Uncertain times ahead of expansion draft
Degree of uncertainty settles over team as it heads into NHL’s expansion draft
One would think that the flashing lights of Las Vegas and the desert climate would be enough to draw anyone with a heartbeat.
But uprooting your life to play for a National Hockey League expansion team makes for uneasy times, regardless of an inviting destination like Sin City.
As a forward for the St. Louis Blues during the 1998 and 2000 expansion drafts, Craig Conroy was on the team’s protected list both times. But his teammates Blair Atcheynum (Nashville) and Scott Pellerin (Minnesota) weren’t, and left those summers to join the newest NHL teams in the loop.
“I was fortunate, but there was that moment when you wonder who is going to be protected or unprotected,” the Calgary Flames assistant general manager said recently. “It’s a great feeling when you find out but ... I got a call from the guys after (the protected lists were released) and they were like, ‘I wonder if I’m going to get picked’ and they did get picked and those guys went and really enjoyed their other teams. Although they were sad to leave, when they got there, they were big parts of a new team.
“It’s just like trade deadline. You think you’re OK, and then I’ve been traded a couple of times at the deadline. Those are the things that you can’t really do anything about as a player. We signed up for this.”
On Saturday, Flames general manager Brad Treliving will put the finishing touches on Calgary’s list and submit it to the NHL by suppertime. Earlier this week, he confirmed they would be taking advantage of the seven-three-one format — seven forwards, three defencemen and one goalie.
Logically, it would make sense for the club to protect their top assets and investments in this part of the NHL Expansion Draft process. Teams can also protect players that are potential unrestricted free agents as of July 1.
Logic would suggest that the
Flames’ no-touch list could resemble something like this: forwards Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Micheal Ferland, Michael Frolik, Johnny Gaudreau, Curtis Lazar, and Sean Monahan, defencemen T.J. Brodie, Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton, and netminder Brian Elliott.
Elliott, of course, could be unprotected, too, given his contract status ( he’s a UFA on July 1) and whether or not the Flames lost confidence in him when he stumbled during the 2017 post-season. But on the other hand, the goalie market is drying up this off-season, and he did earn the No. 1 starter’s job in the second half of the 201617 campaign.
These are uncertain times, but especially for those left unprotected.
Vegas general manager George McPhee, his Golden Knights staff and the general public will have access to those lists Sunday afternoon. From Sunday to Tuesday, McPhee will formulate his plans to pluck one player from each team, trying to reach 60 per cent of their salary cap and draft the 2017-18 Golden Knights.
The final roster will be announced in conjunction with the NHL Awards on Wednesday.
The Flames, who will meet in Chicago on Monday to prepare for the week ahead, have created their own mock drafts based on other teams’ potential protected lists.
“We’ve picked who we think, but we don’t know,” Conroy said. “We’ve narrowed it down, and probably most teams have. And there are probably some teams that are saying, ‘Hey we can do something with Vegas.’
“They have full control for a week.”
And as for the players? “There’s not much you can do about it,” he added. “We signed up for it. This is our life. It’s tough on the families … but for the most part, Vegas stepped up and that brought up probably 60 jobs in hockey. So, I mean, it’s great for the league, but somebody has to go there.”
When the shock wears off, Conroy added, usually there’s a silver lining to the news if a player gets a phone call.
“Is it the worst thing to be picked by Vegas and go to an expansion team? Maybe not,” Conroy said. “Maybe you get another contract and maybe everything works out. Some guys need a break or need to start their career, so it’s a good thing for them.
“Once you get there, you’re there to play hockey and that’s what it’s all about. Whoever ends up going there is probably going to love it.”