2017 NHL expansion draft results: All of the Vegas Golden Knights' reported picks in one place
Reporters are coming out of the woodwork with leaks hours before the NHL expansion draft.
The Vegas Golden Knights aren’t supposed to announce their team until the NHL Awards on Wednesday evening. Unfortunately for them, like many things in this league, the roster is slowly starting to leak out to beat reporters and national writers hours before the expansion draft is slated to begin.
Of course, nothing is 100 percent official until Vegas takes the stage tonight. And this roster might not even stick after this evening, as the Golden Knights seem to have flip deals in place for more than a few of the guys they are slated to pick. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t get these rumors and leaks out to you guys to dissect and dismantle before the main event this evening.
So, here is every possible rumor we can find on which players will be taken in Wednesday evening’s expansion draft. Take them with your moderated grain of salt.
Anaheim Ducks: TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports the Ducks have a deal in place to retain Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen. In exchange, Vegas will take Clayton Stoner as its expansion pick and receive defenseman prospect Shea Theodore as the second part of the deal to lay off Manson and Vatanen.
Boston Bruins: Defenseman Colin Miller is headed to Vegas.
Buffalo Sabres: Forward William Carrier has been selected by Vegas.
Calgary Flames: Deryk Engelland is reportedly the Golden Knights pick from Calgary.
Chicago Blackhawks: Vegas is reportedly going to take defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk from the Blackhawks. There was also reportedly a side deal involving Marcus Kruger, but with the Marian Hossa news, Kruger may or may not move now that the winds have shifted in Chicago.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets have reportedly kept Josh Anderson, Jack Johnson, and backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo away from Vegas. In exchange, the Golden Knights will get the Blue Jackets’ first-round pick in 2017, a prospect — likely forward William Karlsson — and will take on David Clarkson’s LTIR contract.
Dallas Stars: Rumors have Cody Eakin tagged as the Vegas pick from Dallas.
Detroit Red Wings: The Athletic’s Craig Custance has 24-year-old forward Tomas Nosek being the Vegas pick from the Red Wings in a surprise decision over Petr Mrazek, Riley Sheahan, and Xavier Ouellet.
Edmonton Oilers: Defenseman Griffin Reinhart is headed to Vegas, according to John Shannon.
Florida Panthers: A deal seems to be in place that the Golden Knights will acquire both Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, which seems like a big win for them.
Los Angeles Kings: Defenseman Brayden McNabb is expected to be chosen by the Golden Knights.
Minnesota Wild: Erik Haula has signed with the Golden Knights, and prospect Alex Tuch is headed to Vegas as well. In exchange, Vegas will not take Mathew Dumba, Marco Scandella, or Eric Staal.
Montreal Canadiens: After some confusion Vegas is likely taking Alexei Emelin in the draft, not Brandon Davidson or Charles Hudon.
Nashville Predators: James Neal is seemingly the target for Vegas here, but who knows if he will be flipped by week’s end.
New York Islanders: Vegas and the Islanders have a deal that will send goaltender Jean-Francois Berube to the Golden Knights, along with the 15th overall pick in this year’s entry draft and Mikhail Grabovski.
New York Rangers: Antti Raanta is reportedly not the selection for the Golden Knights. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that the pick will be forward Oscar Lindberg.
Ottawa Senators: Defenseman Marc Methot is seemingly headed toward Vegas.
Philadelphia Flyers: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare is reportedly being taken from the Flyers.
Pittsburgh Penguins: A draft pick may be headed Vegas’ way from the Penguins to ensure they take Marc-Andre Fleury on Wednesday.
San Jose Sharks: Pierre LeBrun is reporting that David Schlemko will be taken from the Sharks by Vegas.
St. Louis Blues: Winger David Perron is reportedly the pick for Vegas.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Jason Garrison is reportedly going to Vegas, though no other terms of the deal are known.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Maple Leafs should expect to lose Brendan Leipsic in the expansion draft on Wednesday.
Washington Capitals: Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is not likely to be taken in the expansion draft. It now looks like defenseman Nate Schmidt will be taken.
Winnipeg Jets: Darren Dreger has reported that the Jets have a deal in place to protect Toby Enstrom, though no other details are known about the return.