I think this is more lightning a bottle season for them. I don't think they'll be anywhere close to this good next year. All the players are having career years, and they'll lose players as well.

I am wondering if this could be a bad thing long term for them with all their fans expecting them to be good every year. What happens when they aren't, will their fans jump ship?

I also think they'll lose to Winnipeg or Nashville
- Archaic

Vegas is exempt from the Seattle expansion draft, right? Think I read that somewhere but not fully certain.

FLA looks foolish letting Gallant go IMO....Vegas is good and fast, not sure it's mostly luck....I think the NHL made it too easy for them to get the talent...I doubt most of the teams wanted to lose quite a few of these guys. ( I realize there's some luck )

Anyways...sucks they're better then the Leafs already.
- Garnie

I find it amusing that everyone was against expansion because the talent was already spread too thin and was affecting the on ice product...then LV comes along, picks up the other teams leftovers and nobodies and takes over the league

and they will sign Tavares and JVR this summer
- Symba007

They can certainly afford it, if the players want to sign there. I think Bettman will grant them diplomatic immunity from getting called for any penalties for the next ten years too.

I don't know...pretty solid team, play a good speed game ( coach maybe, not sure )

Just because some guys overachieved....they also got the ice time they needed to get to those #'s...maybe they didn't overachieve by as much as we think.

But you're right...some teams have a real good year and then miss the PO's the next.
- Garnie

Just take a look at their year.

Reilly Smith had 60 points in 67 games, career year by far.
Jonathan Marchessault - 75 points, career year
Erik Haula, 55 points, career year be far
William Karlsson 78 points, career year by far
David Perron, career year
Collin Miller 41 points, career year

They had their 4 string goaltender in and still won lol.

Very unlikely all of those players maintain that level of play.

Just take a look at their year.

Reilly Smith had 60 points in 67 games, career year by far.
Jonathan Marchessault - 75 points, career year
Erik Haula, 55 points, career year be far
William Karlsson 78 points, career year by far
David Perron, career year
Collin Miller 41 points, career year

They had their 4 string goaltender in and still won lol.

Very unlikely all of those players maintain that level of play.
- Archaic

They can continue - if the games continue to be called like they were last night. Just mug opposition at every opportunity - no calls guaranteed.

Just take a look at their year.

Reilly Smith had 60 points in 67 games, career year by far.
Jonathan Marchessault - 75 points, career year
Erik Haula, 55 points, career year be far
William Karlsson 78 points, career year by far
David Perron, career year
Collin Miller 41 points, career year

They had their 4 string goaltender in and still won lol.

Very unlikely all of those players maintain that level of play.
- Archaic

I don't disagree it's a possibility.

But In some cases, these players were still young guys on the rise (Karlsson, Marchessault, Miller) so them having a career year might simply them improving.

Smith already posted 50 points playing on a 2nd line in Florida... so him getting 60 with 2 good players isn't a stretch.

Haula, for my life, I couldn't have predicted that.

Just take a look at their year.

Reilly Smith had 60 points in 67 games, career year by far.
Jonathan Marchessault - 75 points, career year
Erik Haula, 55 points, career year be far
William Karlsson 78 points, career year by far
David Perron, career year
Collin Miller 41 points, career year

They had their 4 string goaltender in and still won lol.

Very unlikely all of those players maintain that level of play.
- Archaic

Probably not, but those guys are pretty good players who've been given a chance ( compared to being stuck on the 4th line or playing for a coach who tries to win 1-0 in OT )...lot's of people say the league is watered down...I don't think so at all...there's guys that never get a sniff of the NHL who could play there if given a chance IMO.

That was a pretty awful one from a Bruins perspective. Talk about overpayment.
- Archaic

"NEW YORK -- Rick Nash was traded to the Boston Bruins from the New York Rangers on Sunday for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, Boston's first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and its seventh-round pick in 2018."

That just redefines bad trades, particularly in the modern era.

Nash hasn't been a force in the league in like... what? 3-4 years? He looked invisible against the Leafs, despite scoring a couple.

I find it amusing that everyone was against expansion because the talent was already spread too thin and was affecting the on ice product...then LV comes along, picks up the other teams leftovers and nobodies and takes over the league
- jimi james

yep

"NEW YORK -- Rick Nash was traded to the Boston Bruins from the New York Rangers on Sunday for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, Boston's first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and its seventh-round pick in 2018."

That just redefines bad trades, particularly in the modern era.

Nash hasn't been a force in the league in like... what? 3-4 years? He looked invisible against the Leafs, despite scoring a couple.
- gravyface

Worst trade deadline deal this season for sure.

From a business point of view?

They look like geniuses.
- Feeling Glucky?

A bit of an aside, but I wonder how much Golden Knights poop they are selling to Vegas tourists who don't actually go to a game (or even know much about hockey).

meh...we differ in our opinion of spreadsheet hockey, it's all good.

