First went the winger, now comes the defenseman.
Renaud says LV/BUF working on a Colin Miller deal https://t.co/sr7pkEk23r
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2019
Pending trade call, BUF will send 2nd round pick in 2021 and 5th round pick in 2022 to VGK for defenceman Colin Miller.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 28, 2019
The Golden Knights have continued to move pieces out to get back down below the salary cap by moving Miller to the Buffalo Sabres.
Vegas gets a 2nd round pick in 2021 (originally STL’s) and a 5th in 2022. The Golden Knights now have extra 2nd round picks in each of the 2020 and 2021 Drafts.
Miller was a healthy scratch for the first game of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Golden Knights lost to the Sharks in San Jose. He was re-inserted into the lineup following that game and played the remaining six games of the series. A few days after Game 1, head coach Gerard Gallant said this…
Well when Colin plays real solid hockey it doesn’t matter who he’s playing against. It’s not the opponents (that matter), it’s the way he gets ready mentally. We were a little disappointed he didn’t play Game 1, but since then he’s played real solid hockey. -Gallant
Miller scored just three goals in 2018-19, but did post 26 assists and was a constant on the Golden Knights power play.
The Golden Knights defense now has just five players under NHL contract. Those players are Nate Schmidt, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore, Nick Holden, and Jon Merrill. Deryk Engelland is an unrestricted free agent who could return to the Golden Knights, but even if he does, trading Miller certainly appears to open a space on the roster for a rookie.
Zach Whitecloud, Nic Hague, Dylan Coghlan, Jake Bischoff, and Jimmy Schuldt (who is an RFA) will battle for that spot in training camp.
vgk2019
McPhee should have gotten a better return. Justin Braun, who is 32, and declining, got a 2nd in 2019 and a 3rd in 2020….. so Miller should have at least gotten a 2nd in 2020, and a 3rd in 2021.
glad they are getting the cap problem addressed, but let’s not let hated rival Snarky Wilson outdo the GmGM
John
i think its important to note that every GM in the NHL knew VGK was in a bind with their cap. Savvy GMs wont offer much in this situation. I think getting a 2nd is pretty good. its not a home run, but its a decent return for a guy who was benched in game 1 of the playoffs.
vgk2019
yes, but the 2nd should have been in 2020, not 2021. it is not even buffalo’s pick.
Wilson is cap strapped too.
vgk2019
I expect Carpenter or Bellemare to sign in Chicago, as the Blackhawks are looking for pk forwards
vgk2019
haha, the Snarks are losing their captain Joe Pavelski to the cap crunch. giving that outrageous $92M contract to mr handpass cost them the services of 38 goal scorer little Joe
Vgk4life
Damned shame. Collin played his guts out for us his first season and again last year. I’d rather have kept him over Theodore. At least Miller will get physical and step up when the time comes. While Shea tucks tail and starts dumping the puck all over
Mark
I’m ok with the draft picks we got. I liked Miller alot, he will be missed and I wish him the best. IMOP, it’s time to see what the younger talent has. We are top heavy, so younger, hungry players need to step up now. Glass, Hague, Whitecloud and a couple of others. I have to say this, a guy 22 or 23, McPhee should know what he has, does a guy by then belong in the NHL.? As far as the draft pics we got, our front office and scouts are tremendous at spotting talent. Hopefully, we find a couple of diamonds in the rough. Good luck Collin, you were their from day one, so many great memories.