Saturday, June 24, 2017

Andy Andreoff Signs Two-Year Contract Extension with LA Kings

The LA Kings have signed forward Andy Andreoff to a two-year contract extension, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.

Andreoff's contract will have an Annual Average Value (AAV) of $677,500.

The 26-year-old Andreoff (born May 17, 1991) is a 6-1, 210-pound native of Pickering, Ontario who appeared in 36 regular-season games this past season with the Kings, posting two points (0-2=2) and 70 penalty minutes.

Selected by the Kings in the third-round (80th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Andreoff has appeared in 114 regular-season games over three seasons in the NHL, posting 15 points (10-5=15) and 164 penalty minutes. This past season he appeared in his 100th NHL game, Feb. 7 at TBL and during the 2015-16 campaign, Andreoff set career-highs in goals (8) and points (10).

Jets sign Ben Chiarot

WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Jets announced they have agreed to terms with defenceman Ben Chiarot on a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1,400,000.

Chiarot, 26, played in 59 games for the Jets last season and established a career-high 12 points (2G, 10A) before suffering a season-ending upper body injury on Mar. 19 against the Minnesota Wild. He has played parts of the last four seasons with the Jets and has 30 points (5G, 25A) in 170 career games.

Chiarot was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft.

Lindy Ruff to join Rangers as assistant; report

The New York Rangers are expected to hire former Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff as an assistant, the New York Post reported on Saturday.

Ruff would replace Jeff Beukeboom, who's expected to move to a scouting role on coach Alain Vigneault's staff.

Ruff, 57, was fired by the Stars on April 9 after they failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs one season after finishing with the best record in the Western Conference. In four seasons with Dallas, he was 165-122-41 and has a career coaching record of 736-554-78-125 in 1,493 games with the Stars and Buffalo Sabres.

His 736 wins are fifth all time behind Scotty Bowman, Joel Quenneville, Al Arbour and Ken Hitchcock, who succeeded him in Dallas.

Notes from first round of 2017 NHL Draft

CHICAGO – Following are notes from the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft, held Friday at United Center.

Devils select Hischier with first pick

The New Jersey Devils selected center Nico Hischier (Naters, Switzerland) with the top pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, making him the highest-drafted Swiss-born player in NHL history:

Pick # Player Team Pos. Birthplace Year
1 Nico Hischier NJD C Naters, CHE 2017
5 Nino Niederreiter NYI RW Chur, CHE 2010
9 Timo Meier SJS RW Herisau, CHE 2015
11 Kevin Fiala NSH LW St. Gallen, CHE 2014
13 Sven Baertschi CGY LW Bern, CHE 2011

Hischier also became the seventh player from outside North America chosen with the No. 1 overall selection in the NHL Draft - and first since 2012:

Year Player Team Pos. Birthplace
1989 Mats Sundin QUE C Bromma, SWE
1992 Roman Hamrlik TBL D Zlin, CZE
1999 Patrik Stefan ATL C Pribram, CZE
2001 Ilya Kovalchuk ATL RW Tver, RUS
2004 Alex Ovechkin WSH LW Moscow, RUS
2012 Nail Yakupov EDM RW Nizhnekamsk, RUS
2017 Nico Hischier NJD C Naters, CHE

Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads) became the 11th player from the QMJHL taken with the No. 1 overall pick - and sixth in the last 30 years:

Year Player Team Pos. QMJHL Team
1987 Pierre Turgeon BUF C Granby
1993 Alexandre Daigle OTT RW Victoriaville
1998 Vincent Lecavalier TBL C Rimouski
2005 Sidney Crosby PIT C Rimouski
2013 Nathan MacKinnon COL C Halifax
2017 Nico Hischier NJD C Halifax

Golden Knights make first three NHL Draft selections

The Vegas Golden Knights, who on Wednesday made 30 picks in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, made their first three selections in the NHL Draft, all in the top 15: center Cody Glass (No. 6), center Nick Suzuki (No. 13) and defenseman Erik Brannstrom (No. 15).

Record number of Finnish players selected in first round

Six Finnish-born players were selected Friday - Miro Heiskanen (No. 3, DAL), Juuso Valimaki (No. 16, CGY), Urho Vaakanainen (No. 18, BOS), Kristian Vesalainen (No. 24, WPG), Henri Jokiharju (No. 29, CHI) and Eeli Tolvanen (No. 30, NSH) - a record for the first round of the NHL Draft. The previous mark of five was set in 2002.

Breakdown of first-round selections by birthplace: Canada (11), Finland (6), USA (6), Sweden (4), Czech Republic (2), Russia (1) and Switzerland (1).

14 leagues represented in opening 31 picks

Players from 14 different leagues were selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft:

WHL: 7
OHL: 5
SWEDEN: 4
CZREP, FINLAND, QMJHL, USHL: 2
AJHL, H-EAST, HIGH-MN, NCHC, NTDP, RUSSIA, SWEDEN-2: 1

Did you know?

