{"id":3866,"date":"2016-12-05T12:12:18","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T17:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=3866"},"modified":"2016-12-06T13:32:56","modified_gmt":"2016-12-06T18:32:56","slug":"best-center-options-vegas-golden-knights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/12\/05\/best-center-options-vegas-golden-knights\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Center Options in Expansion for the Vegas Golden Knights"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0NHL Expansion<\/a> will be arriving soon and the Vegas Golden Knights<\/strong> will have 30 players in their organization. A key component of any NHL<\/strong> team is how good they are at a center.\u00a0It’s time to break down the best center options in expansion for the Vegas Golden Knights.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Best Center Options in Expansion for the Vegas Golden Knights<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Because of the depth the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0have, the current prime target from Columbus is\u00a0William Karlsson<\/strong><\/a>. The most likely scenario is that Columbus will not need to protect\u00a0David Clarkson<\/strong><\/a> either due to his long-term injury status or waiving his no-move clause. This will open up the seventh forward protection spot that will go to Alexander Wennberg<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Karlsson is 23 years of age, 6’1″, 188 lbs, and a second round pick in 2011. So far this year the Swedish center has four goals and nine points. Karlsson is a two-way forward and is also a very good skater. The young Swede is a very good player to start a franchise.<\/p>\n

Detroit Red Wings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Detroit Red Wings<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0potentially will have a couple of centers exposed in expansion. Unless the Red Wings expose captain Henrik Zetterberg<\/strong><\/a>, Detroit will have both Darren Helm<\/strong><\/a> and Andreas Athanasiou<\/strong><\/a> available in expansion.<\/p>\n

Zetterberg is 36 years old and is signed for four more years\u00a0with an annual cap hit of $6.083 million. Could General Manager Ken Holland<\/strong> expose the Red Wings heart and soul player who has been in Detroit since 2002? Zetterberg does have 17 points so far this season, and compiled 50 points last year.<\/p>\n

With Helm, Vegas<\/strong><\/a> would know what they are getting. The 29-year-old center is a smart two-way player, who can also play either wing. He is a terrific third-line player who is signed for the next four years ($3.85-million cap hit).<\/p>\n

Athanasiou has considerable more upside than Helm. The 22-year-old is highly skilled, a gifted skater and can also play all three forward positions. The 6’2″, 192 lbs Canadian<\/strong> center has four goals so far this year, and lit the lamp nine times last year in 37 games.<\/p>\n

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Large scouting contingent from Las Vegas at Caps-Red Wings. Among them are David Conte, Mike Foligno and Jim McKenzie.<\/p>\n

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) November 19, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n