Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights have their first rookie draft pick. 

Vegas selected center Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks during Thursday's draft in Chicago with the No. 6 overall pick.

This comes after the NHL's newest team made its expansion draft selections during Wednesday's awards show. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016-17, headlined the expansion draft selections.

The Golden Knights had a viewing party at T-Mobile Arena and shared the reaction when NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced it was their turn to pick:

Our turn! pic.twitter.com/Mr7yWG2WTc

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 23, 2017

The team was also appreciative of Chicago's United Center for the music choice leading up to the glass selection:

Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun noted Glass was seen as more of a second- or third-round pick just one year ago until he exploded onto the scene with 92 points (32 goals) in his most recent season.

"I don't think I was a real high prospect to start the year," Glass said, per Wyman. "I just wanted to play the way I knew I could and prove to people that I am a top player and I think that's what I did all year."

The NHL shared some of his head-turning highlights and scoring ability:

Glass is just 18 years old and, like his expansion team, will likely need some time to blossom into a force at the NHL level. However, the potential is there for the center to become a go-to scorer for Vegas down the line when it is ready to compete for a postseason spot in the Western Conference's Pacific Division.

The Vegas Golden Knights unveiled their 2017 NHL Expansion Draft selections at the NHL Awards on Wednesday as they prepare to embark on their inaugural season in the fall. 

The roster is headlined by former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, veteran winger David Perron and forward James Neal, who suited up for the Nashville Predators the past three seasons. 

Here's an overview of the entire roster, which is comprised of one player from each club's unprotected expansion list. Players who were acquired via trade, as announced on the team's official Twitter account, are also listed below. 

Forwards

• Teemu Pulkkinen (selected from Arizona Coyotes)
• William Carrier (Buffalo Sabres)
• Cody Eakin (Dallas Stars)
• Tomas Nosek (Detroit Red Wings)
• Jonathan Marchessault (Florida Panthers)
• Reilly Smith (via trade with Florida Panthers)
• Connor Brickley (Carolina Hurricanes)
• Chris Thorburn (Winnipeg Jets)
• Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Philadelphia Flyers) 
• Nikita Gusev (via trade with Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Mikhail Grabovski (via trade with New York Islanders)
• James Neal (Nashville Predators)
• Brendan Leipsic (Toronto Maple Leafs)
• David Perron (St. Louis Blues)
• Oscar Lindberg (New York Rangers)
• Erik Haula (Minnesota Wild)
• Alex Tuch (via trade with Minnesota Wild)
• William Karlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets)
• David Clarkson (via trade with Columbus Blue Jackets)

Defensemen

• Luca Sbisa (Vancouver Canucks)
• Jon Merrill (New Jersey Devils)
• Brayden McNabb (Los Angeles Kings)
• Jason Garrison (Tampa Bay Lightning)
• Jake Bischoff (via trade with New York Islanders)
• Deryk Engelland (Calgary Flames)
• Colin Miller (Boston Bruins)
• Marc Methot (Ottawa Senators)
• David Schlemko (San Jose Sharks)
• Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton Oilers)
• Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens) 
• Clayton Stoner (Anaheim Ducks)
• Shea Theodore (via trade with Anaheim Ducks)
• Trevor van Riemsdyk (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Nate Schmidt (Washington Capitals)

Goaltenders

• Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh Penguins)
• Calvin Pickard (Colorado Avalanche)
• Jean-Francois Berube (New York Islanders)  

Fleury will draw the most attention after he was plucked from the reigning Stanley Cup champions, and for good reason. 

Although he played second fiddle to Matt Murray last season, Fleury has remained an effective presence in net when deployed as a starter. 

Before his 2015-16 season was ultimately derailed by injuries, Fleury went 35-17-6 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average. Those numbers took a hit when he was relegated to backup duty this past year (.909 save percentage, 3.02 GAA), but there's reason to believe he can still operate as one of the game's steadier goaltenders when afforded a chance to hold down the fort. 

In the goal-scoring department, Perron—who is entering the final year of his contract—has the ability to provide some stability as the Golden Knights search for an identity during their first year on the ice. 

Appearing in all 82 games last season, Perron tallied 18 goals and 28 assists to finish with 46 points—the fifth-most on a Blues team that was loaded with playmakers. 

Speaking of sources of offense, Neal could factor into the picture as one of Vegas' early goal-scoring staples. 

Of course, that's if he's still with the team come opening day. 

On an expiring contract that will pay $5 million next season, Neal has the makings of a prime trade candidate who could fetch the Golden Knights some solid young assets—whether they're future draft picks or players. 

