FULL VEGAS TEAM, POST FREE AGENCY FRENZY - PLEASE LOOK AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Team: 2016-17 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 1, 2016

Published: Jul. 1, 2016

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Used the General Fanager Mock Expansion Draft Tool (http://www.generalfanager.com/teams/expansion) to construct this roster. As owner Bill Foley has publicly stated, the Vegas team will be a younger team with established veterans to mentor the kids.

The first line raises a lot of question marks - Smith has never been a 1C in the NHL, Wilson is playing out of position, and it's anyone's guess if Kane can stay off the Strip and out of trouble. Still, this is not a horrible top 6. Decent mix of youth and experience with some scoring ability. Bottom 6 are all solid NHLers who can fill different secondary scoring/penalty killer/faceoff man checking line roles.

Assuming Tampa doesn't move Bishop, which would throw a wrench into the expansion draft I simulated to create this team, Vegas will have 2 NHL goalies with a solid amount of starting experience. Mason was competent before Neuvirth stole his job (and protection) last year, and Vas is already arguably better than him and has potential to develop even further. Not to mention COL's former goalie of the future Calvin Pickard waiting in the wings.

Still, the D corps is by far the strength of this team. Most NHL teams would be lucky to have both the talent and depth that Vegas will possess. All 8 guys on the roster (TVR and Jokipakka will be healthy scratches until someone gets hurt) are legit NHLers and can play against the tough competition of the Pacific Division. Coach (Bob Hartley?) will be able to roll 3 pairings at even strength - a luxury most teams don't have.

While this team should be fine on the PK, they will certainly struggle on the power play. Fowler is the only defenseman on this roster with extensive AND recent (sorry Jay Bouwmeester) experience quarterbacking a power play. Additionally, many of the forwards will see their roles elevated on the power play as well - potentially past their abilities. Wilson, Jurco, and Bennett especially will be counted on to contribute in roles where they never have previously at the NHL level. As a result, the power play could be the weakest point for Vegas.

While several of the kids have already demonstrated NHL caliber talent, to fulfill the 23 man roster requirement and give them all some more seasoning, Vegas will have to send Quine, Leipsic, Samuelsson, Harrington, Reinhart, & Pickard to the AHL. Not sure how Vegas will operate without an AHL team, but if they were to have one, those six players would form the nucleus of a supremely talented AHL squad.

TL;DR - a solid team with depth that might struggle to score, especially on the power play. Certainly will achieve Foley's goal of making the playoffs within 3 years.