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Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Outlook: Minnesota Wild

By Richard Cardinale

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 21: Jason Zucker #16 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the game on January 21, 2017 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 21: Jason Zucker #16 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the game on January 21, 2017 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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At the expansion draft, the Vegas Golden Knights will receive a big present from the Minnesota Wild.

Where do I even begin? The Minnesota Wild have been the NHL’s powerhouse in 2016-2017. The team is sure to make some noise in the playoffs with new coach Bruce Boudreau. Zach Parise isn’t forced to be “the guy” anymore and that’s good thing if you’re a Wild fan. Other players have stepped up big time like Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund. However, when the  Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft rolls around in June, General Manager Chuck Fletcher knows he can’t keep everybody.

Out of all the team’s in the National Hockey League, this team is quite possibly the hardest protection list to figure out. First of all, the Wild have to figure out what option their going to choose come time for the expansion draft.  It’s a tough call to make when the roster is this good. If Minnesota picks the 4-4-1 system, then they’re forced to leave a great forward on the board. If the team goes the opposite route picking 7-3-1 then the squad will lose a top defenseman. When I see this roster from top to bottom, I think this team can afford to give up a defenseman so 7-3-1 it is.

Lets start in goal and get this one out of the way. Devan Dubnyk has been one of the biggest steals in NHL history. The Wild acquired Dubnyk from the Coyotes for just a mere 3rd round selection in the 2015 entry draft. Since that point Dubnyk has taken off as one of the leagues best goaltenders. The 30-year old stats are rather impressive with a record of 32-11-3, a GAA of 2.01, a SV% of .933 and 5 shutouts.  Dubnyk pretty much has the Vezina trophy all but wrapped up. Obviously Dubnyk will be the goalie the Wild will protect, sorry Darcy Kuemper.

The Wild will have tough decisions to make starting on defense. Ryan Suter is the teams number one defenseman and is a stud on the back-end, no issues there. But the Wild have a young core of defensemen on the rise. Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella are the team’s future at defense. Mix all that together and Chuck Fletcher has a log jam of problems. Fletcher could entice Vegas General Manager George McPhee with a 1st round draft pick in order to keep one more top defenseman and that’s what I exactly think is going to happen.  The Wild will find a way to protect Suter, Brodin, Dumba and Spurgeon whether it’s giving up future draft picks or whatnot.

The tough decisions don’t stop there though. This Wild team’s overbalance will cost them at the expansion draft no matter what they do. The team is forced to protect Parise, Jason Pominville and Mikko Koivu due to their no movement clauses. With only 4 spots remaining, the other gimme’s are Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle. Minnesota must make a tough choice to protect either Eric Staal, Erik Haula or Jason Zucker. I think with the year he’s having, Eric Staal gets the final spot to stay on the Minnesota Wild. Staal’s arrival in Minnesota revived his career 100%. Staal’s 17 Goals, 28 Assists and 45 Points is good for second on the team in scoring. Not bad for a player that’s playing his first year in a new organization.

Now who will Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee draft? The options are endless. The franchise’s first GM must hit a home run here. McPhee could go with big D-Man Marco Scandella and his pure defensive type of game. Or McPhee could go with a speed threat in two-way forward Erik Haula.

While both of those players would make solid additions for the expansion franchise, the player that the Golden Knights will take will be Jason Zucker. With Zucker under contract for the 17-18 season and a cap-hit of only two million dollars, this would be a perfect match for Vegas. The 25-year old plays a two-way style with top-notch speed and brings a ton of energy. Zucker has been much more consistent finding the back of the net this year with 18 Goals, 23 Assists and 41 points with a plus/minus rating of +32. And just to add some fuel to the fire, Zucker also grew up in Las Vegas.

In conclusion, this is a no brainer if you’re the Vegas Golden Knights. If you don’t see Zucker on Minnesota’s protection list, this is the pick. Zucker’s speed and skill would bring fans out of their chairs. Zucker would become an instant fan favorite being the hometown kid and would become an early face of the franchise.

Next: An LA King Is Heading To Vegas To Become A Golden Knight. Who Will It Be?

Golden Knights Prediction: Jason Zucker

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