Vegas likely to lack star power and scoring in early existence

When it constructed rules for the upcoming expansion draft, the NHL tried to ensure at least one thing: that the Vegas Golden Knights weren’t immediately terrible.

The list of available players to the Knights suggests that might be the case. But in all likelihood, Vegas will lack stars and scoring in the early years of its existence.

“I’m really pleased with what’s available,” general manager George McPhee said Sunday after protection lists and available players were released.

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

McPhee will be challenged to find ready-made stars to shine on the Vegas strip, especially up front.

Not one all-star from last season is up for grabs, and only one player from the league’s top-30 scorers is available: 32-year-old Eric Staal, who resurrected his career with 65 points for Minnesota. Staal is one of only six available players who finished among the top-90 in scoring and one of only 12 to pot at least 20 goals - a group mostly comprised of veteran supporting types like James Neal, Patrick Eaves, T.J. Oshie, and Michael Grabner.

Nobody scored more among available players than the 33-year-old Eaves, who cracked the 20-goal plateau for only the second time with 32 last season.