DALLAS -- George McPhee spoke yesterday about a number of topics, including his own unrestricted free agents and what he likes about Ivan Morozov. He did not discuss the Golden Knights' purported pursuit of John Tavares.
"Honestly, I can't answer that question. He's the property of the New York Islanders," McPhee told NHL Network. "I can't speak to that today."
After talking with NHL Network, McPhee chatted with us.
McPhee, on if he was happy with Draft:
It worked out the way that we had hoped with our first pick. We got someone we had rated higher. We sort of assessed the Draft properly. We got a player at 61 that we had rated at 30. It worked out.
You prepare as well as you can for any Draft. Some of them go well, some of them go your way, some of them don't. It went our way.
McPhee, on if there was significant concern that Morozov would be snatched up before 61:
When you get ready for the Draft, you anticipate everything that might happen. If this player is here, do you move up? If you're in a certain position and certain guys are gone, do you move back? We had everything worked out. He was one we were just willing to wait for.
McPhee, on offers to UFAs:
We've made offers to everyone.
McPhee, on if he anticipates any UFAs returning:
They may and they may not.
McPhee, on if Reaves is in his plans:
We made our offer. They said they'd circle back. They're looking for a longer-term deal. And if they get the longer-term deal, they won't be coming back.
It that transaction, we got a player and a fourth-round pick, understanding the player might leave.
McPhee, on expectations for Morozov:
We'll take as long as we have to, to make sure he develops properly.
We've liked him because he's got that foundation you're looking for. He's excellent defensively. He's very good at stripping the pucks. Taking the pucks away from other teams. He doesn't just wait for loose pucks. He's very, very conscientious. He's all over where the puck is. He seems to be in the way. Able to either defend it or come up with it. If we can develop his offense -- if he could be as good offensively as he is defensively, he's going to be a heck of a player.
We project him as a third-line center right now. But bring the offense along, he's a second-line center.
And he got better. He seems to be ramping up and improving a lot.
McPhee, on what Sbisa is looking for:
I shouldn't get into specifics. We've made offers to all the players.
We do our best.
There's a line there. We either have a meeting of the minds and we have a deal. Or we don't.
We try to put everything into it. The instincts of the front office. The needs of the team. Our scouting staff's evaluations. Then we do all the analytics.
You have to pay attention to the analytics. They really help to make your decisions now. Based on what's happened over years and years of play and players. There are certain things that it tells you and you better pay attention to it.
That's how we make our offers now, based on all those resources.
It makes things easier. Sometimes you feel a certain way about a player. You get all the data and it makes the decision easier for you.
When it cones to this stuff, it's hard sometimes to take the emotion out. But you have to be analytical, a little more clinical. Pay attention, make decisions according to that, especially in a cap world. In a cap world, you don't have the flexibility to do what you like to do all the time. You have to make some cold, hard decisions. You make them, you move on.
McPhee, on how using analytics has evolved from his days in Vancouver to Washington to now:
It was almost non-existent in Vancouver. It became very important in Washington. We started getting into it.
It's a big part of every decision we make. It's where we are in the game. It's developed so well that you can rely on it now.
McPhee, on if he considered taking a goalie earlier today:
No, we had a list that was really different than all the other lists. It's always a unique list with Dave. There's a guy he wanted in the end and we got him.
McPhee, on what he's looking for in free agency:
Well, if I tell you that...these guys (pointing at local media) are going to be criticizing me when I tell you what we're looking for.
We'll explore it. I don't know how things will go. Whether we do anything at all.
There's no urgency for us to do anything. We like the team we have. We like the model we have. If we can make it better by doing something that makes sense, then we'll do it.
McPhee, on why it's better to be able to start interviewing process tomorrow instead of on July 1st:
I expect it must be a lot better. I haven't been through it. That changed when I was between jobs.
It eliminates the frenzy that used to happen. We'd make a call and somebody needs an answer in 15 minutes. I think it's a much better process this way. Much better decisions are made.
McPhee, on what Vegas has to offer to UFAs:
I said this a number of times: Why wouldn't you want to play here? It's a good team. Good ownership. Fantastic fans. Sold out. Beautiful facilities, game rink and practice rink. It's an easy way to live. It's easy to get around. Weather's great. There's no state tax.
Like we said, if we do our job in management, then we can win here because we got everything that we need.
McPhee, on NHL's lack of a domestic violence policy & if there should be league-wide one to remove onus from teams:
That's probably a question that's better for the league to handle. I don't want to speak on behalf of the league. I'm a hockey operations guy. That's the area I know.
When we get into subjects like this -- religion or politics or anything else -- I stay out of it.
Fair question. I'm not equipped to answer it well enough right now.
McPhee, on whether or not Morozov will be at development camp:
Probably not.
McPhee, on if his other drafted players will be at development camp:
Typically. Unless they have a conflict. [Slava Demin] has a class he's taking, a test.
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