Puck Prose
Fansided

Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Draft Strategy: Metropolitan Division

By Trin Potratz

Jan 19, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers forward Michael Grabner (40) reacts after scoring a shorthanded goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at the Air Canada Centre. New York defeated Toronto 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers forward Michael Grabner (40) reacts after scoring a shorthanded goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third period at the Air Canada Centre. New York defeated Toronto 5-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 9
Next
Feb 19, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes a save during the second period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes a save during the second period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Now that the trade deadline has passed, many will be turning their attention to the upcoming expansion draft. There will be various mock drafts completed and the speculation about what each of the NHL’s current 30 teams will do in preparation for the expansion draft.

The Vegas Golden Knights management will now be looking at the realistic possibilities about which player they will be able to select from each NHL team. We know the Golden Knights will be able to take compensation from teams in exchange for NOT selecting a particular player.

Another thing to keep an eye on are what I called “expansion draft make up transactions,” where a team will do one of two things. The first being, signing a player to an extension for the sole purpose of meeting the exposure requirements. The second thing we may see is players being played on the big club’s roster to meet exposure requirements.

Each team will be able to protect either seven forward, three defensemen and a goaltender or eight different skaters and one goaltender. Each team will need to expose at least two forwards and one defenseman who are under contract for next season and played in 40 or more NHL games this current year, or a combination of 70 NHL games in the previous two seasons. Each team must also expose one goaltender who is under contract next year or one who is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. For more information, Cap Friendly has the rundown.

Without further ado, I will be taking a look at each NHL Division over the next couple of days and give my take on each team’s strategy going in. This time we take a look at the Metropolitan Division including the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.

Home/Editorials