Penguins Update: Golden Knights Take Center Stage

The NHL arrived in Sin City last night with predictable glitz and fanfare. The Vegas Golden Knights officially revealed their picks last night at the NHL Awards Show before a hometown throng at T-Mobile Arena.

Under the direction of owner William Foley and general manager George McPhee, the Golden Knights plucked 30 players from their NHL brethren in the expansion draft.

The centerpiece was Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. When his name was announced with the next-to-last pick, the willowy goalie appeared on stage, to the delight of the crowd.

“I just want to come and play hockey,” Fleury said in his typically soft-spoken manner. “Obviously, we’ve got great fans already having sold out the season tickets and with the reception here tonight.

“I’ll give everything I’ve got to win some games and give back to the community and the people,” he said.

Along with a raft of draft picks—including two first-rounders—nine additional players were added through trades and free agent signings, for a total of 37 (19 forwards, 15 defensemen and three goalies). Along with Fleury, Vegas chose four other former Pens, including rugged defenseman and Las Vegas resident Deryk Engelland and forwards James Neal, David Perron and Chris Thorburn.

“There were two objectives,” McPhee said. “The first was to put an entertaining and competitive team on the ice. … The second objective was to acquire prospects and surplus draft picks that can help us draft our way to success.”

Here’s a list of the Golden Knights’ picks, signings and acquisitions.

Forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (PHI), Connor Brickley (CAR), William Carrier (BUF), David Clarkson (CBJ), Reid Duke (MIN), Cody Eakin (DAL), Mikail Grabovski (NYI), Erik Haula (MIN), William Karlsson (CBJ), Brendan Leipsic (TOR), Oscar Lindberg (NYR), Jonathan Marchessault (FLA), James Neal (NSH), Tomas Nosek (DET), David Perron (STL), Teemu Pulkkinen (ARI), Reilly Smith (FLA), Chris Thorburn (WPG), Alex Tuch (MIN)

Defensemen Jake Bischoff (NYI), Alexei Emelin (MON), Deryk Engelland (CGY), Jason Garrison (TBL), Brayden McNabb (LAK), Jon Merrill (NJD), Marc Methot (OTT), Colin Miller (BOS), Griffin Reinhart (NYI), Luca Sbisa (VAN), David Schlemko (SJS), Nate Schmidt (WSH), Clayton Stoner (ANA), Shea Theodore (ANA), Trevor Van Riemsdyk (CHI)

Goalies Jean-Francois Berube (NYI), Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT), Calvin Pickard (COL)

It was difficult, if not downright heartrending, for teammates and Pens fans to watch the beloved Fleury join his new team. On the bright side, the black and gold freed up $5.75 million in salary cap space and retained the services of players like Ian Cole, Bryan Rust and Scott Wilson, who’d been exposed in the draft.

Excluding the contracts of our pending free agents, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford now has an estimated $20 million in cap space to work with.

And the Winner Is…

The Penguins—Sidney Crosby in particular—didn’t fare especially well during the awards portion of the show. Sid lost to Edmonton phenom Connor McDavid in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) and Ted Lindsay Award (players’ MVP). McDavid captured the Art Ross Trophy (scoring title) as well.

Sid avoided a shutout by garnering the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, thanks to his league-leading 44 goals. He also earned a berth on the Second NHL All-Star team. McDavid nabbed first-team honors.

Rutherford, who won the General Manager of the Year Award in 2016, wasn’t a finalist this year. Likewise, coach Mike Sullivan wasn’t in the running for the Jack Adams Award (coach of the year). Goalie Matt Murray, still technically a rookie, wasn’t a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

A tender moment amid the hullabaloo? How about when Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson received the Bill Masterton Trophy, to the thunderous applause of attendees. Anderson’s wife, Nicholle, battled a rare form of throat cancer during the season. Now cancer free, she attended the awards show with Craig.

Here are the award winners and All-Star picks.

Trophy/Award Hart Art Ross Lindsay Norris Richard Calder Selke Vezina Jennings Byng Masterton Adams GM Messier Clancy Foundation	Winner Connor McDavid (EDM) Connor McDavid (EDM) Connor McDavid (EDM) Brent Burns (MIN) Sidney Crosby (PIT) Auston Matthews (TOR) Patrice Bergeron (BOS) Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ) Braden Holtby (WSH) Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) Craig Anderson (OTT) John Tortorella (CBJ) David Poile (NSH) Nick Foligno (CBJ) Nick Foligno (CBJ) Travis Hamonic (NYI)	1st Team Left wing Center Right wing Defense Defense Goalie	Brad Marchand (BOS) Connor McDavid (EDM) Patrick Kane (CHI) Brent Burns (MIN) Erik Karlsson (OTT) Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)
		2nd Team Left wing Center Right wing Defense Defense Goalie	Artemi Panarin (CHI) Sidney Crosby (PIT) Nikita Kucherov (TBL) Victor Hedman (TBL) Duncan Keith (CHI) Braden Holtby (WSH)

Draft Day

The Penguins will participate in the NHL Entry Draft at the United Center in Chicago tomorrow and Saturday.

Barring trades, Rutherford and his staff presently have six picks to work with, including the 31st overall. While strong on the wings and in goal, the Pens lack organizational depth at center and defense.