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Fleury Of Activity: Golden Knights Receive Positive Reviews After NHL Expansion Draft

Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley and GM George McPhee "announced a pick off of every existing team" in last night's NHL Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena, and "all reviews were positive," according to Granger & Keefer of the LAS VEGAS SUN. Former No. 1 overall pick G Marc-André Fleury "should be the immediate face of the franchise but he won’t be alone." Other potential standouts include RW James Neal, who recently helped the Predators to the Stanley Cup Final, and D Trevor van Reimsdyk, who was a part of the '15 Stanley Cup-winning Blackhawks (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/22). In Las Vegas, Alan Snel wrote the roster the Golden Knights assembled is a "blend of veteran names and young guys with the goal of putting a competitive, entertaining club on the ice to please the Vegas locals while also stockpiling young players and draft picks to build a long-term winning future" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 6/21). Also in Las Vegas, Steve Carp notes Fleury was at T-Mobile Arena and was "greeted with a standing ovation from a crowd of just over 10,000" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/22). In Toronto, Bruce Arthur notes one awkward moment in last night's Expansion Draft was when Foley "screwed up the draft order" by skipping over the Red Wings and going to the Stars (TORONTO STAR, 6/22). 

I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW: In Las Vegas, Jesse Granger notes Fleury is "one of the most respected players in the league" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/22). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Jared Clinton wrote, "As far as a first face of the franchise goes -- and make no mistake, Fleury is all but certain to be the face of these Golden Knights -- it’s hard to go wrong with Fleury." He is an "instantly recognizable name to anyone who’s familiar with the game." Fleury is a player with an "affable, charming personality that is perfect for a burgeoning market" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 6/21). Fleury said that he is "not sure about being the face" of the team. In Las Vegas, Ed Graney writes when the Golden Knights made the pick, "everyone knew" it was going to happen, but it still "produced the sort of emotional and authentic and thunderous reaction that proved how much local hockey fans wanted Fleury." Graney: "The guy has won a lot. But perhaps just as important is the character everyone speaks of when talking about him, how there is no one better to lead and advise and guide what should be many young Knights players. ... You can’t overstate the importance of having that sort of leader, that strong a heartbeat in a locker room sure to be filled with kids, that kind of character when adversity hits" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/22).

ALL PART OF THE PLAN
: The NATIONAL POST's Michael Traikos writes this "isn't your usual expansion team roster." There is "plenty of talent here." The Golden Knights have "name players, if not potential stars." They "might not be a playoff team, but they also might not finish last next season." At the very least, it "won’t be like watching" the Senators go 10-70-4 in their expansion year (NATIONAL POST, 6/22). In Las Vegas, John Katsilometes writes McPhee has done a "tremendous job putting the team together." The Golden Knights are going to "surprise a lot of people this year" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/22). USA TODAY's Kevin Allen notes the NHL’s announced objective was to "help the Golden Knights become competitive more quickly than expansion teams of the past." McPhee’s ability to "create a collection of credible scorers qualifies as pulling a rabbit out of his hat" (USA TODAY, 6/22).

ALREADY PUMPED
: In Las Vegas, Ray Brewer writes it was Golden Knights fans who were "most noteworthy" at the Expansion Draft. They are "taking ownership." Fans "arrived in the mid-afternoon and lingered around the arena in the 110-degree heat waiting to get in." They were "vocal when the selections were announced." They made it "feel like Las Vegas, in fact, is a major league city." Golden Knights D Brayden McNabb, who was one of 30 players selected last night, said, "There is a big buzz around the city. Everyone is looking forward to it." Locals are "jazzed about the addition of the Golden Knights" to the area’s landscape and that was "evident" last night (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/22).

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