NHL Expansion Draft: Vegas Golden Knights Selection Strategy

New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) plays the puck and Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3) defends (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)
New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) plays the puck and Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3) defends (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports) /
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The protection lists for all NHL teams have been released. There are some major surprises, and that’s good for the Vegas Golden Knights. What is the best team available in the NHL Expansion Draft?

NHL Expansion Draft
New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) plays the puck and Ottawa Senators defenseman Marc Methot (3)defends. Methot is available in the NHL Expansion Draft. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports) /

The Vegas Golden Knights have a few barriers to having their best roster in the NHL Expansion Draft.

They will make some trades, they will want to stay near the cap floor, and they just won’t take some contracts.

But what is the best possible team for the Golden Knights? Who, barring any outside influence from the NHL Expansion Draft, would be drafted?

And how would the Vegas Golden Knights look? What type of roster does this NHL Expansion Draft lead to?

Can the Golden Knights be competitive? Or do they draft for the future of the franchise, taking restricted free agents and young players?

(Oh, and by the way, sorry to Washington and Winnipeg fans. Through our NHL Expansion Draft strategy series, we didn’t get to you alphabetically [at least before the official lists were published]. My bad.)

Next: Atlantic Division