Vegas holds the cards with Karlsson's future

Team: 2018-19 Vegas Golden Knights

Initial Creation Date: May 25, 2018

Published: May 25, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Vegas had a great year… But can they sustain this “contender” status? Based on their statistical analysis, NO! Multiple guys have had career years along with others having a resurgence of their careers. What are the chances of the team now sustaining that ability ALONG with fitting them in under the CAP? Vegas has to now focus on creating a team for the long term and staying a somewhat contender. They shouldn’t have an issue being in the top 10 with this team, or so I think. Here is my reasoning for each move or signing:
First, Vegas cant afford to jump on a guy who has 61 career goals, but 43 of them this year. Karlsson had a great year, no doubt… but statistically and contractually he is PERFECT... Vegas holds the cards (see what I did there?)… He played over 100 games in the SHL back in Sweden, didn’t get 20 goals in that span. 61 AHL games, 10 goals. 265 NHL games, 61 goals (43 this year). That’s .2 Goals per game in Sweden, .16 goals a game in the AHL & .23 goals per game in the NHL. I hope the guy gets 50 goals next year, but I don’t see him sustaining his numbers. I don’t see him getting his 100th career goal next season… SO what does this mean? Vegas has 4 options. Option 1 PAY HIM.. Give him 8 years $7M a year and lock him up… (but what happens if he falls off? Your stuck)… Option 2. I would give him a contract offer for above what he might be worth (option I figured he would take). Pay him $8M for two years, he proves he can score 40+ goals both years, HE WINS!!!! You pay him to stay or he gets the option to leave. Option 3, Let a team offer him 7 years $7-8M and you get a 1st, 2nd & 3rd rounder at minimum. Not bad considering he might **** the bed… Or Option 4. Trade his rights for a pick in the top 5-6 to one of the teams that might be dumb enough to take a risk. No matter what Vegas should do anything in their power not to sign him to a long term deal until he proves he can sustain the success.
Ok moving on, forwards are pretty simple. Not a whole lot of market for James Neal. Vegas can probably sign him for $4 – 4.5M per year. Tatar obviously doesn’t fit so move him. You wont get your picks back and no one will give you a first round selection for him. Your moving salary and hoping you can get a player who is better fitting into the team’s needs.
Defense is still shaky. Lets be real, if Vegas has an OK year, an upgrade to defense would remove Engelland from the mix. He is a great story this year, but just like your nightly news, get your 5 seconds of fame and then no one remembers your name. Maybe he will randomly pop up on some Celebrity battle show in 10 years… Anyhow, the D needs some work. Again you have guys who have given 130% all season long to all have career years.. but will they SUSTAIN this? No, no one can… So you need to sure it up. I think your first pick in the draft is a Defensemen and you have to add one Defenseman to the mix. I feel Mike Green is a good fit because he can help the younger guys grow and he adds more offensive punch from the blue line. He likes to skate and so do the guys in Vegas.. Good fit.
Goaltenders were packed last year and it worked out in the favor of Vegas… However, you can’t have 3 NHL back up ability goalies competing for a starting AHL role. Someone needs to get the bump. I think Subban has the most upside to a team looking for a backup.
THE TRADE:
I stated Tatar had to go. I think the Islanders are a nice landing spot. Tavares would like some extra weapons and money. This helps seal his fate as an Islander for life. Subban goes in the deal to take over the spot vacated by Halak who the Islanders let go to free agency in order to fully solidify their faith in Greiss (who is probably not an NHL starter anyhow, but Garth likes his goalies). In return Vegas receives the rights to Brock Nelson who fits in nicely to the mix and is a consistent 40+ point player in the NHL.

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