Las Vegas owner Bill Foley announced this week that George McPhee would be the first general manager in the new expansion club’s history.
The former Washington Capitals GM will spend the summer and most of next season assembling a managerial and scouting staff, as well as searching for a head coach, but just as important will be determining what direction to go in the expansion draft next June.
The parameters set forth by the NHL for protecting players allows clubs to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters and one goaltender.
Teams must protect players who have non-movement clauses in their contracts and must expose at least two forwards and one defenseman who play 40 games in 2016-17 or a combined 70 games over last and next season.
McPhee indicated in interviews after being hired that the franchise that he will look to put together an entertaining club to sell the game in “Sin City” which could be competitive right away. This would contrast with previous expansion teams who were doormats of the league for many years.
The parameters of the expansion draft will allow the expansion club to bring in a higher level of talent, but will also allow the 30 existing NHL clubs an opportunity to clear their roster of high-priced contracts.
McPhee has to reach at least $43.8 Million (60% of the $73 Million salary cap), which may make it beneficial to select players with significant salaries, but also players with a limited term left on their contracts, so as to give the club flexibility to move those players out for future assets.
Here are ten names that could be available and selected by the new franchise:
- Rick Nash – The 32-year-old former first overall pick scored only 15 goals in 60 games and missed a quarter of the season due to injury. The Rangers will likely expose Nash, as he does not have a no-movement clause and has a $7.8 Million cap hit for 2017-18, which would give Vegas a big name to sell.The benefit for McPhee is that Nash will only have a year remaining before becoming a UFA and they can flip him at the trade deadline for futures and retain up to 50% of his salary to get a better return.
- Dustin Brown – The two-time Stanley Cup winner was stripped of the Kings captaincy in favor of Anze Kopitar after Los Angeles was eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks. Brown is 31 and has five years remaining at a $5.875 Million cap hit, but the actual money drops below the cap hit in 2018 and his leadership abilities might make him a good fit as Vegas’ first team captain.
- Simon Despres – The former Penguins blueliner missed more than half of last season due to injury and enters the first year of a five-year contract extension with the Ducks. Anaheim has a difficult dilemma in terms of protecting defenseman, with Kevin Bieksa (NMC), Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm. If the Ducks buyout Bieksa, they will be able to protect most of their core defensive group, but will likely have to expose Despres unless Fowler or Lindholm is traded.
- Evander Kane – The talented but troubled 24-year-old Kane is in the process of burning bridges with his second NHL club, due to a pair of off-ice incidents and missing practice after flying up to Toronto for the NBA All-Star game. Kane scored 20 goals in 65 games for the Sabres and would have a year left on his current deal when the expansion draft occurs. It could be worth a roll of the dice for Vegas to see if Kane can straighten out his act or put together a good season to be used as a tradable asset.
- Jack Johnson – The Columbus Blue Jackets are boasting a young defense corps with Zach Werenski, Seth Jones, David Savard and 2013 second overall pick Ryan Murray. The 29-year-old Johnson had his worst season in Columbus, with only 14 points in 60 games and if GM Jarmo Kekalainen is unable to trade the former US Olympian, he may be exposed to expansion and worth a claim by Vegas.
- Colin Wilson – Nashville is one of the few clubs who may opt to protect eight skaters, because of their need to protect their defensive corps of PK Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis. Wilson is 26 and a former top 10 draft choice, but slumped after his first 20-goal year to just six last season. With Ryan Johansen in need of a new deal, GM David Poile may let Wilson go unprotected to open up cap space.
- Marc-Andre Fleury – The Stanley Cup winner lost his job to rookie Matt Murray due to injury, but Penguins GM Jim Rutherford says that he will keep the 31-year-old goalie this upcoming season. Fleury has two years remaining on his current deal at $5.5 Million and a no-movement clause, but might be swayed to waive it if Murray remains the primary starter in 2016.
- Paul Stastny – Another of those prominent players with a hefty salary and one year remaining. Stastny will be 31 next June and has a $7 Million cap hit. If the Blues want to re-sign defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk or extend youngsters Robby Fabbri or Colton Parayko, exposing Stastny and hoping that he is claimed would be one way for Doug Armstrong to go.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk – A Stanley Cup winner and only 24, the younger brother of Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk may fall victim of the numbers game, since the Hawks may have to protect 8 players due to no-movement clauses, including three defensemen (Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson). Protecting eight skaters would allow Chicago to protect TVR, but would leave Marcus Kruger exposed. Either way, the Hawks could lose someone of value.
- Eric Staal – The Wild are another team that may opt to protect eight skaters. Even if they trade Matt Dumba or Jonas Brodin this summer, Minnesota may have to protect four blueliners (Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella and Brodin/Dumba).With Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Jason Pominville all having NMC’s, GM Chuck Fletcher would have to buyout one of them to open up a spot to protect another young forward in Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund or Nino Niederreiter and its almost certain that Staal would be left unprotected unless he had a great comeback year.
By Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo), and can also be found on HockeyBuzz.com
