Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Draft Results
The Vegas Golden Knights have made their expansion draft selections and will announce more moves tomorrow afternoon.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Vegas Golden Knights are here. What we just witnessed tonight is history. The 30 players were selected by General Manager George McPhee with the assists to all of the Golden Knights hockey operations staff.
Looking at this roster from top to bottom, it looks like a pretty decent list. This roster has a healthy mix of youth, grit, and experience. Obviously, 30 players can’t make the NHL roster so that number is going to dwindle as the offseason rolls along.
Let’s also keep in mind that McPhee made some trades during this process. Those transactions were also announced after they selected their new players. Here’s the full roster along with a complete list of transactions by the newest franchise.
All 30 Expansion draft selections:
Calvin Pickard (COL), Luca Sbisa (VAN), Teemu Pulkkinen (ARI), Jon Merrill (NJD), William Carrier (BUF), Tomas Nosek (DET), Cody Eakin (DAL), Jonathan Marchessault (FLA), Brayden McNabb (LA), Connor Brickley (CAR), Chris Thorburn (WPG), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (PHI), Jason Garrison (TB), J.F. Berube (NYI), James Neal (NSH), Deryk Engelland (CGY), Brendan Leipsic (TOR), Colin Miller (BOS), Marc Methot (OTT), David Schlemko (SJ), David Perron (STL), Oscar Lindberg (NYR), Griffin Reinhart (EDM), Alexei Emelin (MTL), Clayton Stoner (ANA), Erik Haula (MIN), William Karlsson (CBJ), Trevor van Riemsdyk (CHI) Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Nate Schmidt (WSH)
Transactions:
Vegas Golden Knights acquire 2017 sixth-round pick from Buffalo. Vegas Golden Knights acquire Reilly Smith 2018 fourth-round pick from Florida. Vegas Golden Knights acquire 2017 fifth-round pick from Carolina. Vegas Golden Knights acquire Nikita Gusev, 2017 second-round pick, and a 2018 fourth-round pick. Vegas Golden Knights acquire Mikhail Grabovski, Jake Bischoff, 2017 first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick from the New York Islanders.
Vegas Golden Knights acquire Shea Theodore from Anaheim. Vegas Golden Knights acquire Alex Tuch from Minnesota Wild in exchange for a third-round pick in 2017 or 2018. Vegas Golden Knights acquire David Clarkson, 2017 first-round pick, and 2019 second-round pick. Vegas Golden Knights acquire 2017 first-round pick and 2019 third-round pick from Winnipeg in exchange for the previously acquired Columbus first-round pick in 2017. Vegas Golden Knights acquire 2020 second-round pick from Pittsburgh.
Looking at this group from the naked eye, they will be competitive in the net, solid on defense and struggle mightily to score goals on a consistent basis. Not having that true number one defenseman will also hurt them in the short term.
Next: Vegas Golden Knights Open The Regular Season In Dallas.
Fans have to realize that the team will not become the Chicago Blackhawks overnight. It took the Hawks a long time before they got to where they want to be. Chicago is an incredible team drafting team, and the Vegas Golden Knights have to do the same, especially early on in their existence.
Friday night will mark another historic day in history as the club will take part in their first entry draft. It’s subject to change, but McPhee and his staff will take to the podium three times on Friday night alone. Even if it’s not the best draft class, McPhee can’t afford to have three whiffs in round one.