The NHL Expansion Draft was a year-long headache for the Anaheim Ducks.
A Vegas Golden Knights-friendly set of expansion rules — combined with Anaheim’s pile of talented defensemen — made it feel like a near certainty that the Knights would be able to nab an important piece of the Ducks’ roster.
Yet as the Draft approached, it became clear that teams around the league were finding creative ways to get Vegas to lay off of their prized possessions.
Suspicion grew that Anaheim had gone that route when it was reported that Kevin Bieksa hadn’t even been asked to waive his no-move clause, effectively exposing the blossoming Josh Manson.