Vegas Golden Knights fill out roster with NHL expansion draft
Posted Jun 21, 2017 11:20 pm.
Last Updated Jun 21, 2017 11:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Veteran forward James Neal and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury headlined the expansion draft selections of the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards.
Neal had 23 goals and 18 assists last season for the Nashville Predators, who lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first-ever Stanley Cup final.
Fleury was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft and has won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
St. Louis forward David Perron also selected while both Mikhail Grabovski and David Clarkson were acquired in trades from the Islanders and Blue Jackets respectively to keep the Golden Knights from selecting certain unprotected players.
The going currency in the deals seems to be first round picks, Vegas so far with three first rounders ahead of Friday’s draft and expected to gain even move once the trade freeze lifts on Thursday morning.
The Flames lose defenseman Deryk Engelland to expansion.
All six other Canadian teams lost a player as well including Vancouver defenseman Luca Sbisa, Winnipeg forward Chris Thorburn, Toronto forward Brendan Leipsic, Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot, Oilers’ defenseman Griffin Reinhart and Montreal defenseman Alexi Emelin.
Colorado goalie Calvin Pickard was the first player McPhee announced as a Golden Knight.
