[Rumour] UPD: Daly says no need to protect expiring contracts with NMC

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I think there are going to be six defenseman better than Jokipakka or Nakladal available for LV to pick. The protection rules are designed in such a way that LV probably has six guys that are considered solid 3-5 guys on most teams by the time this is said and done. Jokipakka and Nakladal aren't there yet. I think the only way one of those guys goes is if Ferland, Shinkaruk and Poirier all have bad years.

Very well could be, but it is next to impossible to project until the rules come out on the years pro clarification. I just think that LV will load up on D and G to the extent they can and then use those assets as trade bait, rather than pick what might be a fairly marginal pro in Shinkaruk or Poirier. Ferland I think will be in play to be sure. Of course, all depends on performance next year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Givens: Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett, Backlund, Frolik. After that it's going to be a really important season for the rest of the crew. Will Ferland finally push through and become a legit power forward prospect? Can he put up a 15-20 goal season this year? Has Shinkaruk surpassed him already if he doesn't make a major jump? Will Poirier have a breakout season? Was last seasons Colborne's peak? Does some dark horse guy like Klimchuk have a come out of nowhere season? Lots of variables there.

Gio, Brodie, Hamilton on D, no question. And I'd have to agree that Gillies (if he isn't exempt) would be the goalie prospect of the future to protect.

To further the question, who do you think is the most likely player to be drafted? I remember reading that LV has to pick at least one player from each team. But that will still leave a few teams with more than one player being picked to make Vegas have a full roster (both NHL and AHL). If Kylington isn't exempt, he's highly probable. Jokipakka will probably have some interest. Maybe Ortio if he has a bounce back year. And whoever is remaining out of Shinkaruk, Ferland, Colborne, etc. My guess, if it's 2, are Kylington and Poirier.

I would protect Shinkaruk over Frolik due to his upside and financial reasons.

[_Q_]

I think LV takes the best 4 defencemen, best 6 forwards and best goalie they can get then take the 19 guys with the highest potential. Then they fill out the rest of the roster through free agency and trades. More likely than not, their #1 pick also makes the team.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

So much depends on the talent available on the other teams, but if I were to guess, I would say whomever ends up being our #4D (assuming it isn't Wideman): Kevin or Nak.

Assuming Nak is re-signed this summer for at least a 2 year deal. But it would make more sense for both parties, if he wants to stay in Calgary, to sign him to a one year deal this summer and then let him go to UFA next summer. That way there's no need to protect him and he can just re-sign again after the expansion draft.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

That Vegas team is going to be good. Taking the 10th best player on every team in the league leaves you with a pretty damn good roster.

A team full of third liners, 4-5 defencemen and backup goaltenders.

Not that good, really. But not expansion-Sharks bad either.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

You have to wonder if they also end up with a top 5 pick... and they'll probably sign one big-name UFA that year to market, you'd think. Or trade said top 5 pick for said big-name UFA.

[Ashasx]

Apparently the expansion team will pick no worse than 4th overall for the first 4 years of its existence, regardless of its position in the standings.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

You have to wonder if they also end up with a top 5 pick... and they'll probably sign one big-name UFA that year to market, you'd think. Or trade said top 5 pick for said big-name UFA.

Good chance pick is top 5. I understand they slot in no lower than 4th pick (pre lottery) for first 4 years, regardless of where they actually place in standings (if better than 28th overall)

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Apparently the expansion team will pick no worse than 4th overall for the first 4 years of its existence, regardless of its position in the standings.

lol are you kidding me, with competent management i'll be shocked if they can't make a cup final within 8-10 years

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Apparently the expansion team will pick no worse than 4th overall for the first 4 years of its existence, regardless of its position in the standings.

The rumour, as I read it, was that they would be slotted #28 before the lottery. So the lowest they could thus pick would be sixth. Though I would be surprised if they gave Vegas four years of that. Two, maybe, would be more appropriate.

[Robbob]

I think they might be able to get a couple good young Dmen to build off of. Look at Nashville for example. Weber, Josi, Ellis, Ekholm. One of those will be made available.

As one right now Bieska has to be protected so the other two would be out of Fowler, Lindholm, Vatanen and Despres.

By no means are they world beaters but a group for example of Ekholm, Lindholm, M. Carle, Kevin, Gudas, K. Russel plus a wily vet or two. They wouldn't be the worst D core in the league.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The rumour, as I read it, was that they would be slotted #28 before the lottery. So the lowest they could thus pick would be sixth. Though I would be surprised if they gave Vegas four years of that. Two, maybe, would be more appropriate.

