I'm not predicting exactly who, but to me it would make sense that it will be someone that they will take in the expansion draft, rather than a FA signing such as Mason or Bishop.
I say that because a) they aren't going to be good right away so why invest in a free agent tender to play in front of a bad team, and b) the relative quality of goaltender that they can acquire in the expansion draft is likely better than skaters, so they would probably spend their money signing forwards.
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Darling or Bishop gets my vote, however I do think the Pens will offer LV an incentive to take MAF.
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Having a bad team is exactly the reason why they need a good goalie who can occasionally bail them out. Without a good goalie, they'll be like the Colorado team from this season, and they can't keep their own players or persuade free agents.
Edmonton is a good example what a losing environment does to your young players. They needed to win the lottery and get the best player in the world to get out of that funk, and I'm not sure if Hall, RNH and Eberle will ever recover from being part of that team - even though Hall has moved on from there and they're doing better now, all of these players are disappointments in my opinion.
If I'm Vegas GM, I'm getting my #1 goalie during the negotiating period they have before the expansion draft. Don't take risks with that, just go with a proven option who you can trust all season long. Yes, they can't pick another player from that team but so what - the pickings are very slim anyways when you consider where the best FA goalies are right now.
Being like Colorado would be considered a success for the new expansion team.
They should be doing nothing but drafting players for the first three years. These drafted players shouldn't play an NHL game within the franchise' first three years anyways.
They won't be able to attract UFA's. They'll get the pickings of the litter when players are desperate and looking for ANY job.
Losing environment? This team will be a loser team for a couple years. No goalie will solve that problem. Get the young goalie and/or old vet and don't overspend when you don't have to.
Bishop at 5x5. This season cost him a ton of money.
I'm not of the belief that "good goalies can bail out" bad teams, at least not with a frequency that would make it a viable strategy. I expect it's more likely that bad teams drag down good goaltending.
In any case, why would any FA goalie with decent prospects want to let himself in for that? Other teams are going to be there in the mix. They would really have to break the bank. Why do that when the skaters that they get in the expansion draft are a bunch of cast offs?
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Seeing as Dalhin is the prize in next years draft.. maybe they want a crap goalie this year to get that 20% shot at a franchise Dman??? Then trade/sign one next year.
17/18 is a good season to try to tank
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At this point, people are saying that there are 3-4 franchise players in that 2018 draft. Maybe it will be a great draft, too early to tell. But I think Vegas will have the best odds even if they try their best. It's not like they're going to be a playoff team right away. There's a difference between having the worst record and being the laughing stock of the entire league.
Even if Vegas is a long-term project they still have work to do now to set the foundation for the future. Drafting is fine and will be most important for them but they still need to build their team with the expansion draft. Some players they pick will be useful 3-4 years down the line and they also have to bring in some vets to help them along. Also, finding a goalie for the future is difficult and it takes a long time to reach their peak so they'd be smart to try out at least one starting next year.
In other words going the wasteland route is a bad idea IMO.
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Going the wasteland route should be the only idea.
Finish last three years in a row! Or, try to be competitive and try to field a team with the other 30 teams scrap players. You're just delaying the inevitable.
Maybe 3-5 of the guys you'll get in this draft will be with the team in 4-5 years. In the meantime stock pile picks and prospects cause you aren't even sniffing the playoffs until then.
Create a losing environment! You have to.
And when you're ready to compete with the young guys you drafted you'll have to clear house. Hire your new coach. The first (few) coaches will be guinea pigs anyways. Bring in the rookies slowly. Kinda like what Toronto did the last 2-3 years.
Of course, this means protecting your youngsters. They should pay more attention to their AHL team. They should be protecting those players from a losing environment. They should compete for the Calder Cup before making the big jump. Kinda like what Tampa did the last 3-4 years.
If they can combine those strategies I think Vegas could compete sooner than just fielding a team this year and trying to be competitive.
The goal next year would be to get zero points and draft first overall. And to not play the kid for at least 1 year. Rinse and repeat. Bring them in slowly.
Sign UFA's for 1 year.....Trade them at the deadline for mid picks.
Draft well.
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