Despite being reported last week, the Las Vegas franchise has spent much of this week sending out press releases confirming the hires of four new professional scouts. They are Jim McKenzie, Vince Williams, Mike Foligno, and Václav Nedomanský and they join Kelly Kisio and David Conte rounding out the staff tasked with scouting NHL players in preparation for the Expansion Draft in June.

We’ve already told you a little bit about both Kisio and Conte, now lets take a look at the new quartet joining the front office.

Jim McKenzie – Most recently a scout with the Florida Panthers, working with fellow Las Vegas staff members Scott Luce and Erin Ginnell. McKenzie played in the NHL for 15 years for the Whalers, Stars, Penguins, Jets, Coyotes, Ducks, Capitals, Devils, and Predators. He won the Stanley Cup in 2003 as a member of the Devils. In January of 2000 he was claimed off waivers by George McPhee and the Washington Capitals.

Vince Williams – Most recently the head coach of the Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had an extended minor league hockey career but never broke through to the NHL. 

Mike Foligno – Spent last season out of hockey, but was a previously an assistant with the Devils from 2013-2015. Before that he spent time coaching in the NHL, AHL, and OHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hershey Bears, Sudbury Wolves, and Chicago Wolves. Foligno, the 3rd overall pick in the 1979 draft to the Red Wings, also had a distinguished playing career spending most of his time in Buffalo. He has two sons playing in the NHL, Nick Foligno is the Captain of the Columbus BJ’s and Marcus Foligno plays for the Sabres.

Václav Nedomanský – Big Ned as he’s called is most known as being the first of many players to defect from Czechoslovakia to play in the NHL. Before defecting Nedomanský had a long playing career in Eastern Europe including appearances in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics. For the past six years he’s been a professional scout for the Nashville Predators. Las Vegas Director of European Scouting Vojtech Kucera also defected from behind the Iron Curtain to pursue a playing career in North America.

The addition of these four pro scouts likely completes the professional scouting staff in Las Vegas.