The newest NHL franchise gained official standing in the league yesterday and with it the power to sign free agents, make deals and move draft picks. They likely were already talking to teams about possible expansion draft scenarios, and one former GM who has been through a similar situation thinks they’ve already agreed to a handful of moves. Doug McLean on Sportsnet radio today was talking about the Vegas Golden Knights and said that he thinks the team has already locked up at least part of their roster.
I would bet dollars to donuts on this. Their number one goaltender is done. Guaranteed that.
That’s the one position that I’m sure, you’ll have that locked up. Maybe it’s not signed or whatever the legality is, because George [McPhee] would go by the book. I think that position is done.
While McLean doesn’t sound like he has a source that’s telling him that the Golden Knights have completed a deal, he does have plenty of experience in this area. He was the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets when they and the Minnesota Wild went through the expansion process in 2000. He later says that he had at least half a dozen deals done by the draft, and it was more difficult then because two teams were coming in at the same time.
McLean has an idea of who that goaltender might be, and it’s not Ben Bishop. Many have wondered whether the Golden Knights will go after Bishop on the free agent market, as his deal expires this summer. The former Vezina runner-up is now with the Los Angeles Kings as they try to make the playoffs. 
The panel—which includes Nick Kypreos and Jeff Marek—also ponder the idea that Eric Fehr is destined for Vegas as well, and that Lou Lamoriello may have acquired him with a deal already agreed to with McPhee. Fehr did play for McPhee for many years in Washington and could be part of a leadership group in what will be a rag-tag bunch of players in the Golden Knights’ first season. The expansion team will need to come to the cap floor, and players with one or two years remaining with a moderate cap hit might be solid targets to get them there in the first season.
While there isn’t—and likely won’t be—any proof that the Golden Knights have made deals before the expansion draft, it’s something to think about if you’re still wondering why your favorite team did one thing or another at the trade deadline. There are often explanations behind the scenes, and with the varying rules that go along with the draft different scenarios can arise that aren’t clear at the moment.
One that was posed in one of our recent live chats, is the idea that a team would keep a pending unrestricted free agent as bait for Vegas, since if they sign them in the window before the expansion draft, they won’t select a player from that team’s roster. Bishop was the example used, but perhaps there have been discussions about Radim Vrbata heading to Las Vegas when the season is done, protecting the Coyotes from any selection. In any case, one should not dismiss McLean’s opinion on the matter so quickly, as he’s one of a handful of people in the world who have been in a similar situation in the past.
Would love to know their numbers on season ticket sales for next season
Looks like they’ve sold about 12,300 so far. They had deposits for all 16,000, but expected people to back out.
link to reviewjournal.com
Wonder if it’s a deal for Fleury or Howard.
I’d imagine Fleury.
I think a dark horse candidate would be Antti Raanta from NYR. Low risk and high reward.
Is there any chance Vegas tries to win now and draft the best cheap controllable guys available but then just sign all the best FA’s? If they offer Shatty 2 million more than everyone else, and are in on some other top guys, that could really shake up the offseason.
It’d be a sound strategy but the NHL is mandating that they hit the cap minimum from the expansion draft(it might actually be more but can’t remember exactly).
If I’m Rutherford, I call McPhee and offer him my first round pick to take Fleury in the expansion draft.
This would clear cap space, eliminate the possibility of having to buy out Fleury and (the reason it’s worth a first round pick…in a weak draft) protect players they would like to keep, like Hagelin or Cole.
They’d have to let Murray walk because I think Fleury isn’t protected. I’m not 100% sure if I’m right though
That’s assuming Fleury waives his NMC. I don’t see Fleury being a complete d*ck about waiving his No Move rights but I’d assume he’d much rather go to a place he sees as a potential playoff/cup contender rather than take go to Vegas, who are most likely to be a bottom 10-15 team in the league.
Fleury wants a job. I think Dallas or Calgary gets Darling. Bishop will be out there. He might not have much choice.
