If that's the case, bye-bye Pysyk
- stashu

If they even take him. From what I read if there is an expansion draft each team would lose potentially 2 players. Might be better D options out there than him.

Yeah... If they could go ahead and take Moulson that'd be greeeeat.

Jeez, if they could pull a guy of Pysyk's caliber from all the teams, than Vegas could be a playoff bubble team in year one.
- sskkoo1

Might be a bit of a stretch on how good Pysyk is, but the teams shouldn't be bottom feeders or at least should be competitive. My question is, what happens with their draft? Do they do the entry draft and if so, where do they pick? Will there be something to help them fill their prospect pool?

Jeez, if they could pull a guy of Pysyk's caliber from all the teams, than Vegas could be a playoff bubble team in year one.
- sskkoo1

It gets uglier with the true expansion date though (talk of it being after next season).

Forced to protect: Bogosian

Obvious players to protect: Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Ristolainen

That leaves either 3 more of any non-goalie or 4 forwards and 1 d-man


That also leaves out whoever the team may trade or sign for in this offseason/next year's deadline.

If they even take him. From what I read if there is an expansion draft each team would lose potentially 2 players. Might be better D options out there than him.

Yeah... If they could go ahead and take Moulson that'd be greeeeat.
- Zschalberg

Each team would only lose 1 player for each new expansion team. Talk right now is only 1 team being brought in at a time.

If they even take him. From what I read if there is an expansion draft each team would lose potentially 2 players. Might be better D options out there than him.

Yeah... If they could go ahead and take Moulson that'd be greeeeat.
- Zschalberg

I didn't necessarily mean he'd be selected, I just mean expose him over McCabe from my list.

Team will never make it here

If that's the case, bye-bye Pysyk
- stashu

Correct, which means you trade him if you can, right? Pysyk and our first for Hall anyone?

If the NMC/NTC restriction is not in place, of the 4 D you mentioned, I keep McCabe and Pysyk.

While Bogosian is playing better, I'd hope the new team would take him and his large contract as it opens up many more possibilities.

If the expansion team does take him, you do a quiet happy dance and then enjoy the added cap space his contract leaving gives you.

Team will never make it here
- SABRES 89

You won't go watch a few games?

I know that Michael discussed the scenario in his blog, but I really don't see how we're not able to keep all of our key pieces.

Vegas is the only team coming in, so what do they need? A 23 man roster.
12 forwards
7 defensemen
2 goalies
2 extra 23 man roster.

If Vegas takes just one guy from each team that gives them 30 to choose from and leaves seven teams without having to lose a single player. From our roster I don't see how we can't offer up guys like Moulson, Franson, Johnson, Makarov, Colivovovo, Gionta to Vegas and make sure that guys like Pysyk and Macabe are secure. They only need to take one and we're offering up 2 forwards, 2 defensemen, and 2 goalies to choose from. What about Vegas taking UFA's to fill roster spots and the farm club?

You won't go watch a few games?
- Maximum Signal

Has nothing to do if I will, these people in this city only go if the team is winning.

Has nothing to do if I will, these people in this city only go if the team is winning.
- SABRES 89

Did you sign up or whatever for seasons?

They had no business building the arena in the place they picked, wait until people have to park across Tropicana Ave. in the Excalibur parking lot and walk across. You can hardly see the arena from the Strip at all, it's behind Monte Carlo and New York New York.

Did you sign up or whatever for seasons?
- stashu

Nope, i'll go but no season tickets.

It gets uglier with the true expansion date though (talk of it being after next season).

Forced to protect: Bogosian

Obvious players to protect: Eichel, Reinhart, O'Reilly, Ristolainen

That leaves either 3 more of any non-goalie or 4 forwards and 1 d-man


That also leaves out whoever the team may trade or sign for in this offseason/next year's deadline.
- stashu

They wouldn't need protecting though?

Has nothing to do if I will, these people in this city only go if the team is winning.
- SABRES 89

Will they even go then?


I could see them making money for a few reasons. 1, Casino's will buy tickets in the same way corporations do. And I could see groups of guys from hockey markets going down to Vegas to catch their favorite team play. Timing the game with say a friends stag or something. So I think they will out pace Florida in attendance. Maybe a few other markets as well.

Has nothing to do if I will, these people in this city only go if the team is winning.
- SABRES 89

Plus it takes time to build a fan base. If hockey fans start taking there 5-10 year olds now they will be fans as young adults and take their kids. Really takes 15-20 years to build up that solid fan base into a 2nd generation.

Will they even go then?


I could see them making money for a few reasons. 1, Casino's will buy tickets in the same way corporations do. And I could see groups of guys from hockey markets going down to Vegas to catch their favorite team play. Timing the game with say a friends stag or something. So I think they will out pace Florida in attendance. Maybe a few other markets as well.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Casino's aren't spending money on anything that won't make them money, to many greedy executives, new thing for casino's is.......... fire all the employees and lease everything out and keep all the executives.

Sure fans from other teams will go, i'll be there in full gear for the Sabres but to think people that live here will go every night when the team plays isn't gonna happen.

They wouldn't need protecting though?
- Sabresfan-365

They won't be at the end of next season which is when it would take place.

Plus it takes time to build a fan base. If hockey fans start taking there 5-10 year olds now they will be fans as young adults and take their kids. Really takes 15-20 years to build up that solid fan base into a 2nd generation.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

The is Las Vegas, the only thing that matters here is the Runnin Rebels Basketball Team, there football team and programme is a complete joke and they suck every year.

Has nothing to do if I will, these people in this city only go if the team is winning.
- SABRES 89

Someone suggested tour campanies are going to put together packages in Cities that have NHL teams . Fly to Vegas see your team play and enjoy Vegas weekend sort of thing. If you say it won't go I believe ya. You live there. I have probably been there over 100 times with work . And I can't get out of there quick enough. Had a few bad experiences . Vegas Cops trying to Arrest Nikki on stage being one . Then the bull of them arresting after the show. Ended up testifying in a lawsuit against the police. Nikki got a nice couple million dollar settlement. Cops there behaved like Storm Troopers

Team will never make it here
- SABRES 89

why not?...I see luxury boxes being filled rather easily and complimentary tickets filling the arena

edit: plus they're said to have sold 10,000 season tickets after their drive

They wouldn't need protecting though?
- Sabresfan-365

They'll have 2 years played after next season, which exposes them (if I read the chatter about the latest rules right)

"First- and second-year pros -- including those playing pro hockey at any level -- will be exempt from the expansion draft. But if they're entering their third year of pro hockey, they're no longer exempt. Teams would have to either protect them or expose them."

Will they even go then?


I could see them making money for a few reasons. 1, Casino's will buy tickets in the same way corporations do. And I could see groups of guys from hockey markets going down to Vegas to catch their favorite team play. Timing the game with say a friends stag or something. So I think they will out pace Florida in attendance. Maybe a few other markets as well.
- Buffalo--Sabres

They may sell tickets, but will the place look like it?

If, as you say, the casinos but tickets, that may leave a lot of seats still going unfilled. While going to Vegas is fun, how many non-hockey fans are going to care if they're comped a ticket to a game?

Plus it takes time to build a fan base. If hockey fans start taking there 5-10 year olds now they will be fans as young adults and take their kids. Really takes 15-20 years to build up that solid fan base into a 2nd generation.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

my guess is 10 thousand loyal fans, the rest will come from expected tourists


if the casinos don't comp tickets, it will be tough to fill the arena