There was nothing stopping either team from trading those guys. They chose not to protect them.
- Iggysbff

Of course when you're forced not to protect them. You can't trade everyone, especially when you have no leverage.

Nashville had to protect 4 Defensemen so they were gonna lose Neal or Jarnkrok. You can't trade away all your players who have value so no one is gonna get picked of value.

Fleury stayed with the Penguins to get the Stanley Cup. With the expansion draft coming up there was no draft value.

The look on Gary Bettmans face if the Knight actually win the cup will be unbareable.

You know what is really great to see? All the people that have a problem with Vegas winning are the usual HB morons.
- Iggysbff

Dear, dear....

Your self-righteousness is off the chart today.

There was nothing stopping either team from trading those guys. They chose not to protect them.
- Iggysbff

JR didn't want to jeopardise the cup run by trading MAF through the season - & rightfully so as that non move was huge in the Cup run. Then he didn't want to get raped after the season as everyone knew Murray was the future. So Vegas was advantaged in that respect due to the rules that governed the expansion draft.

Everybody Calm the (frank) Down

First of all ek you don’t have a clue. The number players that had to be left unprotected by each team was absurd. They basically took. Top line player from each team. That’s bull sht. Go ahead suspend my account whatever.the league is a joke
- mattstake

They took Jason Garrison from the Bolts and a prospect that doesnt want to come to North America.....totally agree with you!

In all seriousness nobody deserves it more than the Jets, they have better fans, their players have more heart ect, ect.
- LeslieNeilsen

winning it all (which hasn't happened yet) in the initial season would be a testament to the management picking excellent players for their plan and picking the correct coaching staff to utilize those players within their plan. It is clear the coaching staff talks within themselves to make seamless execution of the system, especially on defense which is clearly their strength. Mcphee did all the right things and correct choices in making a plan.
For that reason they really do deserve it, but you would be correct that the Jets, given their history and painful moments for the fans of both the original jets, atlanta thrashers and the current jets certainly would deserve it the most. I certainly hope it can be done. If not I will support Vegas, both are great stories

Or maybe people don’t want to “actually” post an opinion because it’s saturday morning and people have better things to do?

It would look terrible for the league if an expansion team essentially bought the cup, which is what Vegas is doing. The NHL is already not taken as seriously as the other big sports, this is making it look even worse. If I were an owner (or fan for that matter) you’re damn right I’d be choked that a team was handed a contending team and high draft picks. This is not a good look for the NHL.
- iknowbest

Again this is early as they havent even won this round.

You are absolutely right, they were given quite a golden situation by the league.

Two areas that need to be considered:

GM, coach, players: They have played excellent all year. Every game this year, there wass a player who has a chip on his shoulder against the team they played. ALOT of motivation for an entire season


Yes, Vegas had advantages over any other NHL expansion team in the past...

No other expansion team to compete against in expansion draft and the perameters that Vegas got on who could be protected on each NHL team strongly favored them....BUT McPhee and Co. picked right players.

Next year will be a good test to see if they can keep it up.
- rrentz

yes you are right because vegas had months to map out their picks, while past teams had to pick after some players were already gone. Hard to make any plan that way

Truth hurts, cupcake
- Komisaurus Rex

You’re a dumbass, then.

Because fans pay thousands of dollars to support their team that is run by an nhl old boys club all making millions and very few of them have a clue about what they are doing. A team of cast off comes in and buys into a system and makes the rest of the superstars look bad.

I think it's great personally. I'd far rather watch Vegas and they make it look fast and simple rather than a bunch of individuals hot dogging it.
- Iggysbff

exactly, a well executed system involved the entire coaching staff can make players succeed quite well in their roles. Too bad this is lost on most fans.

remember the old NYRs who had a loaded like 95M payroll of superstars yet couldnt make the playoffs?

B/C it will be the first time in history that an expansion team has won's it's leagues championship in first year. Vegas fans will be spoiled.....F**k them
- rrentz

similar to when quebec moved to colorado and won the cup in its 1st year there.

There was nothing stopping either team from trading those guys. They chose not to protect them.
- Iggysbff

this is completely wrong with MAF. He had a nmc and ntc... with the few amount of teams he could choose to be dealt to he could have prevented movement. the pens wanted both for their cup run so they went to MAF and asked if he would waive for vegas so they could keep Murray. pens only power over MAF would be to bench him if he did not agree.

Given the rules of the expansion draft. It looked like if Vegas drafted the very best team they could have out of the gate (the 10 trades made in order for Vegas to draft more expendable players). They were still going to be a middling team, without any real top line talent, with contract renewal issues. Certainly not a good enough team to win.

At the time, I thought their best chance for long term success, was to load up on futures as much as possible, have a few ugly years and hope to develop. Expecting that they would further unload a few guys at the trade deadline this year.


I think what actually happened is a bunch of decent 2nd/3rd line players, came to the realization that they were expendable, and used that as fuel to prove their value. Combine that with quality coaching, and as someone pointed out earlier, a player going against their former team on every night. There's a lot of motivation in that room.

This year in Vegas is special, I doubt they'll be able to keep it up next season.

