Sheary isn't waiver eligible. Wilson and Sund yes.
- madmike71

Thanks, wasn't sure on him.

So if Vesey signs, the roster at forwars is basically set. Everyone who played in the playoffs plus Vesey. Wilson and Sundqvist would be blocked unless they wanted to use their very limited space on a 14th forward.

Of course once the opening night roster is set, they could dump a player and it not effect their new cap, even open up a little cap space. They'd just strangely hurt rheir space if they did it now because they couldn't maximize their LTIR space.

They still could fit both of them in, Cullen at 1 mil was almost as cheap as possible. But would need some more cap shenanigans.
- Guile

So I just did some quick math off JB's post. He said they could offer Cullen 1.2M and it not effect the cap situation. Swapping Vesey for the lowest waiver eligible salary he uses, Prow, means they needed 195k more space.

Coincidentally, Cullen signs for 200k less. So Vesey salary would fit perfectly....and Cullen might have lost 200k by waiting. It does seem odd he wouldn't wait a few more days to see if he could get that 200k, unless they feel real good about their chances of getting Vesey.

They would have around 750k cap space though after resetting the roster, a little more if a cheaper player than Pouliot is the 7th D.

I think that it will be incredibly hard to build a fan base in Las Vegas, what with the demographic and plethora of other things to do, unless you can ice a competitive team right off the bat. If you want a cellar dweller for 3-4 years out of the gate, no one in LV will care at all after the initial 10 or so games. Granted, a lot of their fans will be visiting tourists, but for the sake of merchandise and brand sales, no team that has to compete with the strip can afford to be miserable to start off.

This is an incredibly ignorant opinion, im surprised it was you that said it. Outside of the tourist area of Las Vegas there is a very normal city with very normal people. They have been dying for any kind of a professional franchise. Yes I am sure the hotels and casinos will be comping tickets to guests but there will also be huge support from every day people just like Philly but probably not as stupid, present company excluded.
- Dcoms

This is my assumption. I think the demand for pro sports would be huge in Las Vegas. As far as competing with the strip I would assume limited competition. How much time can people spend in casinos and clubs before their bored. As far as lifestyle competition I would view a half dozen cities at a minimum that face more competition. Florida and Southern California teams have outside activities that really do pull people away from sports.

Being the only team in town is going to be a huge edge for Vegas. So even if the area isn't loaded with hockey fans right now I am willing to bet a lot of people start to follow it because it's the only pro team.

Being honest I don't see the expansion draft providing much more than a bottom ten team and I would guess bottom 5. They should have a solid 3 pairs of defenseman and a top 20-ish goalie which will keep them competitive. But I don't see how they get anyone that can put up more than 20 goals per year.

If I were Vegas I would have preferred to get a lot of draft picks for a bit to give the team a real shot at putting a team together in 4-5 years. Now it will take them 3-4 years to stock their system with prospects and 2-3 years before they really have a few waves of players nhl ready.

One random thought I had instead of the expansion draft with rules where a lot of teams will lose a bit of an asset what if the expansion draft allowed more protection and we let them have 15 2nd round picks or so next year. Usually the 2nd round every year produces 2-4 guys you can really build around.

so where are the people that said this was not possible cuz he would want much more money?

This is my assumption. I think the demand for pro sports would be huge in Las Vegas. As far as competing with the strip I would assume limited competition. How much time can people spend in casinos and clubs before their bored. As far as lifestyle competition I would view a half dozen cities at a minimum that face more competition. Florida and Southern California teams have outside activities that really do pull people away from sports.

Being the only team in town is going to be a huge edge for Vegas. So even if the area isn't loaded with hockey fans right now I am willing to bet a lot of people start to follow it because it's the only pro team.

Being honest I don't see the expansion draft providing much more than a bottom ten team and I would guess bottom 5. They should have a solid 3 pairs of defenseman and a top 20-ish goalie which will keep them competitive. But I don't see how they get anyone that can put up more than 20 goals per year.

