Insider
Craig Custance, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Is there enough talent for expansion?

Shortly after Las Vegas was knighted by the NHL as a legitimate expansion option, the questions of its viability started to roll in. Could another team succeed in the desert? Are there enough hockey fans in Las Vegas to purchase enough season tickets? Should the league be expanding to Las Vegas when the Florida Panthers can barely reach a quorum in Sunrise?

A much smaller concern seemed to be the impact NHL expansion would have on the talent pool. In bringing Las Vegas and potentially Seattle aboard in the next several years, the league is adding another 40 or so NHL players into the fold.

The poor Edmonton Oilers can’t even find a No. 2 center with 30 teams. What chance do they have when the NHL adds two more to the mix?

With the NHL expansion express well on its way, this was a question posed to those trying to build winning rosters now. Is the talent pool deep enough for another two teams?

“I think there’s a lot of talent out there,” said New Jersey Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Lamoriello’s opinion was one widely shared for a number of reasons.

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