Expansion Draft

[herman]

This is mostly baseless speculation as window dressing to a report about the protection list including Leivo on it.

Admittedly, the fact that he wasn't included in that list of hurt players who were expansion-exempt was pretty odd. I think he was the only player in that situation who wasn't put on the list. Of course, the entire Lupul situation has been pretty odd.

Certain to set tongues-a-waggin'. Bill Daly saying the NHL reviewed each case and Lupul, for some reason, qualified to be available.

This is also just baseless speculation, but could it be a non-physical 'injury' that held him off the ice? For example, what would it look like for a team to handle a Mike Richard's situation more tactfully? I'm not saying it's the exact same thing, but there is enough sketchiness and silence to this situation that it forms a pretty apparent outline.

 

[Zee]

This is mostly baseless speculation as window dressing to a report about the protection list including Leivo on it.

Admittedly, the fact that he wasn't included in that list of hurt players who were expansion-exempt was pretty odd. I think he was the only player in that situation who wasn't put on the list. Of course, the entire Lupul situation has been pretty odd.

Certain to set tongues-a-waggin'. Bill Daly saying the NHL reviewed each case and Lupul, for some reason, qualified to be available.

This is also just baseless speculation, but could it be a non-physical 'injury' that held him off the ice? For example, what would it look like for a team to handle a Mike Richard's situation more tactfully? I'm not saying it's the exact same thing, but there is enough sketchiness and silence to this situation that it forms a pretty apparent outline.

Would be great if McPhee liked those intangibles that Lupul brings and decides he'd be an excellent fit in Vegas.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I mean I'm happy to say it. This feels a lot like Steve Sullivan where the folks running the team had a talented young player and for whatever reason became laser focused on what he couldn't do instead of the things he could.

Keefe's comments about him after the season (questioning his consistency and calling him careless/irresponsible with the puck) were a bit surprising.

 

[Highlander]

would love to see Lupul play again and Vegas would be a good fit for him.

 

[L K]

So Vegas gets two days to make their picks.  Is this so they can tell teams they are taking someone and try and extort a return package to not do it?

 

[bustaheims]

So Vegas gets two days to make their picks.  Is this so they can tell teams they are taking someone and try and extort a return package to not do it?

Partially, maybe. They also get exclusive free agent negotiations for the next couple days, so, it's also for them to be able to adjust their plans based on who they can sign, what trades they can negotiate, etc.

All part of the league's own unique attempt to make Vegas competitive as quickly as possible.

 

[Bullfrog]

If they sign one of Toronto's UFAs, I understand this counts as their selection. That is, they can't claim another player from Toronto in the draft. The unprotected UFAs:

- Michalek
- McIlhinney
- Greening
- Polak
- Hunwick
- Laich
- Boyle

Someone like Polak or Hunwick or Boyle are possibilities, I would imagine.

 

[herman]

If they sign one of Toronto's UFAs, I understand this counts as their selection. That is, they can't claim another player from Toronto in the draft. The unprotected UFAs:

- Michalek
- McElhinney
- Greening
- Polak
- Hunwick
- Laich
- Boyle

Someone like Polak or Hunwick or Boyle are possibilities, I would imagine.

That's correct. I don't see anything in that list that might interest them more than the other options out there though.

 

[Bullfrog]

Nope; perhaps if Polak hadn't gotten injured, his bravery, heart, determination, and physical prowess would make him an attractive signing.

Hunwick's a solid veteran presence that LV should strongly consider.

 

[Zee]

I'm banking on that old standby Eric Fehr.  When the Leafs acquired him there were already rumblings that he's a player Vegas might take...yes it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm the king of wishful thinking.

 

[herman]

Nope; perhaps if Polak hadn't gotten injured, his bravery, heart, determination, and physical prowess would make him an attractive signing.

Hunwick's a solid veteran presence that LV should strongly consider.

If Vegas is picking strictly from the unprotected lists, I think they're going to have plenty of veteran defensemen to work with. If they're leveraging their cap space on side deals, I think they'll have plenty of veterans who are still good, but not cost-effective, to work with. What I'm saying is Hunwick is not likely going to be the pick Vegas takes from Toronto, not with scoring options in Rychel/Leipsic available.

Depending on how the draft shakes out, they still might pick him up after July though, because of the reasons you listed and being cheap, but not before then.

I mean, yes, Vegas should take either Polak or Hunwick. They are darn gud pros and big men.

 

[herman]

I'm banking on that old standby Eric Fehr.  When the Leafs acquired him there were already rumblings that he's a player Vegas might take...yes it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm the king of wishful thinking.

Having seen some of the posts by others here, I think you are a mere lordling of wishful thinking at best.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm banking on that old standby Eric Fehr.  When the Leafs acquired him there were already rumblings that he's a player Vegas might take...yes it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm the king of wishful thinking.

