ESPN's mock Vegas expansion draft

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SofaProfessor

Vegas is going to have a really solid crop of goalies to pick from which is good considering their options when it comes to defence. Yikes...

The forward group is meh. There might be some guys that are overpaid who get exposed and end up having decent seasons in Vegas to make the team somewhat respectable.

That's pretty much what happens with every expansion team. Good goalies, decent defence, weak forwards.

The one thing that Vegas has going for them is that free agency is a lot more open now than it was in past expansion years, so they can potentially throw some money at some UFA forwards to augment whatever they get in the expansion draft.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

You don't leave young guys making $825,000 that play on your top line (concede may not be long term) exposed. He will get picked off like one of those lizards running up the rocks in Planet Earth II.

The Flames will look to lock him up this off-season for something in the Bennett range and, likely, less. He may not score 35 goals. And he is a bit hot and cold. But I'm taking the over on 22.5 goals next year if he plays on the top line.

exactly...

hoping that BT learned from the Byron mistake... while a slightly different situation, they should have rolled the dice exposing Hiller, a 34 year old goalie with a 4.5 million cap hit...

Brouwer is a useful player, but i'd protect Ferland 1000 times out of a 1000 and roll the dice that LV would be reluctant to take on a 31 year with a 4.5 M cap hit...

MacPhee makes that exposure dangerous, but if you expose Ferland i'd think he'd be as good as gone

[TheFlamesVan]

Ferland was even arguably a better junior player than Lazar, and has absolutely made more of an NHL impact (pun intended).

I think there is about 0% chance Lazar is protected over Ferland. But agree that Brouwer will be... and I believe he'll have a playoff performance that will solidify that.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by getbak

That's pretty much what happens with every expansion team. Good goalies, decent defence, weak forwards.

The one thing that Vegas has going for them is that free agency is a lot more open now than it was in past expansion years, so they can potentially throw some money at some UFA forwards to augment whatever they get in the expansion draft.

Also, compared to past expansion teams, they'll *have to* spend enough money to at least meet the cap floor. Other teams in the past could just grin and bear it for a couple of seasons, LV will need a strategy on how to get to the cap floor at the same time they're experiencing their growing pains. It'll be interesting to watch unfold.

[SofaProfessor]

I've seen some other articles and posters on this board talk about the idea of Vegas going goalie hoarding and using them as trade bait.

Considering some of the skaters they picked in this mock draft I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to fill in some holes with free agents and then use the extra goalies as trade bait to stock up on draft picks.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I think people are getting a little carried away with Ferland's upside. He's gelling well on the top line right now but he wasn't exactly having a great season until he got promoted. He's doing fine as a finisher playing with Monahan and Gaudreau but he hasn't showed anything offensively over his career when not paired with them. I'm not saying he won't be protected but it's a possibility for sure. I would hope the GM has a longer memory than fans. Remember late December when fans here were clamoring for Johnson to he signed as the starter going forward? I remember the posts. Can't put too much stock into a short stretch of elevated play.

I disagree. It is precisely what Ferland has shown over the past three or four years that makes him so tantalizing in a protection situation.

First, let's not pretend that just any player can play on that top line with the same results. There have been posters and other observers who have been musing about Ferland finding a place there for a few years now, and the fact that it is finally working well is what makes it so exciting in the long term. The whole line looks instantly better with him there, and I think it is disingenuous to attribute that entirely to what Gaudreau and Monahan are doing—they both look a lot better with him on their wing.

Second, I don't think you are giving him enough credit for his performance all year. Ferland was actually well on his way to improving on his rookie season even before being added to the top line.

Finally, Ferland is not quite 25-years-old and he has under-rated skill: his hands are terrific in tight, he is able to process the game at a pretty high speed, he has probably one of the best one-timers on the team, and he is an excellent skater. Add to that the fact that he is big, strong, and hits as hard as a rhinoceros is more than enough to take a gamble on him as a future core piece in the top-six.

Ferland was a late bloomer who has battled his way at every level to become an NHL fixture, and it seems shortsighted to me that anyone would cap his development at what he has shown thus far.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I disagree. It is precisely what Ferland has shown over the past three or four years that makes him so tantalizing in a protection situation.

First, let's not pretend that just any player can play on that top line with the same results. There have been posters and other observers who have been musing about Ferland finding a place there for a few years now, and the fact that it is finally working well is what makes it so exciting in the long term. The whole line looks instantly better with him there, and I think it is disingenuous to attribute that entirely to what Gaudreau and Monahan are doing—they both look a lot better with him on their wing.

Second, I don't think you are giving him enough credit for his performance all year. Ferland was actually well on his way to improving on his rookie season even before being added to the top line.

Finally, Ferland is not quite 25-years-old and he has under-rated skill: his hands are terrific in tight, he is able to process the game at a pretty high speed, he has probably one of the best one-timers on the team, and he is an excellent skater. Add to that the fact that he is big, strong, and hits as hard as a rhinoceros is more than enough to take a gamble on him as a future core piece in the top-six.

Ferland was a late bloomer who has battled his way at every level to become an NHL fixture, and it seems shortsighted to me that anyone would cap his development at what he has shown thus far.

I 2 love the Ferland! He is my next Jersey!

