Blue Jackets Negotiating With Golden Knights

[Mr KLC]

The Vegas Golden Knights may be using some of their considerable power to work out a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

A report from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch suggests that the Golden Knights, who will begin their expansion draft selections this coming week, will bring in a handsome haul from Columbus in order to convince the expansion club to avoid selecting one of the Blue Jackets’ top developing goaltenders or a handful of other players unable to be exposed.

In theory, Jack Johnson, Alexander Wennberg and Joonas Korpisalo are all on the list of players Columbus can’t protect, but would very much like to keep on board. And boy, are they willing to pay for it.

Per Portzline:

“The Jackets are believed to be trading this year’s first-round draft pick (No. 24 overall) and a prospect (not Pierre-Luc Dubois or Sonny Milano) to Vegas for assurances that the Golden Knights will select either left wing Matt Calvert, center William Karlsson or defenseman Ryan Murray. Vegas’ acquisition of the contract of injured veteran forward David Clarkson ($5.25 million salary cap hit) may also be part of the deal.”

[Mr KLC]

I read that teams could do this before the expansion draft. Hoping the Predators are able to find a way to protect Sissons.

[Mr KLC]

The Vegas Golden Knights and general manager George McPhee are getting ready to assemble the first roster in franchise history. Ahead of the team’s inaugural season, the Golden Knights are able to make up their roster from players that have been left unprotected by the rest of the league. But as Vegas looks to build for the future, the team has reportedly been involved in a number of trade talks that would involve them not taking players that have been left exposed, opting instead for draft picks and other pieces from those teams.

“We’ve got lots of things lined up, but until we see everything, we don’t have anything,” McPhee said. “We’re going to make all of our final decisions late, because we don’t know what kind of calls we’re going to get today. They may be different. The same manager might have different things to say now that we’re in the expansion window.”

The Golden Knights already have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, which begins on Friday. But reportedly, the team could have more picks coming their way, from the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, and Anaheim Ducks, just to not select the players the teams left unprotected.

As one example, the Blue Jackets are expected to send their first-round pick (24th overall) to Vegas in order for the team to not select players Columbus hopes to keep.

“This has worked out very well for the Vegas Golden Knights and we expect to put a good, entertaining club on the ice,” McPhee said.