On the Vegas Golden Knights and Expansion Notes …
Pierre LeBrun: Hearing that the Golden Knights have talked to Kris Russell‘s reps. There hasn’t been anything serious to this point. Vegas will check in with several UFAs.
Darren Dreger: Free agent defenseman Karl Alzner could be another free agent target of Vegas. Has a history with GM George McPhee.
Ansar Khan: Red Wings GM Ken Holland said they don’t have a side deal in place with Vegas.
Joe Smith: Lightning GM Steve Yzerman on side deals with Vegas: “You measure what it’s going to cost you for that certainty, vs the risk of the unknown (selected player).”
Jonathan Bombulie: “Not a surprise or anything, but know what Vegas isn’t going to find on the available lists? Top-6 centers … Tons of D and goalies. A few wingers who can score (Neal, Marchessault, etc.). Center pool is very shallow.”
Bob Stauffer: Think that Vegas should be able to at least get a first round pick and a prospect for Matt Dumba …. the Wild don’t have a first round pick this year.
On the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins …
Michael Russo: Can promise you that the Bruins were never really close to trading for defenseman Jonas Brodin.
On the New York Islanders …
Arthur Staple of Newsday: The Islanders left defenseman Calvin de Haan and several others unprotected which has led to reports that the Islanders are sending their first round pick, number 15 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
There may be a list of three players – de Haan, Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome – or maybe more from Thomas Hickey, Scott Mayfield, Josh Bailey, Shane Prince, Nikolay Kulemin, Jason Chimera, Cal Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas and Jaroslav Halak that Vegas will stay away from.
Sending a first to Vegas may make it a little more difficult to acquire a top-six forward that they are looking. They’ve been in trade talks involving Matt Duchene, Jordan Eberle and Alex Galchenyuk.