Tom Brady
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