Vegas keeps stockpiling the quality draft picks.
The Golden Knights acquired the Blue Jackets' first-round, 24th-overall pick (in a side deal for taking on David Clarkson's contract) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but then flipped the pick in exchange for the Winnipeg Jets' first-round, 13th-overall pick (in a side deal for not selecting Toby Enstrom in the expansion draft.)
Clarkson still has three years remaining on his deal with an annual cap hit of $5.25 million. He isn't likely to play in the NHL again due to a back injury, so he will likely be stashed on long-term injured reserve.
For clarity, instead of choosing 13th overall, the Jets will now select 24th overall on Friday night.
As a refresher, here is a list of the draft picks Vegas currently holds for the 2017 draft:
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 (own + Jets + Islanders) |
| 2 | 2 (own + Lightning) |
| 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 (own + Bruins) |
| 6 | 2 (own + Sabres) |
| 7 | 1 |
In total, the Golden Knights hold 12 picks (and counting) in the draft, highlighted by the sixth overall pick of their own, Winnipeg's 13th overall pick, and the New York Islanders' 15th overall pick. That's how you begin a rebuild.
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