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Mock-Drafts---Wallstedt-Eklund-Edvinsson/275/112125">Updated mock drafts have Detroit looking at Wallstedt, Eklund and Edvinsson. What we’ve come to expect is that Yzerman isn’t usually in sync with the hype machine. Whatever he has in mind at the 6th overall pick, it will definitely address a need moving forward.
I have my next gear corner article ready to go, but will be posting it tomorrow. Getting a grasp on the scenario of Las Vegas being bounced by Montreal seems to be a worthwhile endeavor. Seeing Montreal advance to the finals brings about multiple reflections. In the McDavid/Matthews era, Montreal isn’t the Canadian team many expected to advance to the finals first. I have to imagine that in Toronto there is a little bit of discomfort seeing the Habs with a conference title and a crack at the Stanley Cup.
Ironically, the final matchup could never have happened in a normal year. Two eastern conference teams will be on the ice for the finals. What a bizarre set of circumstances.
Before I hit the Vegas roster, I’ll hit you with the clickbait. What, you ask, is the worst conspiracy theory ever? Here it is. In Las Vegas’s first two post seasons, a player from the team that knocked them out of the post season has found themselves hit with a Vegas based scandal. When Washington won, Kuznetsov was hit with a picture showing him in a room with illicit substances (and possibly illicit companionship). When San Jose knocked the group out the next year, Evander Kane hit the front pages for having taken a $500,000 line of credit during the finals, gambled it away, and left without repaying. The bubble year doesn’t really count because no one was in Vegas.
So, for this off the wall conspiracy to hold any water, we’d have to see a Canadien’s player hit with some sort of unsavory accusation. If that happens, then the lunacy that perpetuated this idea will be thus vindicated. Said party will spend the rest of his days living in a van down by the river, subsisting on government cheese a’la Matt Foley (as portrayed by Chris Farley).
Moving on from the rabble, Las Vegas doesn’t really have a lot that they need to do in the off season. The club has a few UFAs on expiring contracts but nothing that would cause a drastic reshaping of the roster. Perhaps more than anything there will be a full dose of fans screaming about some off kilter performances in net.
Here is the Golden Knight’s cap friendly page. They don’t have a lot of work to do with just 4 UFAs from the current roster. But, they only have about 6 million in space. Vegas is exempt from the expansion draft, so any money they need will have to come via trade or buyout.
For one more year, Las Vegas has 12 million tied up in 2 goalies. Fleury at 7 million and Lehner at 5. Former Wings Nosek and Janmark are expiring UFAs along with former Michigan resident Alec Martinez. Honestly, this is an older roster and not too much of interest for the rebuilding Wings. If Vegas needed to make a deal for cap space, Reilly Smith has one more year at 5 million. Not sure they want to part with him unless something goes sideways.
In the world of post exit hysteria, Marc Andre Fleury will be the target of ire and his 7 million dollar hit will have some urging a trade. Plenty of teams should have interest in “the flower”, but may require some salary retention. I just don’t see a great fit for Detroit in these deals. I’m not over anxious to see Janmark or Nosek come in on free agent deals. I have no idea what Martinez would be looking for on the open market. Maybe he’d be a reasonable stop gap defender? Other than that I’m not sure.
If someone on the roster jumps out to you as a perfect fit, let me know in the comments.
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Check out some of my previous posts
Updated mock drafts have Detroit looking at Wallstedt, Eklund and Edvinsson.
Helm and Filppula could be moving on.
Jared McIsaac may finally be healthy enough to have a solid pro year.
My first “summer reading post” covered Chelios’s career defining fib.
Friday was my first gear corner with Doug Todd from Warrior Hockey.
Albert Johansson won’t be competing for a spot in North America this season
I will be featuring the writings of Kevin Allen for a summer reading program this year. It’s tough to break up the summer months, and the one on one formats that Kevin has perfected is not only a pleasure to read but gives insight that isn’t easy to come by. I’ll be starting with Chris Chelios “Made in America”.
Colorado is out of the playoffs.
Isle be darned, Boston is out
(M)Over Achiever - Seider getting accolades
setting the limits on trades
Moritz Seider reminds me of Jiri Fischer
Mo Seider is getting good ice time at the IIHF Worlds Championship.
There may be some blockbuster deals coming.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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