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Vegas Golden Knights: Mock Draft, Analysis, and Depth Chart Part Two

By Matt Duscharme

Vegas Golden Knights: General view of Oakland Raiders helmet at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Las Vegas strip on Las Vegas Blvd. Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Vegas Golden Knights: General view of Oakland Raiders helmet at the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Las Vegas strip on Las Vegas Blvd. Raiders owner Mark Davis (not pictured) has pledged $500 million toward building a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas at a total cost of $1.4 billion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (not pictured) said Davis can explore his options in Las Vegas but would require 24 of 32 owners to approve the move. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Vegas Golden Knights: With the NHL Trade Deadline Over and the Playoffs Fast Approaching, We Re-Assess Who the Vegas Golden Knights May Take in the Expansion as well as Full Team Decisions!

The NHL Trade Deadline is now over, which means a new mock draft for the Vegas Golden Knights. With new players in new cities, it’s made things a tad more difficult on who to protect and who to leave exposed. But I believe this is the best scenario for all teams as of now.

The following selections for each team will be done with either a 4-4-1 protection plan or a 7-3-1 protection plan. The first plan is four forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. The second plan is seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie. Also, some players will have their NMC’s (No Movement Clause) waived to make room for someone else younger and on the come up, however, teams can also use conditional picks to protect additional players. In this mock I’ll be going team by team of players I protected as well as the player I have the Golden Knights drafting.

I will be doing another mock draft during the middle of the playoffs and who knows, maybe some new players will be chosen!

Anaheim Ducks:
Protection Plan: 4-4-1.
Vegas Draft Pick: Kevin Bieksa.

Protected Players:
Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, and John Gibson.

Best Exposed Players:
Jakob Silfverberg, Andrew Cogliano, Antoine Vermette, Patrick Eaves, Kevin Bieksa (NMC Waived), Simon Despres, and Jonathan Bernier.

In this mock draft, I have Kevin Bieksa waiving his NMC in order for the team to protect Josh Manson. Now if the Ducks want to they can always use a conditional pick to protect him. Due to Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Ryan Kesler having NMC’s that most likely won’t be waived by the team, their best option is a 4-4-1 route. This does leave some solid depth forwards exposed, by why not take a veteran big body d-man with your first pick?

Arizona Coyotes:
Protection Plan: 7-3-1.
Vegas Draft Pick: Louis Domingue.

Protected Players: Tobias Rieder, Alexander Burmistrov, Peter Holland, Radim Vrbata, Teemu Pulkkinen, Anthony Duclair, Jordan Martinook, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Goligoski, Connor Murphy, Mike Smith

Best Exposed Players: Louis Domingue, Luke Schenn, Shane Doan, Jamie McGinn, Josh Jooris.

This time around the Coyotes are protecting Mike Smith over Louis Domingue, cause if you have watched Domingue this season he’s shown that he’s still not ready for constant NHL play. So Arizona’s best option would be to sign an experienced backup in the off-season, but they could also use a condition pick to protect him. Also, I protected a lot of the team’s youth since that is the direction the organization is going.

Boston Bruins:
Protection Plan: 7-3-1.
Vegas Draft Pick: Joe Morrow.

Protected Players: Tuukka Rask, Kevan Miller, Collin Miller, Torey Krug, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, David Backes, Brad Marchand, Ryan Spooner, David Pastrnak, Matt Beleskey.

Best Exposed Players: Zdeno Chara (NMC Waived), Adam McQuaid, Joe Morrow, Malcolm Subban.

I have Zdeno Chara waiving his NMC this way the Bruins can protect three skilled young defensemen. This also leaves another in Joe Morrow exposed but they could use a pick to protect him and Malcolm Subban as well if Vegas was to approach either.

Buffalo Sabres:
Protection Plan: 7-3-1.
Vegas Draft Pick: Marcus Foligno.

Protected Players: Robin Lehner, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Dmitry Kulikov, Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Evander Kane, Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons, Johan Larsson.

Best Exposed Players: Anders Nilsson, Zach Bogosian, Josh Gorges, Cody Franson, Brian Gionta, Marcus Foligno, Nicolas Deslauriers, William Carrier.

Buffalo’s 7-3-1 plan is quite simple, they have a lot of youth down the middle and on the wings that will carry this team. And with Buffalo wanting to go the youth route as well this will help them protect some youth players and high scoring vets. William Carrier is a talented player that unfortunately is exposed but Buffalo could use a pick to protect him.

Calgary Flames:
Protection Plan: 7-3-1.
Vegas Draft Pick: Michael Stone.

Protected Players: Brian Elliott, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Curtis Lazar, Micheal Ferland, Alex Chiasson.

Best Exposed Players: Troy Brouwer, Michael Frolik, Matt Stajan, Lance Bouma, Kris Versteeg, Hunter Shinkaruk, Freddie Hamilton, Dennis Wideman, Deryk Engelland, Michael Stone, Tyler Wotherspoon, Chad Johnson.

The majority of the Flames roster are depth players that don’t do much but hit and fill roles, with them constantly making moves for younger players and the addition of Curtis Lazar it’s obvious the team will want to protect him. Newly acquired defenseman Michael Stone is a free agent this off-season so there is no point in protecting him which makes him a solid pick for the Knights defense.

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