Report: Rangers Lose Oscar Lindberg In Expansion Draft
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Early Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights' picks in the expansion draft had not yet been revealed, but at least one name leaked out ahead of time: Rangers center Oscar Lindberg.
The New York Post reported Wednesday afternoon that Vegas had selected the 25-year-old Swede. The Golden Knights submitted their picks Wednesday morning. The full list was announced during Wednesday night's NHL awards.
Lindberg was called up to the Rangers from Hartford for one game in the 2014-15 season, and then stuck with the NHL club the following two seasons. In 2015-16, he played in 68 games, registering 13 goals and 15 assists (28 points). Playing mostly on the fourth line this past season, he skated in 65 contests and had eight goals and 12 assists (20 points).
The high-upside center enjoyed a strong series against the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference semifinals, scoring a goal in the Rangers' Game 3 win and then scoring twice more in the Game 4 victory.
The NHL revealed the first several picks during the first hour of the league's annual awards show, and the Vegas Golden Knights appeared to be making good on owner Bill Foley's vow to impress their new fans.
Jonathan Marchessault, Cody Eakin and Brayden McNabb were among the first players joining the Golden Knights in the expansion draft.
Vegas claimed Marchessault after he racked up 30 goals and 21 assists for Florida last year. Eakin is a solid two-way center, and McNabb is a rising defenseman who broke through last season for the Los Angeles Kings.
Vegas also took Colorado goalie Calvin Pickard, Vancouver defenseman Luca Sbisa and New Jersey defenseman Jon Merrill.
St. Louis forward David Perron, Tampa Bay defenseman Jason Garrison, Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot and Montreal defenseman Alexei Emelin were among the next wave of choices by the Vegas squad.
The Golden Knights' blue line is looking particularly healthy. Emelin has been with Montreal for the past five seasons, while Methot has spent the last five years with the Senators as the longtime defensive partner of Norris Trophy finalist Erik Karlsson.
"I feel like we have created a great team initially, and we can grow from here," Golden Knights owner Bill Foley said.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
