The NHL is entering its busiest part of the off-season. The NHL Draft and Free Agent frenzy is normally enough to keep the rumour mill churning. This year, however, the NHL is having an expansion draft. The Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft roster will be announced on June 21st at the NHL Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas. The expansion draft has added a new layer to the normal NHL off-season craziness. The following are some of the rumours circulating throughout the league.<\/p>\n
Tonight is the night! The Vegas Golden Knights will announce their expansion roster at the NHL Award Ceremony. They will announce deals they made leading up to the expansion draft, but Vegas most certainly will not be done there. Expect more deals to be announced, including deals involving Vegas, once the trade freeze is lifted June 22.<\/p>\n
\nPlus there are deals for players and three-way trades VGK also involved in. Some revealed tonight. Others tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Vegas Expansion Draft Deals<\/h3>\n
Bob McKenzie took to Twitter to flush out some of the details regarding the deals Vegas has made with teams. Notable trades are believed to have been made with the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, among others.<\/p>\n
Anaheim Ducks<\/h3>\n
McKenzie says the belief is that Vegas will select Clayton Stoner<\/a><\/strong>. That means exposed defensemen\u00a0Sami Vatanen<\/a><\/strong> and Josh Manson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0are safe. The Ducks will likely send Shea Theodore<\/a><\/strong> to Vegas as part of their agreement.<\/p>\n
\nLet’s start with ANA. The belief is VGK will claim Clayton Stoner, pass on Manson\/Vatanen and, in return for all that, get Shea Theodore.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Chicago Blackhawks<\/h3>\n
The deal between Chicago and Vegas would have the Golden Knights selecting Marcus Kruger<\/strong><\/a>. Chicago would send defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0as compensation.<\/p>\n
\nNext up, CHI. @frank_seravalli<\/a> reported awhile back net result would be VGK getting Trevor van Riemsdyk<\/a> and taking on Marcus Krueger.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/h3>\n
Probably the worst kept secret during this entire expansion draft is the Golden Knights selecting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/b>\u00a0from the Penguins. The Penguins are sending a draft pick to Vegas as part of the deal.<\/p>\n
\nNext up, PIT. Get sense this may have been first of all deals done with VGK. PIT sends draft pick to VGK to ensure new home for M-A Fleury.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Minnesota Wild<\/h3>\n
McKenzie, through Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, is reporting that the Golden Knights will sign RFA Erik Haula<\/a><\/strong> as their expansion player. The Wild are sending prospect Alex Tuch<\/a> <\/strong>to ensure the deal. The deal also keep Vegas from selecting Mathew Dumba<\/a><\/strong>, Marco Scandella<\/a><\/strong>, and Eric Staal<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
\nSOURCES: #mnwild<\/a>‘s Erik Haula signs with Vegas Golden Knights, Alex Tuch likely bound for Vegas by day’s end https:\/\/t.co\/Hxtho3c70x<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Michael Russo (@Russostrib) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Tampa Bay Lightning<\/h3>\n
Along with McKenzie, Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith<\/a> says the Lightning appear to have worked out a deal for Vegas. The deal would have Vegas select either Jason Garrison<\/a><\/strong> or Andrej Sustr<\/a><\/strong>. The Golden Knights will receive a pick to ensure the deal and keep them from selecting prospects\u00a0Slater Koekkoek<\/a><\/strong> and Jake Dotchin<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Columbus Blue Jackets<\/h3>\n
Elliotte Freidman is reporting<\/a>\u00a0that the Golden Knights will select David Clarkson<\/a><\/strong> in the expansion draft. To ensure the deal, Columbus is sending a first round pick, a prospect and (potentially) another player.<\/p>\n
Florida Panthers<\/h3>\n
With Jonathan Marchessault<\/a><\/strong> exposed, the belief was that the Panthers would cut a deal to ensure he is not selected. McKenzie reports that Marchessault might actually be part of a deal to ensure the Golden Knights select Reilly Smith<\/a><\/strong>. The Panthers had been trying to move both players before the roster freeze on June 19th.<\/p>\n
\nIt was suggested to me FLA’s deal with VGK MAY actually be for Vegas to end up acquiring both Marchessault and Rielly Smith (also exposed).<\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Players Selected<\/h3>\n
With the expansion announcement hours away, some information has leaked about which players the Golden Knights are and are not taking in the expansion draft.<\/p>\n
The Dallas Stars are expecting Cody Eakin<\/a><\/strong> to be selected by Vegas.<\/p>\n
\nSource tells me #Winnipeg<\/a>'s & now former #Stars<\/a> forward Cody Eakin is a Las Vegas #GoldenKnights<\/a> #NHLExpansionDraft<\/a> #NHL<\/a><\/p>\n
— Jim Toth (@JimTothSports) June 21, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n