[jammies]

It cost nothing other than money to acquire Brouwer, and that money would be recouped should he be chosen by Vegas. He can and should be exposed over Ferland, who cost both a pick and years of development time.

If Ferland is exposed, it has to be about 99% certain that is who Vegas will pick. If Brouwer is exposed, he is only going to be one of several players in the mix. That should tell you right there who is more valuable as an asset.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

By giving up a second round pick for Lazar, the Flames would look foolish not protecting him and then losing him. He could skate through without being claimed, but that would be a big gamble and potential egg on the face moment for management.

Lazar hasn't showed anything close to what Ferland has at the NHL level. He's a project just to stick as a regular NHLer. Do people really think Flames management would be so embarrassed at losing Lazar that they'll let a better player get taken instead?

Of course they won't. If Lazar gets claimed he gets claimed. And the expansion draft costs the Flames a player who cost them a 2nd rounder. Hardly a big loss. You take that hit, shrug your shoulders, and move on.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's all going to come down to how they handle Brouwer. There's no way Lazar is not protected as Treliving would have egg on his face for tossing away a 2nd round pick. No way they take that risk. I would like to think Brouwer is the odd man out but it's hard to say as it's possible Brouwer was assured that he wouldn't be exposed prior to singing his contract last summer. If that's the case then Ferland would be the guy however if that's the case I wouldn't rule out the Flames trading him prior to the expansion draft if there's a market for him.

Or McPhee extorts a pick from us.

[Jason14h]

I don't think there is a very good chance Lazar gets protected, unless they really want cap relief from TB and/or are sure LV won't select hi,. I also think the chances of LV selecting Lazar are low if he's not protected.

[GoJetsGo]

I'm certain in the interview Treliving gave after acquiring Lazar, he said that it's an acquisition with the future in mind and gave a good indication he would be protected. It's why they gave up a 2nd for him.

[Badgers Nose]

McPhee says anyone on any team left unprotected is available for trade, so there is no way Ferland would survive exposure like that imo

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I tend to agree with you, but don't forget that the team parted ways with Colborne after his late season surge, largely because he was inconsistent. I wouldn't be surprised if they view Ferland the same way. It's just as likely as them considering him to be a long term solution on the wing.

I like Ferland a lot, but he has been maddeningly inconsistent in his NHL career so far.

The comparison is a poor one IMO. Ferland didn't play organized hockey until age 15 and thus is pretty much a late bloomer. His development was always going to be a bit longer because of that. Colborne showed very little progress in the past few years. Ferland has showed immense growth and progress. Colborne is a big man who plays a small man's game. Ferland is a powerforward who can score. A valuable and rare commodity.

Zero chance they leave Ferland unprotected IMO. I think he's more valuable to protect than Brouwer. And waaaaay more valuable to protect than Lazar.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Absolutely no way the Flames take that risk. 0.0% chance Lazar is unprotected. The Flames will do fine without Ferland. He's been great lately on the first line but really he's only had to look better than Chaisson who was a waiver wire player last year. He's almost 25 and is probably as good as he's ever going to be. It would be nice to keep him but I don't think Treliving will lose much sleep as he's let go guys like Byron, Colborne, etc when push comes to shove.

Lol you have no clue bud. Protect Lazar over Ferland? Pass the pipe good sir. Just clueless

Like we have to assume you don't really watch hockey very closely because your assessment of Ferland is so out of whack with reality. Young powerforwards who have offensive skill are rare and valuable commodities. Byron, Colborne and Lazar have shown nowhere near the upside Ferland has shown. I thought this year would shut the Ferland detractors up but a few posters out of touch with reality appear to be clinging to their uninformed opinions on him.

[sureLoss]

Colborne also scored most of his goals/points last season when the Flames were already out of the playoff race.

Ferland is producing while the pressure is still on.

[Gaudfather]

For anyone who says that the Flames won't protect Ferland, I have one word - irrelevant!

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

With Ferland's size and truculence in addition to his emerging skill and chemistry on the top line, there's no chance he'e left exposed. None. The mould and style of the player (and at such a young age) is something this organization covets.

...and Gaudreau seems to have grown 6 inches since Ferland joined the Monahan line.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Absolutely no way the Flames take that risk. 0.0% chance Lazar is unprotected. The Flames will do fine without Ferland. He's been great lately on the first line but really he's only had to look better than Chaisson who was a waiver wire player last year. He's almost 25 and is probably as good as he's ever going to be. It would be nice to keep him but I don't think Treliving will lose much sleep as he's let go guys like Byron, Colborne, etc when push comes to shove.

Ferland is, and has been, a much much better NHLer than Lazar already. In no way do you risk losing MF to protect CL...just isnt happening. The room he has figured out how to create for Monahan and Gaudreau is invaluable and actually was what kickstarted the resurgence for both of them. BT isnt forgetting that anytime soon.

Lazar is a project at this point...totally unkown whether or not he will succeed.

Ferland is the RW on one of the best lines in hockey of late.

Its blatently obvious who would stay and who would go if it came down to picking one.

[TheFlamesVan]

Where does the idea Lazar has a higher ceiling than Ferland come from?

It's amazing what a Canadian world junior appearance will do for your career.