Should Vegas go after players from European leagues?

[Eye of Ra]

There is some interesting players overseas that Vegas could sign. I would sign 3-4 of this players.

SHL:

Brock Little
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=34071

Dennis Everberg
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=13549

Johan Sundström
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=16727

Oscar Möller
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5504

Mikael Wikstrand
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=28992

Simon Bertilsson (really really good stay-at-home d.)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11173


KHL:

Vadim Shipachyov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=19550

Jan Kovar
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18083

Linus Omark (never got a real chance in NHL, always buried with grinders)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=4008

Yevgeni Dadonov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11859

Nigel Dawes
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9503

Brandon Kozun
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=23151

Teemu Hartikainen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11365

Slava Voinov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10627

Vladimir Sobotka
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9227

Erik Gustafsson
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5545

John Norman (Carl Hagelin copy)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=7782

SERGEI MOZYAKIN (old but 1 year contract hurts nobody)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=14828


NLA:


Linus Klasen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=2295

Marc Acrabello
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=33230

Dennis Hollenstein
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11838

Julien Sprunger
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9242

Lino Martschini (small, but who knows he might not be affected)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=70432

Jonas Junland
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3442

Click to read more...

 

[LadyStanley]

Of course, Vegas should "leave no stone unturned" in looking for good players (they don't have to "pay" to get).

It will be an issue of scouting those players and convincing them to sign with new (unknown, culture wise, performance wise, etc.) team.

I've seen some North American scouts mentioned as signed, but don't know that I've heard of any European/ROW scouts.

 

[Stylizer1]

There is some interesting players overseas that Vegas could sign. I would sign 3-4 of this players.

SHL:

Brock Little
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=34071

Dennis Everberg
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=13549

Johan Sundström
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=16727

Oscar Möller
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5504

Mikael Wikstrand
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=28992

Simon Bertilsson (really really good stay-at-home d.)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11173


KHL:

Vadim Shipachyov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=19550

Jan Kovar
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18083

Linus Omark (never got a real chance in NHL, always buried with grinders)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=4008

Yevgeni Dadonov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11859

Nigel Dawes
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9503

Brandon Kozun
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=23151

Teemu Hartikainen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11365

Slava Voinov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10627

Vladimir Sobotka
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9227

Erik Gustafsson
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5545

John Norman (Carl Hagelin copy)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=7782

SERGEI MOZYAKIN (old but 1 year contract hurts nobody)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=14828


NLA:


Linus Klasen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=2295

Marc Acrabello
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=33230

Dennis Hollenstein
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11838

Julien Sprunger
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9242

Lino Martschini (small, but who knows he might not be affected)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=70432

Jonas Junland
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3442

Mikael Wikstrand is on loan from the Senators. He will never play in the NHL anytime soon unless Ottawa says so.

 

[HanSolo]

Yes they should definitely be looking to the NCAA and European leagues if they're serious about contending quickly. I would think that if the NHL expands beyond Vegas it will mean a lot more regular spots in the NHL.

 

[nobody important]

There is some interesting players overseas that Vegas could sign. I would sign 3-4 of this players.

Slava Voinov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10627

Good idea. This is just the kind of player a new franchise needs.

 

[Dr Awesome]

Some interesting players there to consider. I hope maybe Nigel Dawes gets a chance.

 

[ZiGOODejad]

The NY Rangers took a flyer on Mats Zuccarello and it was one of the best moves we've ever made. No one was talking about bringing him to America and he's 3 points shy of 60 last year and he already has over 30 this year. Having really good European scouts could help get this team going faster and sooner then they expect

 

[izzy]

Can't get Sobotka either

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Slava Voynov would be a PR nightmare, he doesn't deserve a second chance.

 

[kurt]

I think all teams will be tapping into Euro leagues to backfill. More jobs = more players required to fill jobs.

Maybe add Andrew Ebbett to your list. Tons of NHL experience and had a great Spengler.

 

[LeafChief]

Nabbing a guy like when the Leafs got Soshnikov out of Russia would be good for Vegas.

 

[Riptide]

There is some interesting players overseas that Vegas could sign. I would sign 3-4 of this players.

SHL:

Brock Little
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=34071

Dennis Everberg
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=13549

Johan Sundström
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=16727

Oscar Möller
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5504

Mikael Wikstrand
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=28992

Simon Bertilsson (really really good stay-at-home d.)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11173


KHL:

Vadim Shipachyov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=19550

Jan Kovar
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=18083

Linus Omark (never got a real chance in NHL, always buried with grinders)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=4008

Yevgeni Dadonov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11859

Nigel Dawes
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9503

Brandon Kozun
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=23151

Teemu Hartikainen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11365

Slava Voinov
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10627

Vladimir Sobotka
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9227

Erik Gustafsson
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=5545

John Norman (Carl Hagelin copy)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=7782

SERGEI MOZYAKIN (old but 1 year contract hurts nobody)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=14828


NLA:


Linus Klasen
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=2295

Marc Acrabello
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=33230

Dennis Hollenstein
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=11838

Julien Sprunger
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9242

Lino Martschini (small, but who knows he might not be affected)
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=70432

Jonas Junland
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=3442

Voynov won't likely get approval from the NHL to play in the NHL.
Sobotka is STL property and has an active contract with them that will kick in should he want to come back to the NHL (arbitration award 2-3 years ago)
Wikstrand is OTT property

Not sure about the rest. But if they're options, LV would be stupid to not at least consider them. They're going to have a hard time finding top 6 skilled players, so anyone who they think will actually help them should at least be looked at as an option.