I'm from Pittsburgh, so I did see the very best of Fleury and the very worst. I am one of the rare people from our city that is not rooting for Vegas. For 5 years I watched our Penguins bow out of the playoffs. I'm not saying it's totally Fleury's fault, but he didn't play the way a Stanley Cup winning goalie should play. These were series where the Pens outshot and out chanced the other teams they played, but yet the other goalie just seemed to play a little bit better than Fleury. Also, I really don't think the Pens would've won the Cup the last 2 years if Fleury was in net for those entire playoff runs. Yes he did steal the series against Washington last year, but Sullivan made the right move putting Murray in against Ottawa. At this point I'm rooting for Tampa to win it all.
- maddog216

Thanks, Dildo, but the question is why? Because you have a problem with Fleury?

Given the rules of the expansion draft. It looked like if Vegas drafted the very best team they could have out of the gate (the 10 trades made in order for Vegas to draft more expendable players). They were still going to be a middling team, without any real top line talent, with contract renewal issues. Certainly not a good enough team to win.

At the time, I thought their best chance for long term success, was to load up on futures as much as possible, have a few ugly years and hope to develop. Expecting that they would further unload a few guys at the trade deadline this year.


I think what actually happened is a bunch of decent 2nd/3rd line players, came to the realization that they were expendable, and used that as fuel to prove their value. Combine that with quality coaching, and as someone pointed out earlier, a player going against their former team on every night. There's a lot of motivation in that room.

This year in Vegas is special, I doubt they'll be able to keep it up next season.
- Blue Clam

Theyre atill gonna be a playoff team. Who in the west is gonna take their spot?

While not surprised, whoa the salt is so real.

Does anybody have a scale of suffering before a team/fan base "deserves" a championship? If so what is? How long were they supposed to wait to maybe Win it all? 10 years, 20, 30? Not sniffing the playoffs, then being perennial contenders but never quite getting over the hump and then finally doing it? Is that how it's supposed to go exactly?

This is (frank)ing sports people, there is no deserve. You've got a winner and a loser. If they win it all they deserve it, if you're mad about it then your team should've been better plain and simple.

As far as the Vegas fans not deserving it... Again who makes up the scale on that?. We should make a rule stating that no new franchise ever should be allowed to win it all in their first year. Like a test run, they can play their inagurual season but their points/stats won't count just I'm case they're too good. That way if they're too good it won't really matter. Or better yet a 5 year no success clause so that we can avoid such a thing from happening. Or another one could be write it up in a rule where a new team won't be allowed to beat certain franchises because of the amount of suffering their fans have gone through so if they play against a certain team they would have to forfeit...

Have they earned it? Do they deserve it? Give me a break. As a Blues fan since the end of year one and how many cups? We don’t deserve anything and we certainly haven’t earned anything. Vegas is made up of players that for whatever reason, their respective teams deemed them expendable. They are trying to prove a point and it’s worked so far. Skill will take you to your own limits but effort can take you way beyond that.
My only wish is that I would’ve put money on them.

While not surprised, whoa the salt is so real.

Does anybody have a scale of suffering before a team/fan base "deserves" a championship? If so what is? How long were they supposed to wait to maybe Win it all? 10 years, 20, 30? Not sniffing the playoffs, then being perennial contenders but never quite getting over the hump and then finally doing it? Is that how it's supposed to go exactly?

This is (frank)ing sports people, there is no deserve. You've got a winner and a loser. If they win it all they deserve it, if you're mad about it then your team should've been better plain and simple.

As far as the Vegas fans not deserving it... Again who makes up the scale on that?. We should make a rule stating that no new franchise ever should be allowed to win it all in their first year. Like a test run, they can play their inagurual season but their points/stats won't count just I'm case they're too good. That way if they're too good it won't really matter. Or better yet a 5 year no success clause so that we can avoid such a thing from happening. Or another one could be write it up in a rule where a new team won't be allowed to beat certain franchises because of the amount of suffering their fans have gone through so if they play against a certain team they would have to forfeit...
- Yosimar89

Solid post, I couldn't agree more. Most of these fans complaining are retards.

I had decided at the start of the season to cheer for and watch VGK being a great story to begin with. After the home opener and what ensued....I for one hope they win the Cup so I can tell my great grandkids that I witnessed the incredible story of the VGK.

Nothing against the players but something seriously wrong with the system if Vegas wins. Actually its wrong already.

Vegas never got 1 top line player from any team. Teams were aloud to protect 7 forwards 3 defenseman and 1 goalie and 1st and second year players were exempt. If you lost one of your top line players your incompetent. It's amazing what Vegas is doing with the players they had to pick from. Scary thing is all the draft picks they've had.
- HealthyScratch6

This.

the cup should be handed out to the team with the fans who prove they suffered the hardest

no need to play games. just suffer harder and the cup is yours!

Theyre atill gonna be a playoff team. Who in the west is gonna take their spot?
- Larsson_fan

I don't think anyone in the Pacific is a lock.

Vegas will be coming in to next season in a very different mental state. I can't see it benefiting them, but they might handle it alright. I wouldn't bet on them making/missing playoffs, but I can't imagine they have another 100 point season, not to mention the playoff success.

That's more or less a gut feeling, I'd love to see them prove me wrong.

interesting how few want to "actually" post an opinion in the comments on this and yet MANY of you in the poll are saying you don't think they deserve it...
- Eklund

I guess I don't see why they don't deserve it? This squad was supposed to be in the cellar for at least a few years. The organization from top to bottom deserves everything they're getting. They spent the money, they made deals, they drafted the right players. End of story

Let's face it, this roster had not one special or elite player at the beginning of the season and by all accounts they still don't. They seem to have found the exact equation of young talented but not all star caliber players and they have stepped up as group to out play their opponents. The compete level of this squad is pretty much second to none right now.