Expansion Draft Buzz: Vegas ready to put trade talk into action

Welcome to the NHL Expansion Draft Buzz. On Wednesday, the Vegas Golden Knights will reveal the players they have chosen from the other 30 NHL teams in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN).
NOTE: The expansion draft trade/waiver freeze for all NHL teams (excluding the Golden Knights) began Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Here's a look around the League at the latest doings as the expansion draft approaches:

2 p.m.

Golden Knights have at least six trades completed

Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said Tuesday he has at least six trades completed ahead of the NHL Expansion Draft and will continue to speak with other GMs.
McPhee said Monday would be the last day he would discuss trades, but a few GMs were delayed arriving to Las Vegas on Monday because of travel issues.
"We'll wrap that up soon, I hope, and then we'll start picking the team," McPhee said. "We're going to use every minute that we have. We'll put a team together today and hopefully not have to go too deep into the night, and we'll submit it five minutes before 7 a.m. [Wednesday]."

More trades will be made after the expansion draft, McPhee confirmed.
"We're going to have to move some defensemen because we're going to claim a bunch," McPhee said.
The Golden Knights' selections will be unveiled during the 2017 NHL Awards and NHL Expansion Draft presented by T-Mobile Las Vegas on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN).
"We're in a really good place," McPhee said. "We've done well in terms of timing on everything we wanted Tuesday] to be. We've done well at all the positions. We have lots of defensemen, lots of centers, and a little more scoring than we anticipated. There are some players that we think will be core players for a long time.
"It's really hard to believe we are submitting the list [Wednesday]. Now we've got a hockey team, and one we really like."
NHL.com Columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika
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10:15 a.m.

Islanders to trade pick to Golden Knights: report

An NHL roster freeze is in effect until Wednesday except for the Vegas Golden Knights, who reportedly will receive the New York Islanders' first-round pick (No. 15) in the 2017 NHL Draft presented by adidas for not choosing a player off the Islanders' unprotected list, according to Newsday.
The trade could also include sending forward Mikhail Grabovski to the Golden Knights. Grabovski, who hasn't been cleared to play since sustaining a concussion in March of 2016, has one year remaining on a four-year, $20 million contract with an NHL salary-cap charge of $5 million.

Peter Budaj, Lightning agree to contract: report

Goalie Peter Budaj has agreed to a two-year, $2.05 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, an average annual value of $1.025 million, according to TSN.
Budaj, who could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, was left unyeaprotected by the Lightning for the NHL Expansion Draft. Acquired by Tampa Bay in a trade that sent goalie Ben Bishop to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 26, Budaj went 30-21-3 with a 2.18 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and seven shutouts in 60 games.