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

Voynov wasn't even approved for the World Cup.

 

[HanSolo]

Don't want Voynov even if we could. This team needs to steer clear of anything that could be a PR issue, especially with the start they've had with the name.

 

[willy702]

Interesting we haven't heard more about a strategy for these. Of course they are going to look at this route, but remember these guys have savvy agents who plot these things out. They have contractual issues as some have mentioned, but they also have a fit issue same as college free agents. The NHL will pay a little more than European leagues for most players, but the agents also know some players need to look good because its the 2nd contract that will make them real money. So they can turn down 500k and settle for 200k in pay if they believe sticking it out another year and finding the right team with the right type of need could lead to a multi-millions annual salary later. The undrafted college kids will be much different, they will be looking for any NHL team which actually can get them up them a roster spot, they won't be too picky about finding a fit for their skills if they know the VGK are a much easier team to make than the other 30 teams.

I think this subtlety has not be discussed but it should be. I think VGK will be extremely successful signing the best college hockey free agents and 4-6 of them could actually get time on the roster, even if its just press box time as healthy scratches as they adjust to the game and the life of a professional. For Europeans though its not a great fit because most of the players whose skill may translate need good teammates to handle the aspects of the NHL game their skill set might not be up to speed on. They may have some good skating speed and be decent wingers, but in a defense first NHL expansion team system, their assets of scoring ability and creative plays, may just go unnoticed. If I am an agent of these guys I might just say hold off and sign with a team in a year's time who can get you legit NHL talent to set you up and make you look like a 40-50 point a year producer worthy of a good contract.

 

[SotasicA]

Voynov probably can't get a visa, anyway.

Those guys don't look that great, but I guess trying out one or two wouldn't hurt. Get the best possible players, no matter where they come from. It's slim pickings.

 

[BlueBaron]

The simple answer is Vegas should be looking for talent everywhere in the world. Overage CHL, NCAA, KHL Sweden etc.

I'm going to guess you meant those player listed above in particular.

50 contracts

7 Draft picks-at best they sign the first two or three right away, only top pick is for sure but lets call it 2

30 players from expansion draft

18 spots

save a couple spots for free agents

save a couple spots for waver guys

14 spots

That means you get the best 14 guys you can

Obviously these numbers will be wrong because of trades but they give a guideline.

I'd sign the best guys from every top league I could.

 

[SotasicA]

A lot of those guys are too small for the NHL.

I'm not saying smaller guys can't play in the NHL, but they'd have to be exceptionally skilled. But I'm afraid we've seen Arcobello, Dawes and the likes, and they aren't that awesome. They could be good scorers for the Knights' AHL affiliate though.

 

[Hemsky001]

Maybe I'm little biased as I'm Czech but I would absolutely love to see Kovar in the NHL. He's most likely the best center in Europe.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Colorado fans miss Everberg but he's probably not coming back without some promises. But still, could definitely do worse there.

 

[onlyalad]

Voynov probably can't get a visa, anyway.

Those guys don't look that great, but I guess trying out one or two wouldn't hurt. Get the best possible players, no matter where they come from. It's slim pickings.

Voynov is a King until 2020
Now they are not going to protect him but he signed a 6 year deal and has not been released. Suspended and loaned to KHL.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Omark - Shipachev - Dadonov line for LV

All three are big KHL stars, all three play similar hockey. Of course, Shipachev has never played in the NHL, Omark tried and failed and Dadonov left the league and never got back. But they can play, and with a coach, who understands combinational and puck possession hockey, they could be interesting.

They won't take a lot of money. For the 1st yeah at least, and I doubt LV will get someone better anyway. These guys can play an entertaining hockey at least, not some dump and chase/run and hit ****.

 

[HanSolo]

I think it's a bit much to invest in three players like that for one line when they'll have the opportunity to pick plenty of guys who can grab slots in the year 1 roster.

Seems like more effort than it's worth. And what's stopping them from leaving if they don't work out in Vegas?

 

[Konk]

Johan Sundstrom is still property of the Islanders, so Vegas would have to draft him.

Snow will likely re-sign him during the offseason.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I think it's a bit much to invest in three players like that for one line when they'll have the opportunity to pick plenty of guys who can grab slots in the year 1 roster.

Seems like more effort than it's worth. And what's stopping them from leaving if they don't work out in Vegas?

I guess, Shipachev, Dadonov and Omark won't get any longer than 1 year offers from any NHL club anyway, so why not LV then? A totally fresh club with no established traditions and unwritten rules, no local stars and even close to a stardom players as well. I think it's the best place to start an NHL career for European veterans.