My Vegas Golden Knights

The NHL has set up the expansion draft so that the Vegas Golden Knights should get some decent players and be somewhat competitive instead of treading water for a few years like past expansion teams.

In the lead up to the expansion draft, some of the other 30 NHL teams have been trying to make deals with the Golden Knights to keep their hands off certain players, with some deals having been leaked.  It has been suggested that the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Anaheim Ducks will be giving Vegas a 1st round draft pick in order to pick certain players. Looking at some of the surprising names exposed, it would not be a surprise if there are already other deals in place.  Vegas GM, George McPhee, has said he will allow teams to make a trade for a player they plan on picking.

The rules of the draft are that Vegas must select a player from each team that includes at minimum, 14 forwards, 9 defencemen, and 3 goalies.  Twenty players must be under contract for next season and they must equal between 60%-100% of the $75 million salary cap.  They also cannot buy out any players.

So, here is my team, taking in to account the three deals already having been made.  Some of these players will never play for Vegas and may be picked to be flipped to another team.

Goalies (3)

Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) $5,575,000
Petr Mrazek (DET) $5,000,000
Philip Grubauer (WAS) RFA

Defence (11)

Alexi Emelin (MTL) $4,100,000
Andre Sustr (TB) RFA
Calvin De Haan (NYI) RFA
Colin Miller (BOS) $1,000,000
Griffen Reinhart (EDM) RFA
Luca Sbisa (VAN) $3,600,000
Marc Methot (OTT) $4,900,000
Matt Dumba (MIN) $2,550,000
Sami Vatanen (ANA) $4,875,000
Toby Enstrom (WPG) $5,750,000
Trevor van Riemsdyk (CHI) $825,000

Forwards (16)

Adam Cracknell (DAL) $675,000
Alex Chiasson (CGY) RFA
Dale Weise (PHI) $2,350,000
James Neal (NAS) $5,000,0000
Jamie McGinn (ARI) $3,333,333
Jonathan Marchessault (FLO) $750,000
Jordan Nolan (LA) $950,000
Kerby Rychel (TOR) $863,333
Lee Stempniak (CAR) $2,500,000
Matt Calvert (CBJ) $2,200,000
Michael Grabner (NYR) $1,650,000
Mike Cammalleri (NJ) $5,000,000
Mikhail Grigorenko (COL) RFA
Mikkel Boedker (SJ) $4,000,000
Nail Yakupov (STL) RFA
William Carrier (BUF) $689,167

Total Salary $68,310,833