The NHL will welcome Las Vegas next June, and see an expansion draft that will help the 31st franchise form its initial roster.
As part of the expansion protocol, the team will select one player from each of the league's 30 current squads.
Teams can protect a group of players from the expansion pool - either seven forwards, three defensemen, and a goalie, or any combination of eight skaters plus a goalie - and those with no-movement clauses are exempt.
Related: NHL finalizes list of players protected from expansion draft
With that in mind, here are five players who could be available next June, and would make great picks for the inaugural season in Sin City:
Marc-Andre Fleury
The Pittsburgh Penguins goalie has a no-movement clause, but it may be in his best interest to waive it and join the expansion pool, given that the Penguins see netminder Matt Murray as their goaltender of the future. Accepting a move to Las Vegas guarantees Fleury a starting job, and it's not like the market doesn't have much else to offer.
Fleury has been a key cog in the Penguins' recent success, with two Stanley Cup rings to show for it. Though he wasn't a factor in last year's win - seeing just two games in the playoffs - he still won 35 games in the regular season. He's signed for the next two seasons, carrying a $5.75-million AAV.
Dustin Brown
The divorce is already in the making between the Los Angeles Kings and Dustin Brown, who was stripped of his captaincy in favor of Anze Kopitar.
Brown could provide the Las Vegas (something) Knights with veteran leadership and a winning pedigree, having led the Kings to Lord Stanley in 2012 and 2014. Still, there's no hiding that the 32-year-old is in decline, having averaged 28 points the past four seasons after regularly chipping in 50-plus. The Kings may have to sweeten the pot for Las Vegas to claim Brown and his hefty contract - he's signed for the next five seasons at a $5.875-million AAV.
Nail Yakupov
The St. Louis Blues will face a numbers game when it comes to protecting their key forwards from expansion, and that could make the enigmatic Nail Yakupov the odd man out.
The former first overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers had a strong debut with the Blues, scoring four points in six games, but has more recently been a frequent scratch by St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock. Could Las Vegas take a shot at unlocking the potential of the former top pick? (Las Vegas is also guaranteed a top-six pick at the 2017 draft, so the possibility exists the team could make a first overall pick of its own.)
Jack Johnson
The Columbus Blue Jackets need two things: roster space and cap room. That's bad news for Jack Johnson, but good news for Las Vegas, which may roll the dice on the former third overall pick.
The 29-year-old Johnson has had a whirlwind career. Drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes, he made his NHL debut with the Kings in 2006. He's still looking to break out, and could be afforded that opportunity with Las Vegas. A smooth skating defender who plays a physical game and boasts offensive acumen, the tools are there for him to realize his potential. Johnson is signed for one more year, carrying a $4.357-million AAV.
Jimmy Howard
Two big-ticket goalies? It's possible, particularly considering the NHL's propensity for back-to-back games, in which goaltending becomes even more crucial. When selecting its group of players, Las Vegas must reach at least 60 percent of the 2015-16 salary cap ($73 million), as well. Howard's $5.292-million AAV is a big help in that regard.
After a rough 2015-16, Howard, who's signed for the next two seasons, appears to have bounced back, showcasing a .943 save percentage through eight games. He's performed well, but there's no doubting that the Detroit Red Wings want to move forward with young netminder Petr Mrazek.
