NHL Expansion Draft: 5 best players available for Golden Knights

May 31, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA: General overall view of the T-Mobile Arena exterior on Las Vegas Blvd. on the Las Vegas strip. The facility will be the home of the NHL expansion franchise Vegas Golden Knights which will begin play during the 2017-18 season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 1, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center Jonathan Marchessault (81) skates before a game against the Boston Bruins at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jonathan Marchessault

It’s a bit surprising to see the Florida Panthers leave Jonathan Marchessault exposed. Even if they feel his breakout season from last season isn’t sustainable, at the very least, they could have traded him. Now the Panthers risk losing a guy who scored 30 goals last season and had over 50 points.

Vegas has to be tempted to take Marchessault. First of all, the Panthers aren’t exactly exposing any other intriguing names. Sure, Roberto Luongo is hilarious and he should have a one-man show in Vegas. People would happily pay money to see that. But on the ice, Luongo is declining and expensive. Jaromir Jagr would put people in seats to see the Golden Knights, but his future is in question.

If nothing else, Marchessault could be trade bait for Vegas. He’s a free agent after next season. If Marchessault has a season resembling last season’s, he’ll get paid a lot of money. And he could fetch the Golden Knights a very attractive package. Look at what Martin Hanzal got the Coyotes. Marchessault is precisely the kind of player Vegas should be targeting. He has value and he is talented. Why the Panthers exposed him is questionable, but the Golden Knights will be the beneficiaries.

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