But if he does suit up for the Golden Knights, Neal projects as a short-term centerpiece. 

Last season, the 29-year-old racked up 23 goals and 18 assists. He was also good for six goals and three helpers as the Predators made a run to the Stanley Cup Final. 

With a veteran foundation now in place, the Golden Knights will set their sights on tweaking their roster through free agency and this weekend's amateur draft in advance of their highly anticipated debut. 

Calvin Pickard is the first member of the Vegas Golden Knights after the franchise selected him first overall in the 2017 NHL expansion draft.

The Knights confirmed the selection on Twitter:

The Colorado Avalanche reacted to the selection as well:

Pickard appeared in 50 games for the Avalanche this past season, going 15-31-2. He had a .904 save percentage and allowed 2.98 goals a game.

The Denver Post's Mike Chambers was disappointed to see Pickard leave the Mile High City:

The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his contract before he becomes a restricted free agent, and he'll earn $1.075 million.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported before the draft the Knights plan on selecting Marc-Andre Fleury, with the Pittsburgh Penguins throwing in a draft pick to sweeten the deal. Assuming Fleury is a part of Vegas' future, using the No. 1 pick on Pickard makes even more sense.

Fleury can be the regular starter between the pipes, bringing a certain level of star power to the franchise by virtue of his role in helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win three Stanley Cups. Pickard can be a solid backup, spelling Fleury when the team wants to give him a rest or filling in when the veteran goaltender is dealing with an injury.

The 2000-01 season was the last time the NHL welcomed in an expansion franchise as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild joined the league.

In the 2000 expansion draft, the Blue Jackets selected another Avalanche goaltender, Rick Tabaracci, with the first overall pick.

The National Hockey League on Sunday announced the protection lists for all 30 franchises who took part in the 2016-17 season ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights' expansion draft. The NHL's newest team will select one player from each organization to complete its first roster.

All of the picks will be made public Wednesday night during the 2017 NHL Awards show, which is taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights must give their list of choices to the league by 10 a.m. ET Wednesday morning ahead of the 8 p.m. ET telecast on NBCSN.

Even though the protection lists are public, the process isn't as straightforward as Vegas taking the best asset available from each team.

The official draft rules state the Golden Knights must select at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders, have to reach at least 60 percent of last year's $73 million salary cap ($43.8 million) and need to take at least 20 players under contract for next season.

In addition, the Vegas front office owns a lot of bargaining power in being able to offer not to select certain players in exchange for different assets.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported the Columbus Blue Jackets are set to give the Golden Knights the No. 24 overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft and a prospect in exchange for the expansion team only taking Matt Calvert, William Karlsson or Ryan Murray.

Another example is the New York Islanders, who went with the unique decision of protecting five defensemen, leaving forwards like Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey available.

Darren Dreger of TSN reported the Isles have agreed to deal their first-round selection, No. 15 overall, to protect extra centers and wingers.

Other deals with the same type of background are likely to occur between now and Wednesday. It should allow the Knights to stockpile an ample number of future draft picks.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is one marquee player's who's not expected to receive any added protection from his team. The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champions are set to move forward with Matt Murray as their full-time No. 1 netminder.

Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada commented on the Vegas goalie situation:

Finally, TSN's Pierre LeBrun highlighted one other option on the table for the Golden Knights: selecting an available player and immediately flipping him in a trade to a third team.

Nashville Predators winger James Neal, Colorado Avalanche center Carl Soderberg and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen are among the layers who could be involved in those discussions.

We are a little more than a week away from the Vegas Golden Knights beginning to resemble a live, actual NHL franchise.

The Knights will have their choice of players from the 30 other rosters June 21 as part of an expansion draft. Adding a 31st team to the NHL has added a wrinkle to team planning, with some looking to unload potential building-block players to avoid losing them for nothing. 

Other teams have their expansion draft strategy set and are 100 percent ready to move into the future. Let's take a look around the league at some of the latest rumors now that the Stanley Cup is back in Pittsburgh.

Knights Will Emphasize Young, Cheap Talent in Expansion Draft

The NHL's expansion rules, at least in theory, have made it so the Knights have a fighting chance to be competitive in 2017-18. Most teams will likely protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Teams could choose to protect eight skaters and one goalie, but that will only come into play in the most extreme cases.

Vegas should get to have its pick of a number of top-flight veterans, enough that it's possible a playoff team could emerge if things break the right way.