If I were Vegas I would have preferred to get a lot of draft picks for a bit to give the team a real shot at putting a team together in 4-5 years. Now it will take them 3-4 years to stock their system with prospects and 2-3 years before they really have a few waves of players nhl ready.

One random thought I had instead of the expansion draft with rules where a lot of teams will lose a bit of an asset what if the expansion draft allowed more protection and we let them have 15 2nd round picks or so next year. Usually the 2nd round every year produces 2-4 guys you can really build around.
- sditulli

I don't mind the expansion draft as is I just wish we had a bad contract with a big name no longer performing player that we could trick them into. For us losing Murray and having to keep playing MAF would be a fatal error. That's equal to Naslund for Stoanov level bad. Until MAF is gone it's not going to be fun for fans.

so where are the people that said this was not possible cuz he would want much more money?
- martox

Cullen probably watched this video and a tear came to his eyes and he realized that this was his family and they were going to defend their title and be back to back champions for the first time in almost 20'years baby! https://youtu.be/TxPsNusdQsk

On Cullen signing I thought we offered him 1.2 and says he signed for 1. Not sure if the salary cut implies another move.

so where are the people that said this was not possible cuz he would want much more money?
- martox

He did but either he was only willing to play for two teams or no one was interested in offering him close to 3.

He did but either he was only willing to play for two teams or no one was interested in offering him close to 3.
- sditulli

minnesota wanted him for 1.5

I don't mind the expansion draft as is I just wish we had a bad contract with a big name no longer performing player that we could trick them into. For us losing Murray and having to keep playing MAF would be a fatal error. That's equal to Naslund for Stoanov level bad. Until MAF is gone it's not going to be fun for fans.
- Dcoms

We won't lose Murray to expansion draft. If fleury really turned the corner like he looked like last year then I'm not opposed to moving Murray instead. Especially if we can land a young top line forward for him. Longer term I'd rather have a top line wing to build around than a stud goalie especially since we have a few guys in the system with the potential to be solid goalies.

minnesota wanted him for 1.5
- martox

Was that ever confirmed.

On Cullen signing I thought we offered him 1.2 and says he signed for 1. Not sure if the salary cut implies another move.
- sditulli

I thought so as well. To get Vesey and maximize their cap space, they needed another 200k. Not saying we got him, but the difference points to them at least preparing for it.

Was that ever confirmed.
- madmike71

think minnesota 1.5 mil and pittsburgh was the only things confirmed

Well I am sure most of you know that feeling where your brain starts working way after the fact on a thought you had...

Cullen signed... Sund now goes down... his cap space, freed up. Cullen's salary almost did not matter whatsoever in signing Vesey.

I thought so as well. To get Vesey and maximize their cap space, they needed another 200k. Not saying we got him, but the difference points to them at least preparing for it.
- Tojo.

If it means that then implies we already expect to sign vesey. Otherwise we pretty much told Cullen he can sign at any time so I would assume he would wait till vesey decides so he gets that money.

Maybe it's some cap shenanigans to get dupuis ltir maximized

Well I am sure most of you know that feeling where your brain starts working way after the fact on a thought you had...

Cullen signed... Sund now goes down... his cap space, freed up. Cullen's salary almost did not matter whatsoever in signing Vesey.
- Guile

I'm not nearly as confident on sundqvist as a 4c so ya I think getting Cullen back is a big deal. I like having fehr as potential 4c if someone gets hurt.

CULLEN! SAWEEET!

We won't lose Murray to expansion draft. If fleury really turned the corner like he looked like last year then I'm not opposed to moving Murray instead. Especially if we can land a young top line forward for him. Longer term I'd rather have a top line wing to build around than a stud goalie especially since we have a few guys in the system with the potential to be solid goalies.
- sditulli

I just can't agree with this at all. I'm so sick of MAF's gaffes, we don't win the cup with him in net he would have found a way to blow it. Game 6 against Washington after he let the 3rd goal in he would have let a bad one in and we would have lost. Game 7 against Tampa same thing. It terrifies me when the game is close and he's in net. And there is zero guarantee that any other goalie in the system even plays one game at the NHL level. Backup doesn't count.