Rod Serling

I'm back from the twilight zone. Yes, I spent over a week in a place with no internet, 25 TV channels (only CBS sports for hockey news), one to two bars on my cell phone, and a cell plan that doesn't allow me to use my iPhone as a hot spot.

Wheeling and Dealing

Ducks GM Bob Murray must have a deal in the works with Las Vegas to leave both Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen unprotected in the expansion draft. He didn't even ask Kevin Bieksa to waive his no movement contract clause (which he likely would have done) in order to protect either one of the two young defenders.

Bob McKenzie of TSN believes the deal is for Vegas to select Clayton Stoner. As a reward for doing so the new team will receive a high draft pick and a top prospect, who is rumored to be Shea Theodore. I'll reserve judgment whether or not Theodore is part of the deal until it happens. I think he has more value than that.

Leaving Vatanen exposed feels like a precursor to a trade. Even if he doesn't go in the expansion draft, Vatanen had to be as shocked as the rest of us that Bieksa was protected over him. That is bound to cause some resentment. If the Hamonic for Duchesne has legs, Vatanen has to be worth at least a top six forward.

More to come.

Ed

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