I genuinely keep forgetting that Eric Fehr is on this team.

 

[Zee]

I'm banking on that old standby Eric Fehr.  When the Leafs acquired him there were already rumblings that he's a player Vegas might take...yes it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm the king of wishful thinking.

Having seen some of the posts by others here, I think you are a mere lordling of wishful thinking at best.

McPhee traded Forsberg for Erat, so I hold out hope that he doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[bustaheims]

I'm banking on that old standby Eric Fehr.  When the Leafs acquired him there were already rumblings that he's a player Vegas might take...yes it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm the king of wishful thinking.

There were rumours of a side deal being in the works that would see Vegas take Fehr, yes. What the Leafs would be giving up for that to happen, however . . .

 

[CarltonTheBear]

You know, I don't think that it's completely insane to suggest that Vegas might prefer someone like Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel. Let's not forget that our very own head coach (and maybe the best coach in the entire world) preferred Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel this season.* And we know from his firing in Florida that Gerard Gallant would prefer to have size and toughness on his 4th line over skill, so his 4th line would probably look similar to Babcock's.

While I like what Vegas is doing with the expansion draft in terms of using it to secure as many draft picks as possible, they're still probably going to be making their selections to create an ideal hockey team, not just picking the best 30 players. And on an ideal hockey team for somebody like their coach (and lots of other coaches), a player with size and grit and experience and toughness and all that jazz is usually preferred over guys like Leipsic/Griffith/Rychel.

So when McPhee and Gallant are putting together their line-up, if they think that their top-9 forwards are better options than those 3 young guys, do they pick one anyway and have them sit in the press box/try to get them through waivers or do they get a guy who better fits the mould of their ideal 4th liner?

* - Ok, he only played 1 game but we ALL know if he didn't get injured he would have stuck around.

 

[Frank E]

You know, I don't think that it's completely insane to suggest that Vegas might prefer someone like Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel. Let's not forget that our very own head coach (and maybe the best coach in the entire world) preferred Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel this season.* And we know from his firing in Florida that Gerard Gallant would prefer to have size and toughness on his 4th line over skill, so his 4th line would probably look similar to Babcock's.

While I like what Vegas is doing with the expansion draft in terms of using it to secure as many draft picks as possible, they're still probably going to be making their selections to create an ideal hockey team, not just picking the best 30 players. And on an ideal hockey team for somebody like their coach (and lots of other coaches), a player with size and grit and experience and toughness and all that jazz is usually preferred over guys like Leipsic/Griffith/Rychel.

So when McPhee and Gallant are putting together their line-up, if they think that their top-9 forwards are better options than those 3 young guys, do they pick one anyway and have them sit in the press box/try to get them through waivers or do they get a guy who better fits the mould of their ideal 4th liner?

* - Ok, he only played 1 game but we ALL know if he didn't get injured he would have stuck around.

Rychel's a pretty big and tough kid though, right?...but I still see your point.

 

[Zee]

You know, I don't think that it's completely insane to suggest that Vegas might prefer someone like Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel. Let's not forget that our very own head coach (and maybe the best coach in the entire world) preferred Eric Fehr over Leipsic or Griffith or Rychel this season.* And we know from his firing in Florida that Gerard Gallant would prefer to have size and toughness on his 4th line over skill, so his 4th line would probably look similar to Babcock's.

While I like what Vegas is doing with the expansion draft in terms of using it to secure as many draft picks as possible, they're still probably going to be making their selections to create an ideal hockey team, not just picking the best 30 players. And on an ideal hockey team for somebody like their coach (and lots of other coaches), a player with size and grit and experience and toughness and all that jazz is usually preferred over guys like Leipsic/Griffith/Rychel.

So when McPhee and Gallant are putting together their line-up, if they think that their top-9 forwards are better options than those 3 young guys, do they pick one anyway and have them sit in the press box/try to get them through waivers or do they get a guy who better fits the mould of their ideal 4th liner?

* - Ok, he only played 1 game but we ALL know if he didn't get injured he would have stuck around.

I like your thinking.  As far as I'm concerned, McPhee can go ahead and sign such proven NHL UFAs such as:

Colin Greening
Brooks Laich
Milan Michalek
Matt Hunwick
Roman Polak

there's a wealth of grit, sandpaper and some scoring touch there.

 

[Highlander]

There is a world of glass in Vegas, so Lupul is the concensus choice for glass makers everywhere.

 

[jdh1]

There is a world of glass in Vegas, so Lupul is the concensus choice for glass makers everywhere.

I wonder how much of his contract is left,1 year 2 years...it seems like ages ago he played for the Leafs.