The Las Vegas NHL expansion franchise will "have a 48-hour window" in June to "speak with and sign any pending unrestricted or restricted free agents whom the 30 teams left unprotected for the expansion draft," according to sources cited by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com. One "can’t imagine Vegas would want to launch its franchise by overpaying a number of UFAs." LeBrun: "But for a real difference-maker? Who knows." Another important detail is that if any of the 30 teams "loses a free agent to Vegas during this 48-hour window, it no longer can lose anyone in the expansion draft." In other words, that free agent lost "counts as the one player lost in the expansion draft" (ESPN.com, 10/27).
OFFICE SPACE: Las Vegas NHL GM George McPhee said that 95% of the team's hockey operations roles "have been filled." The NATIONAL POST's John Matisz wrote what was "once a two-man show -- McPhee and assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon -- has morphed into a brimming front office." The "near-final product includes nine directors, a senior advisor, 14 scouts, one analyst and two assistants." McPhee said that a ruling on "additional hockey analytics hires is imminent," while the coaching staff "likely will be named some time next spring" (NATIONAL POST, 10/27).