The Colorado Avalanche selected defenseman Cale Makar (Brooks) fourth overall, making him the highest-drafted player in NHL history from the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He surpassed current Avalanche forward Joe Colborne (Camrose), who was picked by the Boston Bruins at No. 16 overall in 2008.
First-round Bloodlines

Nolan Patrick (No. 2 overall, PHI): His father, Steve, was selected in the first round (20th overall) of the 1980 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres and played 250 NHL games with the Sabres, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques from 1980-86. His uncle, James, skated in 1,280 games with the Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames and Sabres.

Elias Pettersson (No. 5 overall, VAN): His brother, Emil, was selected 155th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2013 NHL Draft and spent the 2016-17 season in the Swedish Hockey League with Skelleftea and Vaxjo.

Lias Andersson (No. 7 overall, NYR): His father, Niklas, was selected 68th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL Draft and skated in 164 career NHL games across five seasons with the Nordiques, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames.

Owen Tippett (No. 10 overall, FLA): His cousin, Mitchell Stephens, was selected 33rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Callan Foote (No. 14 overall, TBL): His father, Adam, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (1996 and 2001 w/ COL) who patrolled the blueline for 1,154 career NHL games with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Joshua Norris (No. 19 overall, SJS): His father, Dwayne, was drafted 127th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Draft and appeared in 20 games with the Nordiques and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 1993-96.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph (No. 23 overall, ARI): His brother, Mathieu, is a forward who was selected 120th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015 NHL Draft and competed at the 2017 Memorial Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.

Ryan Poehling (No. 25 overall, MTL): His uncle, Stan Palmer, was drafted 177th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1977 NHL Draft. His older brothers, twins Jack and Nick, played alongside him at St. Cloud State in 2016-17.

Morgan Frost (No. 27 overall, PHI): His father, Andy, is a popular radio host in Toronto and served as the Maple Leafs public address announcer at the Air Canada Centre from 1999-2016.

Day 1 trades

Arizona traded D Connor Murphy and C Laurent Dauphin to Chicago for D Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Arizona traded D Anthony DeAngelo and its 1st-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (7th overall) to NY Rangers for C Derek Stepan and G Antti Raanta.

Chicago traded LW Artemi Panarin, LW Tyler Motte and NY Islanders' 6th-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (previously acquired, 170th overall) to Columbus for LW Brandon Saad, G Anton Forsberg and Columbus' 5th-round pick in 2018.

Chicago traded its 1st-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (26th overall) to Dallas for Anaheim's 1st-round pick in 2017 (previously acquired, 29th overall) and Dallas' 3rd-round pick in 2017 (70th overall).

Columbus traded RW Dante Salituro to Minnesota for C Jordan Schroeder.

Philadelphia traded C Brayden Schenn to St. Louis for C Jori Lehtera, St. Louis' 1st-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (27th overall) and a conditional 1st-round pick in 2018.

Pittsburgh traded C Oskar Sundqvist and its 1st-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (31st overall) to St. Louis for RW Ryan Reaves and St. Louis' 2nd-round pick in 2017 (51st overall).

Devils tab Hischier with No. 1 pick in 2017 NHL draft

CHICAGO – Eighteen-year-old Nico Hischier had no idea where he would be selected in the NHL draft when he woke up Friday.

As the day progressed, so did Hischier's nervousness.

"This morning, it was fine," said Hischier, a native of Switzerland. "And then as soon as I stepped here in the ice rink, my pulse went up and stayed there. ... I have a new pulse max."

He also has a new team.

The New Jersey Devils selected Hischier with their first No. 1 overall pick in franchise history. The playmaking center shined with 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 57 games last season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he was named rookie of the year.

Hischier said he would work hard to try to make the NHL next season rather than remain in juniors. The past two No. 1 overall selections, Connor McDavid in 2015 and Auston Matthews in 2016, already have emerged as stars in the NHL.

"I'm going to do everything I can," Hischier said. "I'm working hard, and then I'll see at training camp."

New Jersey general manager Ray Shero and his front-office staff opted for Hischier over Nolan Patrick, another 18-year-old center who was considered for the top pick.

The Philadelphia Flyers happily grabbed Patrick with the next selection. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound Winnipeg native had 46 points (20 goals, 26 goals) in 33 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. His father, Steve, played 250 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques from 1980 to 1986.

Patrick said he was thrilled to join the Flyers and harbored no hard feelings toward the Devils.

"No, not at all," Patrick said. "I think me and Nico are completely different players. I think he might be a little more offensively dynamic than me, and I think I might be a little more defensively (skilled) than him.

"It's not like I'm sitting here wishing I went to Jersey. They didn't want me, so it doesn't matter too much to me."

