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How The NHL Entry Draft Works For The Vegas Golden Knights

By Richard Cardinale |
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: (L-R) Patrik Laine, selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, Auston Matthews, selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pierre-Luc Dubois, selected third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, stand onstage during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft at First Niagara Center on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 24: (L-R) Patrik Laine, selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, Auston Matthews, selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pierre-Luc Dubois, selected third overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets, stand onstage during round one of the 2016 NHL Draft at First Niagara Center on June 24, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

So just how does this process work for the Vegas Golden Knights?

General Manager George McPhee has to get ready for the expansion draft that’s a few short months away. Starting from scratch isn’t easy at all. Not only do you have to build an NHL roster but you need to build a prospect pool as well. That’s where the NHL Entry Draft comes in.The Vegas Golden Knights have a quick turnaround between the expansion draft and the entry draft.

The new franchise will have to select players for the NHL team and the entry draft in a matter of an entire week. It’ll probably be the busiest week in McPhee’s career. The fans and media outlets will obviously have a blast with it though.

So what does this all mean for the Golden Knights? What position will the team be picking from? The Golden Knights are given the same odds in the 2017 NHL Draft Lottery as the team finishing with the third-fewest points during the 2016-17 regular season. That seems pretty fair in my book. Vegas’s First Round selection in the 2017 NHL Draft will be determined by the NHL Draft Lottery. As a result, the Golden Knights will be guaranteed no lower than the sixth overall selection.

Many people were asking me about this the other day but yes, the Golden Knights do have a shot at the number one pick. According to the odds the Golden Knights will likely pick at number five. The chances that Vegas gets the number one selection is 10.3%. The Golden Knights will then select third round two through seven of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Next: Why Should The Vegas Golden Knights Take A Chance on Henrik Tommernes?

This isn’t as hard a process to figure out as the expansion draft. The team would love to get the number one pick but we have to be real here. Not every expansion franchise ends up with the first pick. Although how cool would it be if the Vegas Golden Knights wins the lottery and takes Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier. Getting an instant NHL franchise player expedites the process of becoming a contender real quick. Grabbing that attention around the state of Nevada would be huge for this hockey club. One could only dream. But the fact that there is a possibility should excite the Las Vegas hockey fans.

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