Hardest Part of the Rebuild

Please note: I know I have to add, it was mostly just targeting defenseman we could realistically add.

Not really sure why the Vegas Golden Knights would waste any picks on 30 year olds. If I'm Vegas I take younger guys who still have room to grow. Theres simply no upside in wasting a team selection on an older player when they can sign all those guys in free agency. My point is that as an expansion team you don't draft your core players. You sign them in free agency or you draft guys that grow into core players who are currently afterthoughts. The reason for this is motivation. Anyone who is 30 and good doesn't want to be in Vegas..... they should and will suck if they know whats good for them. They need many picks and high ones to build themselves up. if they draft Bozak he'll likely be disgruntled and not even want to be there. This literally always happens every expansion draft and the Hockey News covered it superbly. You overpay guys in ufa who WANT TO PLAY FOR YOU and get guys who are younger in the draft who have no say and are just happy to be flying to games instead of riding buses. It seems everyone on here is clueless and is actually buying into what the owner said. Like actually buying into it and believing he's going to win a cup in 6 years..... the guy who's trying to sell you tickets and would say anything to get you to buy them is telling you that and your believing him straight up at face value.... like he really thinks that he's going to have a shot after every team can protect their top 7 forwards that he has a chance to go for a win now approach and can draft 30 year olds and go for a cup year one. This is just poor logic and not how good teams are actually built. If Vegas try to be a playoff team year one they will ultimately cave into themselves like a black hole. Selecting win now players coupled with no farm system or prospect pool, other than the 2017 picks they have, as does everyone else will lead them to not be able to support their own weight and when the 30 year old players move on or retire you don't have enough to replace them.

Get that off your chest?

I understand your reasoning and I agree, but from a Leafs perspective and from this angle Vegas could select Bozak, Komarov, Carrick or maybe a Bibeau? They can take their pick so it doesn't matter that ultimately wasn't the point of this AGM. I think Komarov might be a good pick for them, I think they could resign him (slightly overpay to get him to stay in Vegas). Leafs won't leave any good young players available: so what do you suggest they take?

Interesting, never heard Niskanen's name thrown around before. He has good possession numbers and is not that old. I wonder what it would take to get him; two waiver pick ups is definitely not enough.

Brodin is essentially a #1 Dman, makes Gardiner expendable. But it would be amazing to grab him. I wonder if they'd want to trade Dumba before Brodin.

From what I have heard Brodin could be a fit for the Leafs. And the Leafs do have cap space, which Minni might need. But gotta think JVR doesn't have nearly as much value in trade value as Leafs Fans think. Thinking a deal is possible but with Minni taking guys on ELC or near NHL guys.....Kapanen, Hyman, Dermot for instance
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Although Vegas might take some veterans, don't think guys with just one year left on their contract like Bozak would be in their sights. Leivo and Leipsic protected? Gee they don't see the ice as Leafs. Better to keep NHLer Dman Carrick...and if one Leivo or Leipsic are taken....so what.

That's not much for Nishkanen....two bare NHLers. Gotta believe others will offer more. Washington need some cap space though, I''d ever be willing to take 2 years of Orpik as a replacement for Hunwick. (if the Brodin deal doesn't happen)

Don't worry if Reilly is a # 1. Reilly, the Leafs, and Leafs fan can only hope he can play up to his capabilities. And if he's a # 2 (I hate rating players like this), so be it. A team with three # 2s, two # 3s, one # 4. can be quite successful.