McPhee was GM of the Caps when MAF and the Pens owned them.
Also, MAF is the kind of player fans love (probably the most loved player I’ve seen in Pittsburgh except for Mario) and can be the guy on their billboards.
Not sure Jason Demers should be the face of a franchise. MAF can fill that role.
I don’t disagree but MAF is 32 and he’s a real competitor. I have a hard time believing someone who can basically dictate his next destination choosing what will likely be a lottery team for the next 2-4 years. It’d be an essential waste of his remaining prime years.
Now, if Rutherford and co. grant McPhee permission to speak to MAF, maybe I could see MAF reconsidering. But I’m not even sure that’d be allowed though I don’t see why not. I personally see MAF in Calgary next season as I believe they want/need stability in their crease and MAF would provide that. The Elliott trade may make them reconsider going the unproven route(Darling).
I would love for Vancouver to sign Darling. Miller’s walking (thank god) and Markstrom is not capable of anything more than 40 games.
Scott Darling. Know he is an UFA…but see Hawks trading his rights and Vegas signing him
I see a team like Dallas or Calgary overpaying for his rights before Vegas can get to him.
GM knows Halak and he will not be protected by Isles. Although this would go against thought that Capuano is Vegas coach. MA Fleury has been shaky on great team, so Vegas should take another Pens player like Hagelin or Maata. If not Halak they take a Cizikas or Clutterbuck from Isles. Rangers and Hawks cannot lose Raanta and Darling as they need them way more than Pens need MA. Maybe they take goalie from Jets or Sens?? I see Preds protecting 2 goalies.
Sorry, meant I see Preds protecting two goalies by making deal with Vegas, but if not, Saros and either Darling or Raanta as Vegas goalies would be great!
Saros is exempt from expansion. He’s only in his 2nd pro season and all 1st/2nd year pros are exempt.
Sorry, forgot about that clause protecting 1st and 2nd year players.
Not so sure Flames will run from Elliot just yet. Many players need time transitioning to a new team and goalies even more so to click with D and goalie coach.
I agree, Vegas could get permission to speak with MA. Burrows (or agent) must have spoken with Sens before trade this week to get a new contract so fast. MA wants to play, but I don’t think Vegas is where he wants to be. I would not be shocked if Vegas selects certain players with the intent to trade them.
Curious… Do any teams have 2 goalies with a NMC and if so, what happens since the expansion rules limit protection to 1 goalie??
The closest I could find was Dallas with Lehtonen and Niemi both having NTC but NTC don’t have to be honoured under expansion. My best guess if a team had 2 goalies with NMC, the one would be forced to be protected while the other would move to exempt status.
Maata will be protected. This is what imagine the pens will do.
Crosby, Malkin, Sheary, Kessel, Hornqvist, Hagelin, Letang, Maata, Domulin, Murray.
I believe that MAF will ultimately waive his NMC to either be traded or exposed. I expect either MAF, Rust, or Poulliot will be selected.
Sheary is exempt so they will protect Rust. And you only have 6 forwards. Oskar Sundqvist has to be protected and they like him. He could be the 7th.
And they will resign and protect Schultz. Maatta will be traded. Ian Cole is the guy they might lose in that scenario. I’d hate to see that.
Sheary played a year in the ahl on a tryout so I don’t know if that counts or not, and Shultz will be resigned after the draft I bet. I wasn’t aware that 7 cowards could be protected, thought it was only 6. I don’t think Sundqvist is worth a protection spot, he is only going to be at best a low level 3rd C.
Forwards not cowards my bad.
I don’t think it’s a goalie that they have a deal worked out with. There will be enough out there unprotected or free agents that have decent talent. I would anticipate a blue liner that could anchor the defense for several years and help set the culture.
That’s unlikely to be available in the expansion draft. Like Connorsoxfan said, I think signing Shattenkirk is their best chance of obtaining a blue chip defenseman.