Good post. I don't remember the Vegas roster looking all that good at the time, and certainly no one was picking them as a playoff team. (Well, I did, but that was likely by default.... I didn't much care for many of the other teams in the division either). Marchesnault, Smith, Karlsson etc. were not viewed all that highly.People forget (or choose to ignore) that they have 30 millions in cap space right now. There's a lot of building left to be done. And yes, their D is already excellent.
I think they make the playoffs.
I think there's only like 5 players still on Vegas that were acquired in the expansion draft. A lot of roster turnover.Good post. I don't remember the Vegas roster looking all that good at the time, and certainly no one was picking them as a playoff team. (Well, I did, but that was likely by default.... I didn't much care for many of the other teams in the division either). Marchesnault, Smith, Karlsson etc. were not viewed all that highly.
When I look at all the high price talent available to Seattle, I'm not sure it would have done much for them. Most of it was overvalued, and hence on the market.....they can grow and build with what they picked.
Danault is good, but he's going to be paid too much and too long for 3rd line play.That last line is key. I really believe they trust Evans enough to let Danault walk.
I think there's only like 5 players still on Vegas that were acquired in the expansion draft. A lot of roster turnover.
Danault is good, but he's going to be paid too much and too long for 3rd line play.
Gourde? McCann? Appleton? Geekie? Even Tanev? They will be all playing different roles, so who knows what their offensive potential may amount to. A couple of others may emerge from the bushes. After Vegas, nothing would surprise me. Maybe Seattle figured there really wasn't much difference between those guys and their potential and some of the other overpaid talent available they chose not to take. Whether Francis, Granato etc. are correct remains to be seen.They have some of the Perron/Neal types in Eberle, Jarnkrok and Donskoi, and a stud on defense with Giardano, but no Fleury in net and I don't know who will be providing the Marchessault/Karlsson type of offense.