Miro Heiskanen of Finland was the first defenseman off the board when the Dallas Stars selected him at No. 3. Defenseman Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and center Elias Petterson (Vancouver Canucks) rounded out the top five picks.

The Vegas Golden Knights used their first draft pick at No. 6 overall to select Cody Glass, an 18-year-old from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Glass had 94 points in 69 games last season.

Glass said he avoided making eye contact with his dad after his name was called because he did not want to cry. He acknowledged that being an answer to a trivia question -- Vegas' first-ever draft pick -- might create extra pressure on him.

"There's a lot of pressure to it, but then again, I know what I can do on the ice," Glass said. "And they believe in me. I'm just going to prove them right. It's going to be really awesome getting started in Vegas."

After the New York Rangers selected Swedish center Lias Andersson at No. 7, the Buffalo Sabres picked a high school senior with the eighth choice. The Sabres drafted Casey Mittelstadt, a center who won Minnesota's coveted Mr. Hockey Award as a baby-faced standout at Eden Prairie High School.

The Detroit Red Wings added one of the largest players in the draft by taking 6-foot-6, 221-pound center Michael Rasmussen at No. 9. The Florida Panthers picked right winger Owen Tippett from the Ontario Hockey League to finish the top 10.

Highly touted Canadian center Gabriel Vilardi surprisingly slipped out of the top 10. However, he did not have to wait much longer for his name to be called as the Los Angeles Kings took him at No. 11.

The Golden Knights had two more first-round picks thanks to previous deals with the Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders. Vegas added center Nick Suzuki at No. 13 and defenseman Erik Brannstrom at No. 15.

After a busy day of deals across the league, the trade market cooled considerably during the draft. Nearly 2 1/2 passed before the Blackhawks and Stars struck the first draft deal. Chicago sent its No. 26 pick to the Stars for picks No. 29 and 70.

The Stars used the 26th pick to select Boston University goaltender Jake Oettinger. The 6-4, 218-pound netminder posted a 2.11 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage last season for the Terriers.

The Blackhawks stirred the crowd by having Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane announce their first-round pick at No. 29. Chicago took 18-year-old defenseman Henri Jokiharju from Portland of the WHL.

In another late-round trade, the Blues acquired 25-year-old center Brayden Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers for veteran center Jori Lehtera, the No. 27 pick and a conditional first-round pick in 2018. The Flyers used the 27th selection to take Morgan Frost, a center from Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL.

The Blues pulled off their second trade of the night when they sent forward Ryan Reaves and the No. 51 pick of the second round to the Pittsburgh Penguins for center Oskar Sundqvist and the No. 31 pick. With the final pick of the first round, the Blues chose forward Klim Kostin out of Russia.

NOTES: Casey Mittelstadt said he likely will attend the University of Minnesota next season to sharpen his skills for the NHL. The Buffalo Sabres selected Mittelstadt, 18, with the eighth pick. ... Several first-round picks had NHL bloodlines. The Tampa Bay Lightning used the 14th pick to take D Callan Foote, son of two-time Stanley Cup champion Adam Foote. ... The smallest player to be drafted in the first round was RW Kailer Yamamoto (5-8, 153 pounds), who went to the Edmonton Oilers at No. 22. ... NHL commissioner Gary Bettman smirked as fans booed when he stepped to the microphone. "You can do better than that," Bettman said, prompting fans to jeer even louder. "That's more like it."

2017 NHL Draft Day 1 Results

Here are the results of Round 1 of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft from Friday, June 23, 2017.

Round One

• New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier (C) – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
• Philadelphia Flyers: Nolan Patrick (C) – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
• Dallas Stars: Miro Heiskanen (D) – HIFK (Finland)
• Colorado Avalanche: Cale Makar (D) – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
• Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson (C) – Timra (Sweden)
• Vegas Golden Knights: Cody Glass (C) – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
• New York Rangers (from AZ): Lias Andersson (C) – HV71 (Sweden)
• Buffalo Sabres: Casey Mittelstadt (C) – Eden Prairie High School
• Detroit Red Wings: Michael Rasmussen (C) – Tri-City Americans (WHL)
• Florida Panthers: Owen Tippett (RW) – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
• Los Angeles Kings: Gabe Vilardi (C) – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
• Carolina Hurricanes: Martin Necas (C) – Brno (Czech)
• Vegas Golden Knights (from WPG): Nick Suzuki (C/RW) – Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Cal Foote (D) – Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
• Vegas Golden Knights (from NYI): Erik Brannstrom (D) – HV71 (Sweden)
• Calgary Flames: Juuso Valimaki (D) – Tri-City Americans (WHL)
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Timothy Liljegren (D) – Rogle (Sweden)
• Boston Bruins: Urho Vaakanainen (D) – JYP (Finland)
• San Jose Sharks: Josh Norris (C) – USA U-18 National Development Program
• St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas (C/RW) – London Knights (OHL)
• New York Rangers: Filip Chytil (C/LW) – Zlin (Czech)
• Edmonton Oilers: Kailer Yamamoto (RW) – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
• Arizona Coyotes (from MIN): Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D) – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
• Winnipeg Jets (from CLB via VGK): Kristian Vesalainen (LW) – Frolunda (Sweden)
• Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Poehling (C) – St. Cloud State (NCAA)
• Dallas Stars (from CHI): Jake Oettinger (G) – Boston University (NCAA)
• Philadelphia Flyers (from STL): Morgan Frost (C) – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
• Ottawa Senators: Shane Bowers (C) – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
• Chicago Blackhawks (from DAL via ANA): Henri Jokiharju (D) – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
• Nashville Predators: Eeli Tolvanen (LW/RW) – Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
• St. Louis (from PIT): Klim Kostin (LW/RW) – Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

