Welcome to the National Hockey League, Vegas Golden Knights.
The NHL’s 31 st franchise was finally given its identity on November 22, at a celebration
outside the arena they’ll play in. Bill Foley, the team’s majority owner made the announcement alongside the
team’s general manager, George McPhee, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
"We want our team to be known for dedication, honor, strength, courage and a
commitment to never give up – both on the ice and off," said Foley.
In addition to the name, the team’s logo and colors were revealed – a knight, obviously,
would serve as their primary logo. People on Twitter were quick to point out that Vegas’
knight bears resemblance to Magneto.
Steel grey, gold, red and black are their colors, chosen to represent Las Vegas and
Nevada as a whole.
Immediately, the online reaction to the team name was mixed, from both fans and
reporters. The joking online began before the announcement, because of the amount of
technical difficulties they faced leading up to the reveal. The team’s website went live
moments before the official announcement.
Bruce Arthur, a Toronto-based sports journalist, poked fun at the Golden Knights
dropping the Las from Las Vegas. "Oh god they're not even the Las Vegas Golden
Knights, they’re the VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS I hope the uniform includes a popped
collar,” he tweeted.
All intense feelings toward the name aside, both good or bad, the Vegas Golden Knights
are here, and it won’t be long until they officially play their first game.
They have a name and a logo, an owner, a general manager, and a full front office of
directors, vice presidents, advisors and scouts. What happens next?
They draft.
In June 2017, just days before the NHL’s entry draft takes place, each of the 30 pre-
existing teams in the NHL must submit to the league a list of a set number of players
they want to protect in the expansion draft. They also must announce a certain number
of exposed players, who have reached a minimum number of games played and are
under contract. Players with two or less years of experience are automatically exempt.
In the expansion draft, Vegas will be selecting one player from each existing team and by
the end of it, they will have a 30-man roster – 14 forwards, 9 defensemen and 3 goalies.
They’ll also get picks in the entry draft. For the first round, they’ll have the same odds as
the third-place finishing team to win the first overall pick in the lottery. For every
subsequent round, they’ll pick third in that round.
Vegas will also get a 48-hour head start on signing free agents prior to July 1, when any
team can begin signing free agent players.
It’s hard to tell right now how this is all going to pan out, but watching the first
expansion since 2000 as it unfolds will surely be fascinating.
