Looking back at Vegas Expansion Draft Trades

[HBK27]

With the upcoming Seattle expansion draft, I'm curious to look back at the 10 pre-expansion draft deals that Vegas made. We know that most of these trades backfired spectacularly on the teams that made them - did any of these deals work out well for teams besides Vegas? Who were the players that these teams were trying to protect Vegas from selecting?

Below is a list of the deals that were made, copied from Wikipedia:

• The Buffalo Sabres traded their sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting William Carrier.[13]
• The Florida Panthers traded Reilly Smith in exchange for Vegas selecting Jonathan Marchessault and a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[14]
• The Carolina Hurricanes traded Boston's fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired) in exchange for Vegas selecting Connor Brickley.[15]
• The Winnipeg Jets traded their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting Chris Thorburn and Columbus' first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired by Vegas).[16]
• The Tampa Bay Lightning traded their second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired) and Nikita Gusev in exchange for Vegas selecting Jason Garrison.[17]
• The New York Islanders traded their first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Mikhail Grabovski and Jake Bischoff in exchange for Vegas selecting Jean-Francois Berube.[18]
• The Anaheim Ducks traded Shea Theodore in exchange for Vegas selecting Clayton Stoner.[19]
• The Minnesota Wild traded Alex Tuch in exchange for Vegas selecting Erik Haula and a conditional third-round pick in the 2017 or 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[20]
• The Columbus Blue Jackets traded their first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and David Clarkson in exchange for Vegas selecting William Karlsson.[21]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins traded their second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting Marc-Andre Fleury.[22]

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[LokiDog]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

 

[Lateralous]

I believe Columbus was protecting Josh Anderson but a Blue Jackets fan should confirm that

 

[BCNate]

With the upcoming Seattle expansion draft, I'm curious to look back at the 10 pre-expansion draft deals that Vegas made. We know that most of these trades backfired spectacularly on the teams that made them - did any of these deals work out well for teams besides Vegas? Who were the players that these teams were trying to protect Vegas from selecting?

Below is a list of the deals that were made, copied from Wikipedia:

• The Buffalo Sabres traded their sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting William Carrier.[13]
• The Florida Panthers traded Reilly Smith in exchange for Vegas selecting Jonathan Marchessault and a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[14]
• The Carolina Hurricanes traded Boston's fifth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired) in exchange for Vegas selecting Connor Brickley.[15]
• The Winnipeg Jets traded their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting Chris Thorburn and Columbus' first-round pick (24th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired by Vegas).[16]
• The Tampa Bay Lightning traded their second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Pittsburgh's fourth-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired) and Nikita Gusev in exchange for Vegas selecting Jason Garrison.[17]
• The New York Islanders traded their first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Mikhail Grabovski and Jake Bischoff in exchange for Vegas selecting Jean-Francois Berube.[18]
• The Anaheim Ducks traded Shea Theodore in exchange for Vegas selecting Clayton Stoner.[19]
• The Minnesota Wild traded Alex Tuch in exchange for Vegas selecting Erik Haula and a conditional third-round pick in the 2017 or 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[20]
• The Columbus Blue Jackets traded their first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and David Clarkson in exchange for Vegas selecting William Karlsson.[21]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins traded their second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting Marc-Andre Fleury.[22]

Nice post HBK. Safe to say most of these deals ended badly, or irrelevant for Vegas Trading partners. Very few worked out as wins.

 

[TheDoorDoctor]

I believe Chicago gave Marcus Kruger for Future considerations so Vegas would take Trevor Van Reimsdyke

 

[catters078]

Florida, yuk.

 

[Crede777]

I believe Columbus was protecting Josh Anderson but a Blue Jackets fan should confirm that

Anderson and Korpisalo.

 

[ElPrimeTime]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

If I remember correctly, FLA was looking to get out of Smith's contract.

 

[HBK27]

Anderson and Korpisalo.

Was there any talk back then of trying to get Dubinsky to waive his NMC? Looks like his performance fell right off a cliff after the expansion draft.

 

[Djp]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

For the Isles, Pullock needed to be protected....they had vet. He was , like Carrier of buffalo, had a late birthday in 3013 draft making their last ELC not exempt them because their full AHL season starting at 19 but turning 20 before Jan 1...contract slid but this still counted as a pro season for ED.

with buffalo...the vegas GM who was with washington owed buffalo a favor when they made a deadline deal and Kesha didn’t report.

the deal..right after trading Miller to St Louis and getting back Halak...they sent him and high 3rd to washington for neuvirthand klesla.

 

[RebuildinVan]

Wow Anaheim wants a redo

 

[AKL]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

Minnesota was protecting their entire roster, which could have included any of Dumba, Scandella, Brodin, Coyle, Nino, Staal, Zucker. It wasn't exclusively for Scandella.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Also apart of the Tampa deal was that they wouldn't select either Koekkoek or Dotchin who needed protection. Garrison was done as a player, we needed the cap space and Gusev didn't want to play in the AHL first. I think that deal turned out fine for us and we would gladly do it again even if Dotchin and Koekkoek fizzled out here.