Coyotes acquire Stepan from Rangers

The New York Rangers acquired defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for center Derek Stepan and goaltender Antti Raanta, the teams announced Friday.

Stepan, 27, recorded 55 points (17 goals, 38 assists) and 16 penalty minutes in 81 games with the Rangers last season.

"We are thrilled to acquire Derek," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said in a statement. "Our organization has been searching for a true No. 1 center for over a decade and we are confident that he can be that for us."

Raanta, 28, was 16-8-2 record in 30 games with the Rangers last season with four shutouts, a 2.26 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. His 2.26 GAA ranked ninth among qualified NHL goaltenders and his four shutouts were tied for the 10th-most despite playing in only 30 games.

"Antti is a highly skilled, athletic goaltender," Chayka said. "We're confident that he can emerge as an excellent starting goalie for us."

DeAngelo, 21, split this past season between the Coyotes and the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League. He skated in 39 NHL games with Arizona in 2016-17, registering five goals, nine assists and 37 penalty minutes. He played in 25 AHL games, recording three goals, 13 assists and 31 penalty minutes.

Capitals sign Oshie to eight-year contract

Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie signed an eight-year, $46 million contract, the team announced on Friday.

Oshie recorded career highs in goals (33) and plus/minus rating (plus-28) to go along with 23 assists in 68 games last season for the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals.

The former U.S. Olympic hero also contributed in the playoffs, scoring four goals and setting up eight others in 13 postseason games as Washington advanced to the second round before succumbing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

"Couldn't be happier to resign with the Capitals!!" the 30-year-old Oshie wrote on Twitter. "Great city, great organization and even more important great people."

Oshie has collected 107 points (59 goals, 48 assists) in 148 career contests in Washington.

"T.J. is an invaluable member of our team and we felt it was imperative for us to re-sign him in a competitive free agent market," general manager Brian MacLellan said. "T.J. is a highly competitive player with a tremendous skill set; he epitomizes the kind of player our team must have in order for us to continue to put ourselves in a position to compete in this league."

Oshie has recorded 417 points (169 goals, 248 assists) in 591 career NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and Capitals. He was selected by the Blues with the 24th overall pick of the 2005 draft.

Blue Jackets obtain Panarin from Blackhawks

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forwards Artemi Panarin and Tyler Motte and a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NHL draft from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in exchange for forward Brandon Saad, goaltender Anton Forsberg and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft.

In addition, the Blue Jackets acquired center Jordan Schroeder from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Dante Salituro.

Panarin, 25, recorded 151 points (61 goals, 90 assists) and 53 penalty minutes in two seasons with the Blackhawks, including 17 power-play goals and 12 game-winners in 162 career NHL games. This past season, he racked up 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) and 21 penalty minutes.

Panarin was named a 2016-17 second team NHL All-Star earlier this week, and was NHL Rookie of the Year in 2015-16.

"Artemi Panarin was the best rookie in the NHL two years ago, a second team All-Star this past season and is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "There is a cost to adding a player like Artemi, as well as a very good NHL prospect in Tyler Motte, but we believe this is a very good move for our team. We wish Brandon and Anton well and thank them for their contributions to our organization."

Panarin, a native of Korkino, Russia, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in 2015-16 after tallying 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) and 32 penalty minutes, eight power-play goals and seven game-winning goals in 80 games. He became the first rookie since Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby to record 10 three-point games in a season.

Motte, 22, split his rookie pro season in 2016-17 between Chicago and the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs. He notched four goals, three assists and 14 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Blackhawks. He added 10 goals, six assists and 20 penalty minutes in 43 outings with Rockford.

Saad, 24, joined the Blue Jackets via trade with the Blackhawks in June 2015. He collected 106 points (55 goals, 51 assists) and 22 penalty minutes in 160 games with the Blue Jackets and represented the club at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game.

