First off, thanks for all the support for "Ek's PhD Wife's Projected Standings." In predicted games last night we went 5-1, losing our first game in the Arizona/Carolina game, but moving our season record to 17-1. 17 correctly predicted games out of 18 is not a bad start, eh? I'll put the latest adjusted projected final standings and tonight's predictions up later today...
One of the more interesting parts of the expansion drafts has always been the "side-deals" teams can make with Vegas and other teams to protect their own players. In the past we have seen players moved around and shuffled a great deal. These rumors will be fascinating to follow and I fully expect these side deals to commence at the end of the NHL regular season and continue with every team as they are eliminated since there is so little time (maybe as little as 5 days) between the Cup being handed out and the expansion draft...which is almost immediately followed by the NHL Draft (which will have some HUGE trades itself) and then UFA Day (which will be where Vegas can really clean up with their huge Cap space).
The NHL has come out with their rules surrounding the transactions Vegas will be able to make leading up to the expansion draft and for the most part they are as expected...with one very notable difference... All these side deals do need to be reported to the NHL, but the NHL has left it up to the teams as to whether or not these deals are reported to the public/media.
This rule will lead to rampant speculation and could lead to some interesting false rumors as teams attempt to confuse other teams into making side-deals they don't actually need to make...For example, say Vegas trades for a goalie and a backup. Meanwhile, another team doesn't know this and is still afraid that they could lose their goalie to Vegas and they make a deal with Vegas that keeps the Knights from selecting their goalie.
Or say one GM hints to another GM of a deal they are thinking of making with Vegas and doesn't disclose whether or not it actually happened. Teams usually go to the NHL, but the NHL has said they will keep it a secret.
See how this could get real dicey real fast?
Many out there are saying "These deals will leak anyway in this day and age of twitter...so it won't matter.."
Maybe, but consider the leak last week of Shattenkirk turning down the Tampa deal...that found its way out...but there is one thing I don't believe has been reported too much about that deal...That all happened around Christmas...two months ago....And the other deals Shattenkirk turned down happened almost a year ago...GMs can be very quiet.
I personally don't see why the NHL isn't releasing these side deals to the public and quelling all the rumors that will be swirling...But I love when rumors swirl so maybe I shouldn't be complaining, right? Well either way I do see this as giving Vegas a HUGE advantage heading into the expansion draft...
What do you think?