Vegas Could Have Had Such A Better Team

[Frankie Blueberries]

I'm not sure how hard a concept this is, I'm trying to say that Vegas SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE DEAL TO LEAVE DUMBA ALONE.

If that happened, Minnesota would have just dealt Dumba for pieces that they could protect (or draft picks/prospects).

 

[ponder]

Nah, the Golden Knights are probably going to start off bad. I don't think they'll be bad enough to go last place though. Already better than Arizona and Colorado.

Disagree, their forwards are the worst in the league by far, much worse than Arizona or Colorado. James Neal is by far their best forward, that's a bad situation. Their d is better, but still one of the worst defences in the league. Only their goaltending is solid.

It's the NHL, anything can happen, but their current roster looks like it'll be worst in the league by far to me. This could change if they make significant trades or free agency signings, but the current roster looks really, really weak.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

They're clearly pursuing the youth and stockpiling of draft picks route. They have every right to pursue that path.

So what about all the 2017 RFA's they passed on that will be signing $3.6 million dollar contracts or more this off season.

There's literally league set compensation for this. It's a 1st & 3rd round pick.

Any team that exposed players of this value needed to pay that price.

But they didn't.

I agree Vegas wanted draft picks. Had he selected 10 RFA's this path would have garnished the Knights not only more picks, but ones of higher value.

It would have also iced a far better team, even after trading most of these selections away for picks.

McPhee couldn't even hand it a proper expansion list. He selected 13 forwards, one of the 14 he needed & had to make last second changes to his list.

Good job.

 

[dire wolf]

Yes, but you have to realize that Vegas has close to zero prospect support coming within the next 2-4 years. The 4th OA this year is 3-5 years away from being an impact NHL player, and that's the best they have.

They have nothing to replace guys who leave or decline. Yes, they could have been a mediocre-at-best team, and possibly made the playoffs in a weak Pacific, but in 3 years, they'll essentially have what they have now. A bunch of has-beens with zero support incoming.

Might as well get the lean years over with while the honeymoon phase is still in full effect and you don't have to compete with the Raiders.

My idea is that they should have let Vegas draft starting in 2016. That way, they would already have a bit of a pipeline of talent. If you are worried that this would mean that their 1st rounder would have unfairly had no opportunity to play in the NHL last year, then you can fix that by only letting Vegas draft in rounds 2-7. Maybe even give them an extra pick at the end of the 2nd.

Thoughts on this concept? Maybe they didn't have enough scouting staff in place, but so what. Even if they just picked based on the Central Scouting rankings, they'd still have more talent in the pipe than they do now.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

My idea is that they should have let Vegas draft starting in 2016. That way, they would already have a bit of a pipeline of talent. If you are worried that this would mean that their 1st rounder would have unfairly had no opportunity to play in the NHL last year, then you can fix that by only letting Vegas draft in rounds 2-7. Maybe even give them an extra pick at the end of the 2nd.

Thoughts on this concept? Maybe they didn't have enough scouting staff in place, but so what. Even if they just picked based on the Central Scouting rankings, they'd still have more talent in the pipe than they do now.

Not a bad idea. They could have been given the 31st pick.

No one drafted there was making the NHL out of junior. Further nearly zero of their picks would have been eligible for pro hockey in the AHL. They could have remained in junior with no issues at all.

 

[meenamjah]

what's the point of being a bubble team? they're at risk of getting no playoffs or a high pick. they're one of the few teams that can be patient while collecting high picks.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

what's the point of being a bubble team? they're at risk of getting no playoffs or a high pick. they're one of the few teams that can be patient while collecting high picks.

Benefits of being a bubble team:
-Playoff revenue (assuming they squeak into the playoffs some years).
-People are more likely to buy tickets to see a competitive team than a toilet bowl team.
-Attracting free agents to sign with the team since they are competitive.


People put too much emphasis on futures and potential on this board.