Forsberg, 24, was selected by Columbus in the seventh round of 2011 draft. He appeared in 10 games with the Blue Jackets over the past three seasons, going 1-8-0 with a 4.02 goals-against average and .879 save percentage.

Schroeder, 26, tallied 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) and 10 penalty minutes in 144 career games with the Wild and Vancouver Canucks since making his NHL debut in 2012-13. He recorded six goals, seven assists in 37 games with Minnesota in 2016-17.

Salituro, 20, totaled 11 goals, 11 assists and 18 penalty minutes in 30 games with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in 2016-17, before appearing in seven ECHL games with one goal in five games with Cleveland of the AHL.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Trevor van Riemsdyk acquired by Hurricanes from Golden Knights

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft from the Vegas Golden Knights for a second-round pick (No. 62) in the 2017 draft on Thursday.

It was the first trade made by the Golden Knights after the conclusion of the NHL Expansion Draft on Wednesday, when Vegas had selected van Riemsdyk from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Van Riemsdyk, 25, has 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) in 158 NHL games over three seasons with the Blackhawks. He has one year remaining on a two-year, $1.65 million contract (average annual value $825,000), according to CapFriendly.com.

The pick the Golden Knights received originally belonged to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Canadiens acquire defenseman David Schlemko from Vegas

CHICAGO - General manager Marc Bergevin announced on Thursday that the Canadiens have acquired defenseman David Schlemko from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2019.

The 30-year-old Edmonton native joins Claude Julien's contingent after being selected by the Golden Knights in the Expansion Draft on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Last season, Schlemko amassed two goals and 18 points in 62 regular-season games with the San Jose Sharks, before chipping in with two goals and three points in six playoff outings.

A veteran of 360 regular-season NHL games, Schlemko went undrafted before suiting up for the Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils and the Sharks, amassing 17 goals and 87 points, along with 114 penalty minutes, over the course of his career.

Schlemko played his junior hockey with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, where he helped his club claim a league title in 2007.

Jordan Eberle traded to Islanders by Oilers for Ryan Strome

Forward Jordan Eberle, a five-time 20-goal scorer, was traded to the New York Islanders by the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday for forward Ryan Strome.

Eberle, 27, had 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 82 games with the Oilers this season. He had two assists in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He was drafted by the Oilers in the first round (No. 22) in 2008 and has 382 points (165 goals, 217 assists) in 507 games since joining Edmonton in 2010, including five seasons with 20 or more goals. His best season was 2011-12, when he had 76 points (34 goals, 42 assists). Eberle is entering the fifth year of a six-year, $36 million contract (average annual value $6 million), according to CapFriendly.com, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season.

Strome, 23, was taken by the Islanders in the first round (No. 5) of the 2011 NHL Draft. He joined the Islanders midway through 2013-14 and had his best offensive season in 2014-15, finishing with 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 81 games.

He had 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 69 games this season and has 126 points (45 goals, 81 assists) in 258 NHL games and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Strome has one year remaining on a two-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million average annual value), according to CapFriendly.com, and can become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2018.

Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Draft Transactions and Results

VEGAS – The Vegas Golden Knights made their 2017 NHL Expansion Draft selections on Wednesday, June 21. The announcements were made by Chairman and CEO Bill Foley and General Manager George McPhee. Below is a list of the players and transaction information. 

Asterisks* indicate an additional transaction has been made with the club. Those transactions can be found at the end of the release.

THE 30 EXPANSION DRAFT SELECTIONS (Information provided by NHL.com):

Calvin Pickard, Goaltender, Colorado Avalanche
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 200 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round (49th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Has 28 wins in 74 NHL starts
-Made his NHL debut on October 16, 2014 in relief of starter Reto Berra
-Has a 2.77 GAA and .914 SV% in 86 career NHL games

Luca Sbisa, Defenseman, Vancouver Canucks
Nationality: Switzerland/Italy
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 209 lb
Age: 27
Draft: Selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Has 88 points (16 G, 72 A) in 465 career NHL games
-Scored his first NHL goal on December 28, 2010 vs. Phoenix Coyotes
-Born on the Italian island of Sardinia and raised in Oberageri, Switzerland

Jon Merrill, Defenseman, New Jersey Devils
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 205 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round (38th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Has 36 points (6 G, 30 A) in 216 career NHL games
-Reached NCAA Frozen Four title game in 2011 with the University of Michigan Wolverines
-Scored his first NHL goal on February 7, 2014, an overtime game-winning goal vs. Edmonton Oilers

Teemu Pulkkinen, Forward, Arizona Coyotes
Nationality: Finland
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 185 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut with the Red Wings on March 14, 2014 vs. Edmonton
-Acquired by the Coyotes from the Minnesota Wild on February 26, 2017 in exchange for future considerations
-Has 22 points (13 G, 9 A) in 83 career NHL games

