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Friday 18 May 2018
Vegas' wild playoff run built from expansion draft bonanza

entered their Golden years.
All of this talent wouldn't
have won so many games
without Gallant. He built
a balanced, disciplined
team that has rolled four
lines and played relentless
two-way hockey while min-
ing untapped talents such
as Karlsson and Eric Haula,
who scored 29 goals af-
ter never managing more
than 15 in Minnesota.
"Gerard has done a terrific
job of making this a team,"
McPhee said. "He has re-
ally brought a lot of players
along, and they've played
better than they've played
anywhere else."
Foley bought this oppor-
tunity with his $500 million
expansion fee, yet nobody
in the sports world expect-
ed the Golden Knights to
put it all together so swiftly.
That includes the 73-year-
old Foley, who raised eye-
brows around the league
when he set a public goal
of bringing the Stanley Cup
to Las Vegas within six years
— a goal he later revised to
maybe eight years.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault, left, celebrates with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury after the teams 4-2 win
against the Winnipeg Jets during Game 3 of the NHL hockey playoffs Western Conference finals Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in Las Instead, there's an increas-
Vegas. ingly strong chance the
Associated Press Golden Knights will parade
the Stanley Cup down the
By GREG BEACHAM "I don't think anybody saw opportunity to be a good likes of James Neal, a prov- Strip one month from now.
Associated Press us here," Vegas goalie team." en veteran talent with nine There are 12 other NHL
After Bill Foley agreed to Marc-Andre Fleury said. "It's The NHL allowed its teams consecutive 20-goal sea- teams that have never won
pay a whopping $500 mil- been a lot of fun to be part to protect only seven for- sons. He scored 25 goals a championship, along
lion for the right to put a of it. Really proud of this wards, three defensemen while providing steady vet- with seven franchises that
hockey team in the middle team and the way these and one goalie, or eight eran leadership. haven't raised the Cup in
of the Mojave Desert, the guys have been working. skaters and one goalie. By They plucked William Karls- at least 23 years.
NHL decided his Vegas We deserve to be here." way of comparison, when son, a clearly gifted forward Potential NHL expansion
Golden Knights deserved a Fleury and the other play- the NHL last expanded in who had yet to reach his owners in Seattle and Hous-
chance for a swift return on ers accomplishing this feat 2000, teams were allowed full potential with two NHL ton are probably thinking
that investment. refer to themselves as the to protect a whopping nine teams. The Swede swiftly $500 million was a bargain,
If the other NHL owners Golden Misfits, yet few of forwards, five defensemen became one of the NHL's since the expansion fee
had known just how huge Vegas' expansion draft se- and a goalie, or seven for- best players, racking up 43 is likely to go up when the
Foley's reward would be — lections were truly unde- wards, three defensemen goals — an NHL record for league eventually awards
and how incredibly quickly sired by the clubs that lost and two goalies. an expansion team's first its 32nd franchise. It also
he would get it — they them 11 months ago. The league also required season — and 35 assists seems improbable that the
probably wouldn't have Instead, general manager teams to expose players along with a plus-49 rating. NHL would ever make it this
been quite so nice to the George McPhee took full with significant NHL expe- And the expansion draft easy to build a team again.
new guy. It's too late now, advantage of his oppor- rience who were under terms allowed McPhee But nothing will erase the
though. After reaping a bo- tunities to compile an un- contract through next sea- to get creative in trades Golden Knights' remark-
nanza from one of the most commonly talented roster, son, closing loopholes and with teams hoping to keep able embrace of this un-
generous expansion drafts and coach Gerard Gallant helping Vegas even more. players who couldn't fit un- usual moment in hockey
in sports history, the Golden turned that roster into a Third-line forwards and der the protection umbrel- history. "It was important to
Knights are two victories brilliant team in shockingly top-four defensemen were la. For instance, the Knights the league and to Las Ve-
away from an unbelievable swift fashion. But it all start- available from almost ev- ended up with Reilly Smith gas and to Bill Foley that this
Stanley Cup Final berth. ed with the draft that al- ery team.The easiest acqui- in a trade because Florida franchise had a chance to
A brand-new team in a lowed McPhee to build this sition was Fleury, of course. wanted them to draft Jon- work," McPhee said. "That
league that has been monster in less than a year. The Knights got a three-time athan Marchessault — and people that were coming
around for 101 years al- "It had a big impact," Stanley Cup winning goalie the two ex-Panthers be- to the games could enjoy
ready has a Pacific Division McPhee acknowledged. with 375 career victories for came two of the Knights' the product and become
title, two playoff series vic- "The (expansion draft) rules nothing, and he has largely top four scorers. real fans, and we could
tories and a 2-1 lead on the were favorable. Gave us stayed healthy while play- The draft bounty isn't the grow some deep roots in
Winnipeg Jets in the West- something to work with, ing at a formidable level. only reason these upstart this marketplace. So I didn't
ern Conference finals. and gave this team an The Knights also landed the Knights have immediately mind the rules."q