Knights management apparently has no plans on going that route.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported the team is planning to emphasize adding young, cheap talent to its roster rather than veteran pieces. Despite the NHL's efforts, the Knights seem determined to take a more traditional expansion path.

Of course, this is the smart team-building move. Bottoming out and staying near the top of the draft is the likeliest way for them to land a blue-chip prospect who can keep them in contention for the foreseeable future. Chasing a wild-card spot with a bunch of vets no one else wants would be entirely shortsighted.

Columbus to Dump David Clarkson's Salary on Las Vegas?

One reason the Knights could look to keep their roster relatively lean for the near future is being able to absorb bad contracts from other teams. The Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Browns have been similarly stockpiling picks for years and taking back bad deals, hoping to increase their odds of hitting a draft-day home run.

One potential player the Knights could add is Columbus Blue Jackets forward David Clarkson. Injuries have limited him to just 26 total games since joining the Jackets in 2015, but he's under contract with an average annual value of $5.25 million through 2019-2020.

Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet reported the Jackets and Knights may have had talks centered on Clarkson, with Columbus sending a first-round pick and potentially a young player to Las Vegas.

There isn't much to examine here until any potential trades are done. The Knights are going to have a treasure chest of cash they need to spend over their first couple years of existence while they're building their core. Taking on a contract that goes into the summer of 2020 is a lot to ask, but if it nets them two different young players, it might be worth it. 

The National Hockey League will hold an expansion draft beginning June 18 to give the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL's 31st franchise, their first full roster. All 30 selections—one pick from each of the current teams—will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 21.

Vegas was already included in the lottery for the 2017 NHL draft. The Golden Knights, who were given the same odds to win the No. 1 pick as the Arizona Coyotes, the team with the third-worst record, didn't obtain a top-three selection and will draft from the No. 6 spot in Chicago on June 23.

Let's check out some of the key rules for the upcoming draft from the perspective of both Vegas and the league's other organizations. For a complete list of guidelines, visit the NHL's official website.

Vegas Selection Rules

• The Golden Knights must choose a minimum of 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders. The other four selections can come from any position.
• At least 20 of Vegas' 30 picks must be under an active contract for the 2017-18 season.
• The overall salary of the team's picks must land between 60 percent ($43.8 million) and 100 percent of last season's $73 million salary cap.

Player-Protection Rules

• All players with no-movement clauses in their current contract must be protected and count toward the team's final total.
• All pro players with two or fewer years of NHL experience and unsigned draft picks are protected, but don't count toward the team's final total.
• After that, each team can choose one of two forms of protection: seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender OR eight total skaters (forwards plus defensemen) and one goaltender.
• All teams must expose at least two forwards and one defenseman with at least 40 games played last season or 70 games the previous two years and remain under contract for next season.
• The goaltender made available must be under contract for next season or a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer already in place.

Additional Information

• The NHL announced the Golden Knights will be given the complete list of protected players June 18 at 10 a.m. They must provide the league with their entire 30-player group of expansion choices 72 hours later (10 a.m. on June 21) ahead of the awards show.
• The league is also giving Vegas a chance to sign any free agents, both restricted and unrestricted, who are left unprotected during that same time frame. A signing would equal a "pick" from the player's previous team. Otherwise, those players will follow standard protocol and enter the free-agent market July 1.
• The 2017 NHL Awards show will air on the NBC Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET on June 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It hasn't been confirmed whether the expansion picks will be announced all at once or periodically throughout the event.

The Vegas Golden Knights have tabbed Gerard Gallant as their first head coach, the franchise confirmed on Thursday.

TSN's Darren Dreger first reported the news on Wednesday.  

An 11-year NHL veteran who played with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, Gallant most recently served as the head coach of the Florida Panthers. 

He joined the franchise prior to the 2014-15 campaign but was fired in November following an 11-9-1 start to the 2016-17 season. All told, the Panthers posted a record of 96-64-25, good for a winning percentage of .586 during Gallant's time at the helm. 

The most prosperous run during that window came during the 2015-16 season, when the Panthers went 47-26-9 en route to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division. However, they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Islanders. 

Prior to serving as the Panthers' boss, Gallant spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets after he took over for Doug MacLean in that role. 

That stretch wasn't quite as prosperous, though. Between 2003 and 2007, Gallant notched a 56-76-4 record while failing to qualify for the postseason. 

Now headed to the NHL's newest franchise, Gallant will be tasked with crafting a brand-new roster and building it into a contender. 

Gallant and Golden Knights general manager George McPhee will take a major step toward building that squad between June 18-20, when the NHL's expansion draft is slated to take place. 

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