William Carrier, Forward, Buffalo Sabres*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 212 lb
Age: 22
Draft: Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round (57th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Has eight points (5 G, 3 A) in 41 career NHL games
-Made his NHL debut on November 5, 2016 vs. Ottawa Senators
-Traded to Buffalo from St. Louis on February 28, 2014, along with Chris Stewart, Jaroslav Halak and first and third round draft picks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott

Tomas Nosek, Forward, Detroit Red Wings
Nationality: Czech Republic
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 210 lb
Age: 24
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed to a two-year entry-level contract as an unrestricted free agent by the Red Wings in June 2014
-Had 41 points in 51 games for the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, winning the Calder Cup in 2016-17
-Scored his first NHL goal on March 28, 2017 vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Cody Eakin, Forward, Dallas Stars
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 190 lb
Age: 26
Draft: Selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round (85th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Scored his first NHL goal in his second career NHL game with the Capitals on November 4, 2011 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
-Traded to the Dallas Stars along with a second round pick on June 22, 2012 in exchange for Mike Ribeiro
-Has 154 points (65 G, 89 A) in 379 career NHL games

Jonathan Marchessault, Forward, Florida Panthers*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 174 lb
Age: 26
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed as a free agent to a three-year entry-level contract in 2012 by the Columbus Blue Jackets
-Has one point in seven career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with the Tampa Bay Lightning
-Had 51 points (30 G, 21 A) for the Florida Panthers in the 2016-17 season

Brayden McNabb, Defenseman, Los Angeles Kings
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 212 lb
Age: 26
Draft: Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round (66th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Has 50 points (76, 43 A) in 238 career NHL games
-Scored his first NHL goal with the Sabres on December 26, 2011 vs. Washington Capitals
-Traded to the Los Angeles Kings on March 5, 2014 along with Jonathan Parker and two draft picks in exchange for Hudson Fasching and Nicolas Deslauriers

Connor Brickley, Forward, Carolina Hurricanes*
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 203 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round (50th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Scored his first NHL goal on October 13, 2015 with the Florida Panthers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
-Traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on October 11, 2016 in exchange for Brody Sutter
-Had 26 points (15 G, 11 A) in 2016-17 season with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers

Chris Thorburn, Forward, Winnipeg Jets*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 235 lb
Age: 34
Draft: Selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round (50th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Has 127 points (52 G, 75 A) in 750 career NHL games
-Traded to the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets in 2007 in exchange for a third round draft pick
-Made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres on December 2, 2005

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, Forward, Philadelphia Flyers
Nationality: France
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 198 lb
Age: 32
Draft: Undrafted
Notes: 
-Signed to a one-year contract as a free agent by the Flyers in June 2014
-Played five seasons in the Swedish Hockey League prior to signing with the Flyers
-Became the ninth French-born player to play in the NHL when he made his debut on October 8, 2014

Jason Garrison, Defenseman, Tampa Bay Lightning*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 218 lb
Age: 32
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on April 2, 2009
-Traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 27, 2014 along with the rights to Jeff Costello and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for a second round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
-Has 158 points (48 G, 110 A) in 530 career NHL games

Jean-Francois Berube, Goaltender, New York Islanders*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 177 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders on October 6, 2015
-Made his NHL debut on October 10, 2015 in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks
-Has a 6-4 record in 13 career NHL starts

James Neal, Forward, Nashville Predators
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 221 lb
Age: 29
Draft: Selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Scored his first career NHL goal in his first career NHL game with the Dallas Stars on October 10, 2008 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
-Traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Nashville Predators on June 27, 2014 in exchange for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling
-Had 9 points (6 G, 3 A) in 22 games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Predators

Deryk Engelland, Defenseman, Calgary Flames
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 214 lb
Age: 35
Draft: Selected by the New Jersey Devils in the sixth round (194th overall) of the 200 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 10, 2009 vs. Boston Bruins
-Has 86 points (22 G, 64 A) in 469 career NHL games
-Played for the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers for two seasons, and resides in Las Vegas during the offseason

Brendan Leipsic, Forward, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nationality: Canada
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 180 lb
Age: 23
Draft: Selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round (89th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on February 13, 2016 vs. Vancouver Canucks
-Traded to the Maple Leafs on February 15, 2015 along with Olli Jokinen and a first round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli
-Had 51 points (18 G, 33 A) in 49 games for the AHL's Toronto Marlies in 2016-17

Colin Miller, Defenseman, Boston Bruins
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 196 lb
Age: 24
Draft: Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Traded by the Kings to the Bruins on June 26, 2015 along with Martin Jones and the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Milan Lucic
-Made his NHL debut on October 10, 2015 vs. Montreal Canadiens
-Has 29 points (9 G, 20 A) in 103 career NHL games

