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NHL Airport, Gate 5: Vegas Golden Knights

NHL AIRPORT
GATE 5: LAS VEGAS
PREVIOUSLY: The Golden Knights had a pretty solid expansion draft, taking players like Jason Garrison, James Neal, Jonathan Marchessault, and Nate Schmidt. They also found the face of their franchise in Marc-Andre Fleury, and stockpiled draft picks from poor, defenseless teams like Winnipeg or the Islanders. Vegas had three first rounders (acquired from stealing Winnipeg's and New York's) and used them to take Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, and Erik Brannstrom. 

ARRIVING: Vadim Shipachyov: Shipachyov played in the KHL on a line with Blue Jackets star Artemi Panarin and Florida Panther Evgeny Dadonov. He's also played with prestigious players like Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kolvachuk. Shipachyov is in a whole new world in the NHL, but the Golden Knights believe he can continue his offensive production. He is projected to be the Golden Knights' first-line center, playing with Neal and Marchessault. Literally Everyone Else Is New: It's a whole new team in Las Vegas, and that means the players will have to get used to playing with each other, take on leadership roles, grow together as a team, and do all this while playing in the NHL. 

DEPARTING: Trevor van Riemsdyk: van Riemsdyk was taken from the Chicago Blackhawks in the expansion draft and then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes (Chicago Blackhawks 2.0), where he'll join former Blackhawk teammates Scott Darling and Marcus Kruger. Marc Methot: Methot was traded to the Dallas Stars for a pick and a prospect, right after being taken from the Ottawa Senators in the expansion draft. He was paired with Erik Karlsson in Ottawa (he's a pretty good hockey player) and could become a top-two defenseman in Dallas.

TAKING OFF? Bill Foley's six-year Stanley Cup guarantee was cute, but the Golden Knights aren't going to beat out the Oilers, Ducks, Sharks, or even Coyotes for a Pacific playoff spot, and the wild-card belongs to the Central. GM George McPhee's strategy of stockpiling picks and prospects is the right way to go. 

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