 

[Djp]

In this ED any late birthday 2017 draftee who played AHL in 18-19 and contract slid needs to be protected.

 

[mouser]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

Florida, yuk.

Florida ownership directed the GM to dump salary. It was never really a hockey driven decision.

 

[Crazy8oooo]

Wow Anaheim wants a redo

Yeah, Theo was my favorite prospect back then and I'm still pissed that Murray screwed up that one. He could've asked Bieksa to waive, which would've opened up a spot for Manson or Vatanen and then traded one of them. Getting lesser value would've still been better than losing Theo for nothing.

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

Nice post HBK. Safe to say most of these deals ended badly, or irrelevant for Vegas Trading partners. Very few worked out as wins.

Vegas went on to select Nick Suzuki with the Jets deal. Which of course lead to Pacciorety. Ironicly both players are playing huge roles on their respective teams in the semi-final. As well as the fact Suzuki dominated the Jets to help get his team there. All so the Jets could protect Toby Enstrom

 

[Bazeek]

Minnesota was protecting their entire roster, which could have included any of Dumba, Scandella, Brodin, Coyle, Nino, Staal, Zucker. It wasn't exclusively for Scandella.

And Vegas reportedly had their choice of Tuch, Greenway or Kaprizov. They chose the one that seemed closest to the NHL, at a point where just about no one was raving about Tuch's performance in the AHL. Well done by the Golden Knights, but Minnesota clearly had the prospect depth to make that kind of deal at the time since every one of those players has turned into a good-to-great NHLer.

I'm not the biggest fan of the ensuing trades with Buffalo, but keeping Scandella (on top of Brodin/Dumba) did directly lead to moving Pominville and bringing in Foligno, who has also turned into an important part of the current team. And Haula was very good initially, but has since kind of tapered off for a variety of reasons.

Which isn't to argue that Minnesota "won" or anything, but the mythologizing of that agreement usually ignores like 90% of the context and actual outcome.

 

[Mikeshane]

Looking at the stats Tuch was the second leading scorer on Minnesota's AHL team in his first year in pro hockey. He was picked 18th overall in his draft.

It would be interesting to hear recordings of the Wild's coaches and GM to hear what they thought about him at the time.

 

[AKA Chief]

Defend these trades any way you want but none of the GM's who made the following trades with Vegas should still be employed.

• The Anaheim Ducks traded Shea Theodore in exchange for Vegas selecting Clayton Stoner.[19]
• The Minnesota Wild traded Alex Tuch in exchange for Vegas selecting Erik Haula and a conditional third-round pick in the 2017 or 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[20]
• The Columbus Blue Jackets traded their first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and David Clarkson in exchange for Vegas selecting William Karlsson.[21]
• The Pittsburgh Penguins traded their second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Vegas selecting Marc-Andre Fleury.[22]

 

[Kaiden Ghoul]

Jesus

Mcphee robbed Columbus on that one

edit wow the Anaheim trade

Bad trade happen to everyone, its not lile they were elite, but damn

 

[HaNotsri]

Minnesota was supposedly protecting Scandella. Anaheim was protecting Vatanen and Manson. Who was Florida protecting that they gave up JAM and Reilly? The Islanders? 1st, 2nd +. Also wonder who Buffalo was protecting. Took a while but I like Will Carrier’s role in Vegas.

Buffalo protected Ullmark

 

[HBK27]

Buffalo protected Ullmark

Seems like the best deal so far, giving up a 6th & a 4th liner (who in all fairness is still playing on a stacked Vegas team) in order to protect a goalie that would go on to be their starter.

Carolina was the other team to make a minor deal (mid-round pick) - looking at the roster it appears that they may have been trying to protect Cam Ward, who was still their starter at that point, but 33 years old and only had one year left on his deal. They had also acquired Scott Darling by that point to take over in net. Not sure who else they would look to protect and the low cost would make sense.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Florida ownership directed the GM to dump salary. It was never really a hockey driven decision.

That played a big part, but if i recall Tallon also talked about how good dmen were hard to get and they wanted to keep Pysyk and Petrovic. Both were protected.

To be fair, Pysyk had his first full season in 16-17 and played well. Smith had a tough year and Marchessault could've been a one-hit wonder. So if you have to shed salary and get to keep a dman you like, i guess it made some sense.

Obviously didn't work out as Pysyk is still just a depth guy, Petrovic is not in the league and both of the forwards have been good for Vegas.

 

[SI90]

Please please please take Marc Andre Fluery. Please! I will even throw in a 2nd!

Vegas acquiring a franchise goalie.


To be fair, Matt Murray f***ed the Pens.