Marc Methot, Defenseman, Ottawa Senators
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 220 lb
Age: 32
Draft: Selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2003 NHL
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets on February 25, 2006 for the Nashville Predators
-Traded to the Ottawa Senators by Columbus on July 1, 2012 in exchange for Nick Foligno
-Had 12 points (0 G, 12 A) for Ottawa in 2016-17 season

David Schlemko, Defenseman, San Jose Sharks
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 190 lb
Age: 30
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed as an undrafted free agent to a three-year entry-level contract by the Phoenix Coyotes on July 19, 2007
-Scored his first NHL goal on November 14, 2009 vs. Dallas Stars
-Had 18 points (2 G, 16 A) in 62 games this past season for the Sharks

David Perron, Forward, St. Louis Blues
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 200 lb
Age: 29
Draft: Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (26th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Scored his first NHL goal on November 3, 2007 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
-Has 378 points (159 G, 219 A) in 652 career NHL games
-Returned to play for the Blues this past season after stints with the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks

Oscar Lindberg, Forward, New York Rangers
Nationality: Sweden
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 202 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round (57th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Traded to the Rangers by the Coyotes on May 8, 2011 in exchange for Ethan Werek
-Scored his first NHL goal on his first shot of the 2015-16 NHL season on October 7, 2015 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
-Has 48 points (21 G, 27 A) in 134 career NHL games

Griffin Reinhart, Defenseman, Edmonton Oilers
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 212 lb
Age: 23
Draft: Selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Made his NHL debut for the Islanders on October 10, 2014 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
-Traded to the Edmonton Oilers by the Islanders on June 26, 2015 in exchange for a first and a second round draft pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft
-Had an assist in one 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff game with Edmonton

Alexei Emelin, Defenseman, Montreal Canadiens
Nationality: Russia
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 218 lb
Age: 31
Draft: Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (84th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut on October 9, 2011 vs. Winnipeg Jets
-Has 72 points (14 G, 58 A) in 380 career NHL games
-Has won four IIHF World Championship medals with Team Russia, including a gold medal in 2012

Clayton Stoner, Defenseman, Anaheim Ducks*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 216 lb
Age: 32
Draft: Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the third round (79th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Scored his first NHL goal with the Wild on January 4, 2011 vs. New Jersey Devils
-Signed with the Ducks as a free agent on July 1, 2014
-Has five points (2 G, 3 A) in 31 career Stanley Cup Playoff games

Erik Haula, Forward, Minnesota Wild*
Nationality: Finland
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 193 lb
Age: 26
Draft: Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round (182nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Scored his first NHL goal on January 18, 2013 vs. Dallas Stars
-Played for Finland at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey
-Has 89 points (42 G, 47 A) in 266 career NHL games

William Karlsson, Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets*
Nationality: Sweden
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 189 lb
Age: 24
Draft: Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Traded to the Blue Jackets by Anaheim on March 2, 2015, along with Rene Bourque and a second round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for James Wisniewski and a third round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft
-Scored his first two NHL goals in his second NHL game while with the Ducks on October 13, 2014 vs. Buffalo Sabres
-Has three points (2 G, 1 A) in five career Stanley Cup Playoff games

Trevor van Riemsdyk, Defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 188 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed a two-year entry-level contract as a free agent with the Blackhawks on March 24, 2014
-Scored his first NHL goal on October 10, 2015 vs. New York Islanders
-Won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2015, making his playoff debut in Game Three of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final

Marc-Andre Fleury, Goaltender, Pittsburgh Penguins*
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 180 lb
Age: 32
Draft: Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (first overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Won the Stanley Cup three times with the Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017)
-Two-time NHL All Star (2011 and 2015)
-Has 375 wins and 216 losses in 691 NHL games

Nate Schmidt, Defenseman, Washington Capitals
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 194 lb
Age: 25
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed with the Capitals as an undrafted free agent in April 2013
-Scored his first NHL goal on December 7, 2013 vs. Nashville Predators
-Has 43 points (8 G, 35 A) in 200 career NHL games

TRANSACTIONS: 
Anaheim Ducks: Vegas Golden Knights acquire defenseman Shea Theodore

Buffalo Sabres: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Buffalo's 2017 sixth round draft pick

Carolina Hurricanes: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Boston's 2017 fifth round draft pick (previously acquired by Carolina)

Columbus Blue Jackets: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Columbus' 2017 first round draft pick, Columbus' 2019 second round draft pick and forward David Clarkson

Florida Panthers: Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Reilly Smith in exchange for Vegas' 2018 fourth round draft pick 

Minnesota Wild: Vegas Golden Knights acquire forward Alex Tuch in exchange for a conditional third round draft pick in either the 2017 or 2018 draft

