We’re getting down to the wire of the Golden Knights putting a roster together, and things are starting to leak.
Lucky for you, we have them here.
Keep this bookmarked all day today, as we’ll bring you the latest on what’s happening with Vegas, as well as draft selections.
Time to get weird.
2:54 a.m. – Clayton Stoner the likely pick from Anaheim: The Golden Knights have made a deal with the Ducks. Rather than taking Sami Vatanen or Josh Manson, it is believed they will take Stoner and also receive Shea Theodore from Anaheim.
7:55 a.m. – Vegas will pick Haula in expansion draft from Wild: So, no Matt Dumba or Marco Scandella, per the Star Tribune. The restricted free agent will sign a multi-year deal with Vegas and the Wild will also send prospect Alex Tuch. As part of the deal, Vegas will send a conditional draft pick to Minnesota.
7:57 a.m. – Golden Knights going for the No. 2 pick: I mean, VGK will have probably half the draft in its back pocket. Why not go for broke? The Flyers probably will not give in, but it’s something to monitor.
8:42 a.m. – Vegas to acquire Marc-André Fleury and draft pick from Penguins: According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Penguins reached a deal with the Golden Knights that will result in Vegas acquiring one of Pittsburgh’s draft picks so long as they select Fleury in the expansion draft. The Pens need cap relief and the draft pick is an added bonus to ensure the Knights take Fleury’s contract.
8:52 a.m. – Lightning likely to trade Nikita Gusev’s rights to Vegas: According to our friends over at Raw Charge, not only does it appear the Golden Knights have won the Evgeny Dadonov sweepstakes, but they may also receive the rights to Russian forward Nikita Gusev as well. It looks like George McPhee is establishing a heavy Russian influence on this year’s Knights team.
9:11 a.m. – Vegas set to draft Cody Eakin from the Stars: This wasn’t a surprise, given how Dallas’ options were limited, but Eakin is in need of a fresh start and it looks like he’ll get that with Vegas.
10:12 a.m. – Golden Knights probably won’t sign Karl Alzner: As noted by Pierre LeBrun, Alzner will speak to other teams rather than sign with Vegas, which signifies he probably won’t be a Golden Knight. Flyers forward Jordan Weal is also looking for other options.
10:58 a.m. – William Karlsson might be the choice from Columbus: This has been our consensus pick at KOI since Columbus initiated talks for the 24th pick with Vegas. Karlsson could be Vegas bound tonight, even though Aaron Portzline doesn’t give anything official.
11:20 a.m. – Maple Leafs to lose Brendan Leipsic to Golden Knights: According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Leafs are likely to lose the 23-year-old forward in the expansion draft. Leipsic scored 18 goals and 51 points in 49 games for the Toronto Marlies last season.
11:21 a.m. – Vegas to select David Perron from St. Louis: As reported by Raphaël Doucet, Perron will be the Knights’ pick from the Blues. The 29-year-old forward has had success playing in the Pacific Division before, tallying 0.67 points per game while a member of Edmonton and Anaheim, compared to a 0.55 mark in his time with St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
11:28 a.m. – Methot on his way to Vegas: Pierre LeBrun reports that veteran blue liner Marc Methot will be selected by Vegas in the expansion draft. Methot, who turned 32 today, may be flipped to a team in need of defensive help.
11:45 a.m. – Golden Knights targeting Alexei Emelin from Canadiens: Brandon Davidson was originally believed to be Vegas’ target, but TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports the Golden Knights are actually going after Emelin. He also believes college star Spencer Foo is choosing between Vegas and Detroit.
11:54 a.m. – Jets reportedly make deal with Vegas to not claim Toby Enstrom: It’s unknown who Vegas will claim from Winnipeg, but Darren Dreger reports it won’t be Enstrom. This isn’t too big a surprise. Enstrom wanted nothing to do with Vegas.
12:11 p.m. – Brayden McNabb likely to be headed to Vegas: John Hoven reports McNabb is going to join the Golden Knights. This isn’t too much of a surprise. Many of us had Vegas taking McNabb in our mock expansion drafts.
12:22 p.m. – Wings’ Tomas Nosek likely to become a Golden Knight: I guess Vegas doesn’t want Petr Mrazek? Nosek, 24, is coming off a 41-point campaign in the AHL. The Athletic’s Craig Custance believes he will be claimed by Vegas.
12:49 p.m. – Jonathan Marchessault might not be coming to Vegas: Yeah, this is weird. Marchessault seemed like a lock to be claimed by the Golden Knights. Nothing is official, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be the Panthers player George McPhee is after.
12:54 p.m. – Antti Raanta isn’t leaving the Rangers: Another big surprise. Raanta is one of the better goalies available in the expansion draft. But apparently he isn’t going anywhere. Frank Seravalli reports Oscar Lindberg will be the selection.
12:57 p.m. – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare likely to join Golden Knights: Vegas has reportedly chosen not to take Michal Neuvirth or Michael Raffl from the Flyers. Another surprising move.
1:13 p.m. – There’s something more going on between the Islanders and Knights: According to a report from Arthur Staple of Newsday Sports, there might be more to the deal the Islanders made with Vegas earlier this week. Bob McKenzie believes it could involve Jean-Francois Berube.
1:21 p.m. – Knights likely to select Deryk Engelland from Flames: Another big defenseman for Vegas. A few of us had the Knights taking Alex Chiasson from Calgary, but it looks like George McPhee wants the 35-year-old defender.
1:27 p.m. – After a conflicting report, Marchessault reportedly is coming to Vegas: This is wild. It was believed earlier that Marchessault wouldn’t be the pick for the Golden Knights, but Elliotte Friedman now reports that he will indeed be headed to Vegas. He also confirms that the Knights will be getting William Karlsson from the Blue Jackets.
1:27 p.m. – Vegas is getting a lot of draft picks: Elliotte Friedman tweeted that the Golden Knights have acquired “a haul of draft picks.”
1:48 p.m. – Schlemko reportedly Vegas-bound: According to a tweet from Pierre LeBrun, the Knights will be selecting the 30-year-old blue liner from the San Jose Sharks. One of the game’s better possession players, for what it’s worth.
1:49 p.m. – Griffin Reinhart will be Vegas’ pick from Edmonton: Reinhart is 23 years old and close to making a permanent leap to the NHL. Sportsnet’s John Shannon reports the former No. 4 overall pick is indeed headed to the desert.
1:54 p.m. – Colin Miller comes to Vegas from Boston: As per Elliotte Friedman’s tweet, the 24-year-old, right-handed defenseman will be the Knights’ pick from the Bruins. Miller was Boston’s top defender in terms of possession and has chipped in 29 points in 103 NHL games.
4:10 p.m. – Nate Schmidt likely headed to Vegas: According to Pierre LeBrun, the Golden Knights will claim the 25-year-old Capitals defenseman. The Caps evidently tried to make a deal with Vegas, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
4:18 p.m. – William Carrier and Jon Merrill likely future Knights: According to Frank Seravalli of TSN, Vegas will select 22-year-old winger Carrier from Buffalo and defenseman Jon Merrill from New Jersey.