On the Vegas Golden Knights …
NHL.com: Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee has the money to be active in the free agent market this summer.
“Money’s not a problem,” McPhee said Monday in a Q&A with season-ticket holders. “Our owner, Bill Foley, is not afraid to spend to get the right player, and it’s our job to identify who those players are.”
McPhee is able to talk to and sign any restricted and unrestricted free agents that are left unprotected for the expansion draft. If Vegas does sign someone, the team that lost the free agent wouldn’t lose another player.
The Golden Knights have to select at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies.
On the Buffalo Sabres …
John Vogl: Sabres GM Tim Murray said they’ll protect seven forwards, three defense and one goal for the expansion draft. Murray added that he’s already spoken with Vegas about who they don’t want to lose in the draft.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on NBCSN and was asked if Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma and if he could be on the hot seat this offseason.
“Well, anytime you’ve got a non-playoff team there’s always an undercurrent of tension as the season comes to an end,” said hockey Insider Bob McKenzie during a Wednesday evening appearance on NBCSN. “And there’s been, I would say, intangible talk that maybe some of the players aren’t feeling the love for head coach Dan Bylsma right now, and that gets talked about a lot on talk radio in Buffalo. They’re now envisioning, ‘Hey, if Bylsma wasn’t back, who might be a good guy to take over.’”
Sabres GM Tim Murray was on the radio Tuesday and that he’ll be evaluating Bylsma and the his players this offseason. Murray got a contract extension so McKenzie expects him back, as well as Bylsma. McKenzie does see the Pegula family wanting to pay Rex Ryan and Bylsma to not coach.
“At this point in time, I would suggest that Bylsma will be back. But that’s not going to be carved in stone until after the season and the review process goes through the proper stages.”