New York Islanders: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Jake Bischoff, Mikhail Grabovski, New York's 2017 first round draft pick and New York's 2019 second round draft pick

Pittsburgh Penguins: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Pittsburgh's 2020 second round draft pick

Tampa Bay Lightning: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Tampa Bay's 2017 second round draft pick, Pittsburgh's 2018 fourth round draft pick (previously acquired by Tampa Bay) and the rights to Nikita Gusev

Winnipeg Jets: Vegas Golden Knights acquire Winnipeg's first round draft pick in 2017 and Winnipeg's third round draft pick in 2019 in exchange for Columbus' 2017 first round draft pick

PLAYER SIGNINGS
The Vegas Golden Knights have signed forward Erik Haula to a three-year contract worth an average annual value of $2.75 million.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed defenseman Deryk Engelland to a one-year contract worth an average annual value of $1 million.

BIOS OF PLAYERS ACQUIRED VIA TRADE

Shea Theodore, Defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 195 lb
Age: 21
Draft: Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round (26th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut on December 29, 2015 vs. Calgary Flames
-Scored his first NHL goal on January 13, 2016 vs. Ottawa Senators
-Had eight points (2 G, 6 A) in 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs

David Clarkson, Forward, Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationality: Canada
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 207 lb
Age: 33
Draft: Undrafted
Notes:
-Signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Jersey Devils on August 12, 2005
-Scored his first NHL goal in his second NHL game on March 17, 2007 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
-Traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 26, 2015 in exchange for Nathan Horton

Reilly Smith, Forward, Florida Panthers
Nationality: Canadian
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 185 lb
Age: 26
Draft: Selected by the Dallas Stars in the third round (69th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Notes: 
-Scored his first NHL goal with the Stars on February 15, 2013 vs. Vancouver Canucks
-Traded from Boston Bruins to Florida Panthers on July 1, 2015, along with Marc Savard, in exchange for Jimmy Hayes
-Has 187 points (76 G, 111 A) in 365 NHL games

Alex Tuch, Forward, Minnesota Wild
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 222 lbs
Age: 21
Draft: Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round (18th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wild on April 13, 2016
-Made his NHL debut on February 4, 2017
-Played in the NCAA for the Boston College Eagles from 2014 to 2016

Jake Bischoff, Defenseman, New York Islanders
Nationality: United States of America
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 194 lb
Age: 22
Draft: Selected by the New York Islanders in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Played in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers
-Won the Big 10 title with the Gophers in 2015
-Played six games with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2017, getting three points (2 G, 1 A)

Mikhail Grabovski, Forward, New York Islanders
Nationality: Germany/Belarus
Height: 5'11
Weight: 186 lb
Age: 33
Draft: Selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Made his NHL debut with the Montreal on January 6, 2007 vs. New York Rangers
-Signed a four-year contract with the Islanders on July 2, 2014
-Has 296 points (125 G, 171 A) in 534 NHL games

Nikita Gusev, Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning
Nationality: Russia
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 181 lb
Age: 24
Draft: Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (202nd overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
Notes:
-Has played 275 games in the Kontinental Hockey League, getting 188 points (80 G, 108 A) in 275 games
-Won Gagarin Cup (KHL's championship trophy) with SKA St. Petersburg this past season
-Had 71 points (24 G, 47 A) in 57 games this past season for SKA St. Petersburg

UPDATED VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2017 NHL ENTRY DRAFT SELECTIONS
2017: 
Three first round picks 
Two second round picks 
One third round pick 
One fourth round pick 
Two fifth round picks 
Two sixth round picks 
One seventh round pick 
Total picks as of 6/21/17: 12

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS DRAFT PICKS ACQUIRED THROUGH THE EXPANSION DRAFT
Five in 2017 
One in 2018 
Three in 2019 
One in 2020 

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS DRAFT PICKS TRADED DURING EXPANSION DRAFT
Conditional third round pick for either 2017 or 2018 to MIN
Fourth round pick in 2018 to FLA

ROSTER BY POSITION

Forwards: 

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Connor Brickley
William Carrier
David Clarkson
Cody Eakin
Mikhail Grabovski
Nikita Gusev
Erik Haula
William Karlsson
Brendan Leipsic
Oscar Lindberg
Jonathan Marchessault
James Neal
Tomas Nosek
David Perron
Teemu Pulkkinen
Reilly Smith
Chris Thorburn
Alex Tuch

Defensemen:

Jake Bischoff
Deryk Engelland
Alexei Emelin
Jason Garrison
Brayden McNabb
Jon Merrill
Marc Methot
Colin Miller
Luca Sbisa
David Schlemko
Griffin Reinhart
Nate Schmidt
Clayton Stoner
Shea Theodore
Trevor van Riemsdyk

Goaltenders:

Jean-Francois Berube
Marc-Andre Fleury
Calvin Pickard