FWIW, it did say 4 years of top 4 (prior to lotteryl in that RDS article.

[Robbob]

For years of top 4 is pretty ridiculous. They must be using the Oilers as a bench mark on how to build a team.

[Point Blank]

Sorry if I missed this but I'm guessing Vegas would be allowed to receive concessions from teams to not take certain unprotected players. If so do you guys think Flames should do that for Kylington? And if so what might the concession be?

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

lol are you kidding me, with competent management i'll be shocked if they can't make a cup final within 8-10 years

Originally Posted by Robbob

For years of top 4 is pretty ridiculous. They must be using the Oilers as a bench mark on how to build a team.

Anyone think that LV has a better than even chance to make the playoffs before the Oilers?

[RockOnRoberts]

Originally Posted by InCoGnEtO

That Vegas team is going to be good. Taking the 10th best player on every team in the league leaves you with a pretty damn good roster.

Just going off of points, here would be the team of 10th best players (prorated point totals in parentheses):

Chris Stewart (28) - Brad Richardson (31) - Pastrnak (42)
Moulson (21) - Frolik (41) - Riley Nash (28)
Grigorenko (30) - Roussel (29) - Helm (28)
Yakupov (31) - Gaborik (33) - Jarnkrok (30)
Jesper Fast (31) - Lazar (22) - Laughton (23)
Callahan (30) - Boyes (33) - Burmistrov (21)

Hjalmarsson (24) - Ryan Murray (25)
Boychuk (25) - Daley (34)
Kulikov (19) - Spurgeon (30)
Bealieu (24) - Adam Larsson (18)
Braun (23) - Parayko (33)
Tanev (24) - Niskanen (32)

Pretty mediocre offensively but solid D. Although most of those Dmen would be protected anyways so this was 10 minutes I'm never getting back.

[Vinny01]

4 straight top 4 picks will set that team up big time. Even if they had to pick 4th every year. This year it is Tkachuk/Dubios, last year Marner, the year before Bennett, and the year before Jones. Those 4 prospects make a potential dominant first line with a potential number 1 D.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Does it?

Let's find out.

G: Marc Andre Fleury - Pit $5.75M
G: Andre Vasilevsky - TB $925K

D: Justin Braun - SJ $3.8M
D: Sami Vatanen - Ana TBD
D: Jonas Brodin - Min $4.16M
D: Carl Gunnarsson - Stl $2.9M
D: Jacob Trouba - Wpg TBD
D: Dylan McIlrath - NYR TBD
D: Matt Greene - LA $2.5M
D: Calvin De Hann - NYI TBD
D: Martin Marincin - Tor TBD

F: Matt Moulson - Buf $5M
F: Artem Anisimov - Chi $4.3M
F: Benoit Pouliot - Edm $4M
F: Michael Frolik - Cal $4.3M
F: Antoine Roussel - Dal $2M
F: Craig Smith - Nsh $4.25M
F: Jannik Hansen - Van $2.5M
F: Joakim Nordstrom - Car $1.275M
F: William Karlsson - CBJ TDB
F: Matt Read - Phi $3.6M
F: Jay Beagle - Was $1.75M
F: Jimmy Hayes - Bos $2.3M
F: Henrik Zetterberg Det $6.08M
F: Jared McCann - Fla TBD
F: Lars Eller - Mtl $3.5M
F: Mike Zibanejad - Ott TBD

With Zibanejad, McCann, Karlsson, Marincin, DeHann, McIlrath, Trouba and Vatanen yet to have their salaries determined for 2017-18, this team costs $59.54M.

The forwards are not good. It's going to be very tough for Las Vegas to snake any offensive talent, teams will be able to protect their studs up front. On defense, there are more issues.

Winnipeg is going to lose either Jacob Trouba or Tyler Myers - NMC for Buff and Enstrom, and Myers might have something as well (Capfriendly wasn't clear here).

I think a lot of teams will choose to protect 4D 4F 1G after looking at every team in the league. The teams that do will be forced to leave a reasonable forward available for Las Vegas.

As far as expansion teams go, Vegas should be the most instantly competitive franchise since the Blues got to go to a bunch of Cup finals in their infancy. Their defense should be very very good, and their goaltending will keep them in a lot of games.

JMO.

[Jason14h]

If a team has a good 4th D they aren't protecting they will just trade them to another team before the expansion draft, won't they.....??

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

And then they sign John Tavares, and...