With the Vegas Golden Knights having so much cap space freed up this season ahead of the trade deadline with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone potentially out until the playoffs, there are many possibilities this team has in front of them to upgrade for another deep run. The Golden Knights may not only bring in one forward, but multiple. Let’s have a look at who has been linked to them and who else makes sense.
Reilly Smith
The Pittsburgh Penguins still find themselves in the playoff race, but there has seemingly been no help beyond their core this season. Reilly Smith’s name has been brought up recently as someone the Penguins may move since he isn’t a part of their core and isn’t having a great season. With his best years coming in Vegas, Frank Seravalli notes that the Golden Knights could look at a reunion with the player they had to trade in the offseason. Smith is coming off of a Stanley Cup win with Vegas.
Jake Guentzel
Jake Guentzel’s name was also mentioned as a target from the Penguins for the Golden Knights. They lost a very good winger in Stone for a while and though Guentzel doesn’t make up for the two-way play that was taken out of the lineup, he adds even more offense. Guentzel is a UFA after the season and if Vegas manages to get him, they have first dibs at seeing if they can extend him.
Anthony Duclair
The San Jose Sharks are very clearly selling this season and everyone seems to be in play. Anthony Duclair is someone the Sharks are going to move and his cap hit is very attractive to many teams. This may cause more competition, but the cost to acquire won’t be as high as some of the other names. Duclair is fast and can score. If the Golden Knights are able to bring him in with a $3 million AAV cap hit for the remainder of the season, I expect another addition on top of that due to the cap space that would still be available.
Vladimir Tarasenko
It is likely that the Ottawa Senators are going to trade Vladimir Tarasenko since he is one of the better potential winger rentals this season. The Senators are out of the playoff race and need to make some changes to their lineup in order to get a different look next season and change the outcome. Tarasenko is a former 40-goal scorer and can make up for the lost offense, but also has playoff pedigree and experience that would be welcomed in Vegas.
Jason Zucker
The Arizona Coyotes have fallen hard after their strong start and have some upcoming UFAs that will be available. This includes Jason Zucker who brings a different blend of offense, physicality, and grit. He has scored 20-plus goals six times in his career and put up 27 last season. Even though he is having a bit of a down season offensively on this lackluster Coyotes team, he is still capable of contributing. He will definitely be someone the Golden Knights look at as a rental for their playoff run.
Victor Olofsson
The Buffalo Sabres have been expected to trade Victor Olofsson since at least the summer, but the time looks to finally be nearing for the upcoming UFA. There is no way that the Sabres think about keeping him when they are seemingly out of the playoff race and they can easily retain half of his cap hit in any potential trade. He can also score, but just hasn’t been given the opportunity to play a lot or with better players this season due to the youth movement.
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The Golden Knights are going to make some big moves this season and it is the right play for them. They have a Stanley Cup contender again and they should heal up by the playoffs. It’s within the rules to be above the salary cap in playoffs since it goes away, so why not do it while there is an opportunity again.