Why would you change your team around after the best season ever? I could see if it was a bad season....but whatever....helps the Leafs for now.
- Garnie

I just dont think you can half ass the poop and keep changing directions like they have. But owners and managers are not willing to buy in let things play out.

thats a big part of the reason I hope Dubas will be the next GM, they have put a good minor league system in place Solor Bears > Marlies > Leafs, and focused on drafting and developing. But I think they can take an even bigger step with Dubas in charge in regards to drafting, developing, identifying market weakness and relying heaving on stats and analytics. Not that Hunter would be bad, but there is a lot of questions on how London operates (not all on the up and up). Stuff is changing and I hope they put someone in place who looks ahead and not relying on old tired methods

"NEW YORK -- Rick Nash was traded to the Boston Bruins from the New York Rangers on Sunday for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, Boston's first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and its seventh-round pick in 2018."

That just redefines bad trades, particularly in the modern era.

Nash hasn't been a force in the league in like... what? 3-4 years? He looked invisible against the Leafs, despite scoring a couple.
- gravyface

His biggest contribution against the Leafs was breaking his stick multiple times

Worst trade deadline deal this season for sure.
- Scabeh

Not for the Rangers; They got a pretty good player in Spooner and a 1st rd pick.

They can certainly afford it, if the players want to sign there. I think Bettman will grant them diplomatic immunity from getting called for any penalties for the next ten years too.
- winsix

No way they sign Tavares, and JVR. They actually can't afford it. Take a look at their roster of RFA's, and UFA's

They have 11-12 RFA/UFA players who contributed this year, even if you let most of them go, the ones they will surely want to keep will take up 15M-20M

William Karlsson - 5M minimum
Collin Miller - 3M minimum
Shea Theodore - 2.5M minimum
Tomas Nosek - 1.5M Minimum
David Perron - 5M minimum
James Neal(Likely gone) 5M+

That would put them at 65.5M and they have other roster spots that need to be filled. Thats at minimum IMO.

No way they sign Tavares, and JVR. They actually can't afford it. Take a look at their roster of RFA's, and UFA's

They have 11-12 RFA/UFA players who contributed this year, even if you let most of them go, the ones they will surely want to keep will take up 15M-20M

William Karlsson - 5M minimum
Collin Miller - 3M minimum
Shea Theodore - 2.5M minimum
Tomas Nosek - 1.5M Minimum
David Perron - 5M minimum
James Neal(Likely gone) 5M+

That would put them at 65.5M and they have other roster spots that need to be filled. Thats at minimum IMO.
- Archaic

I think Perron is most likely gone unless he takes way less than that.

Neal... I don't know.... I think he's been a very important player for them this year but it's the kind of deal they souldn't make moving forward imo.

Teams like the Oilers and Coyotes def do.

Vegas' coach def looks brilliant.
- jimi james

Oilers yes, why the Coyotes? They've had one top five pick in the past ten drafts. Four top ten picks over the same time, the Leafs have six.

Just take a look at their year.

Reilly Smith had 60 points in 67 games, career year by far.
Jonathan Marchessault - 75 points, career year
Erik Haula, 55 points, career year be far
William Karlsson 78 points, career year by far
David Perron, career year
Collin Miller 41 points, career year

They had their 4 string goaltender in and still won lol.

Very unlikely all of those players maintain that level of play.
- Archaic

I remember looking at their roster at the beginning of the season and thinking wtf is this?...other than MAF,Neal, Perron and Engelland, I didn't recognize anyone...then MAF goes down early...

and they will sign Tavares and JVR this summer
- Symba007

If you are a young, single guy, there are worse places to sign than Las Vegas.

I think Perron is most likely gone unless he takes way less than that.

Neal... I don't know.... I think he's been a very important player for them this year but it's the kind of deal they souldn't make moving forward imo.
- Scabeh

Agreed...

Neal would be a tricky situation.. It could be his last big contract. Do you give a 30 yr old a long term contract or offer short-term and risk losing him?

It's hard to praise the "genius" of a team going into the season with :

1. Their "top line centre" having never scored more than 15 goals in ANY professional league
2. Their starting goalie lost his job the past two years to a rookie
3. Their defense being made up of

The Caps 5/6 defender
The Bruins 5/6 defender
The Flames 7th defender
The Kings 5/6 defender
The freaking Canucks' 5/6 defender
A top prospect
A Devils castoff

4. The supposed top line centre bolted to Russia in 5 seconds
5. Every player not named James Neal having a career year


But good on that team of misfits. Amazing story and they're playing amazingly.

If you are a young, single guy, there are worse places to sign than Las Vegas.
- Atomic Wedgie

Buffalo? Edmonton? Carolina? Winnipeg? Minnesota?

If you are a young, single guy, there are worse places to sign than Las Vegas.
- Atomic Wedgie

Tavares is not single, not sure about JVR.

Tavares is not single, not sure about JVR.
- Archaic

JVR is dating Nylander

It's hard to praise the "genius" of a team going into the season with :

1. Their "top line centre" having never scored more than 15 goals in ANY professional league
2. Their starting goalie lost his job the past two years to a rookie
3. Their defense being made up of

The Caps 5/6 defender
The Bruins 5/6 defender
The Flames 7th defender
The Kings 5/6 defender
The freaking Canucks' 5/6 defender
A top prospect
A Devils castoff

4. The supposed top line centre bolted to Russia in 5 seconds
5. Every player not named James Neal having a career year


But good on that team of misfits. Amazing story and they're playing amazingly.
- AdamFrench

I feel like you're slaggin the Canucks there?