Expansion - who could be joining the teams?

[jRuutu 2,489]

 

Two news teams joining VHL and that of course means - expansion draft! Always a fun experience and to celebrate that I´m going to take a quik look on every team and pick one player who could be exposed in the draft. The actual draft is happening I guess after S67? But either way...Let´s start with:

 

Toronto D - Cayden Saint
Old man Cayden has two seasons left after S67 and he is under contract for those years, a solid puck-moving defender with 170 points in 349 games so far in VHL. Veteran player for couple years and Saint himself could get a big role - good move for all parties?

 

Moscow Lw - Randoms
Moscow is a team that has a lot of young players, Randoms is an S63 player and under contract for three more years, so similar to Saint above - a smart move for all parties, team who drafts him gets a 214 point veteran for 3 years and Randoms gets a big role to play in.

 

Malmo C - Mikka Pajari
Oldest of old men, S61 center Pajari is under contract for S68, over 500 TPE at the moment and has scored 279 points in 422 games so far, could be a good pickup for the expansion teams for one season and maybe trade him during the trade deadline if things won't work out?

 

Davos D - Konstantin Mulligan
Mulligan is an S62 tough guy defender who hits anything that moves, the ongoing season is his last in the current deal. Over 100 penalty minutes for three seasons in a row might be enough for Davos and they expose him? Has a cannon of a shot, 65 goals is not bad for a man with Mulligan´s hands.

 

Riga D -  Edwin Preencarnacion
Edwin is a legendary player, started as a forward, but is now playing in defense. 641 points in 493 games and all for Riga, but when you look at his age - S61 player, Riga could be looking to expose him? One year of a legendary player like Edwin is an interesting option for an expansion team and his trade value might be decent around deadline time.

 

Helsinki D -  Dan Montgomery
421 games for Helsinki, 389 points in those, not a bad total for a player who started as a forward, but later on moved to defense. Under contract for two more years after S67, so expansion team could get a real offensive defender for couple years. Oldest of the Titans defenders, so he is in danger of getting exposed.

 

Seattle G - Chase
Quite a similar team as Moscow, a lot of young players in the roster right now, but Chase in net might be among the first players to get exposed. S65 goalie with 226 TPE, but he is behind star prospect goalie Funk who is a couple years younger. For an expansion team, Chase is a good pick, a young goalie who could at very least be a backup for years to come.

 

New York C - Viktor Kozlov
New York is a team with young and deep center setup, Kozlov is one of the oldest as an S65 player, but he is inactive also. 306 TPE is still a nice depth piece for an expansion team, he is bad in faceoffs, but has good hands and passing ability - 2nd line winger?

 

Calgary D - Robert Malenko
Wild Robert has been an elite defender in VHL for years, 464 points in 422 games is a great total, but he is also on the older side as a player, one more year left after S67 - exposed, picked by a expansion team and traded for a team that is looking for a elite powerplay weapon for playoff run?

 

Vancouver G - Ismond Kingfisher
S61 goalie, at 850+ TPE right and under contract for two more years after S67, unfortunately, he is inactive, but you know what you get with him - could be anything, but he is a solid goalie and has the experience, starting goalie for two years? Young Eagles in net could push Kingfisher out of the door and into the expansion draft.

 

There you have it, one player from each team that could be exposed and picked, the list was brought to you by ´I don´t read scouting´ or IDRS, this list is more than likely totally inaccurate, but I have full confidence in at least few of these players being in the expansion draft!

 

Thanks.