Vegas Golden Knights: Five Trade Deadline Targets

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on January 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers reacts after scoring a goal in the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on January 18, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
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There’s a ton of options for the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Just look at this Vegas Golden Knights team. Many people believed this team would be one of the worst expansion franchises ever. But this club simply flipped the script right from the start of training camp.

As the victories started to pile up, many of those critics have turned into believers. Who would’ve thought we would be sitting here on February 19th in FIRST PLACE in the entire National Hockey League? With the NHL Trade Deadline looming, Golden Knights general manager George McPhee has to consider the possibility of adding to this team.

There are lots of targets out there, but the problem is the Golden Knights don’t have the farm systems that other teams have. McPhee will not want to move on from Cody Glass, Nick Suzuki, and Erik Brannstrom. So that means the veteran general manager will have to sell his draft picks to acquire his own needs. Here are five potential candidates that could go to Vegas at the trade deadline.

Rick Nash

OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: New York Rangers Left Wing Rick Nash (61) participates in drills during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators on February 17, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – FEBRUARY 17: New York Rangers Left Wing Rick Nash (61) participates in drills during warm-up before National Hockey League action between the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators on February 17, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If there’s one player that’s seemingly linked to almost any contender in the NHL, its Rick Nash. Let’s face it, Nash isn’t a 40 goal scorer anymore, and he looks like his performance is starting to decline. However, Nash would provide another offensive weapon to the already potent Vegas forward group.

The Brampton, Ontario native has a wicked wrist shot and deadly finishing ability. The 33-year old has registered 18 goals, ten assists and 28 points in 60 games played this season. Nash is the number one player on the market and its pretty much a sure bet that New York will trade their offensive star.

One thing the Golden Knights have going for them is the cap space to bring in a player like Nash. Even though he would be a pure rental, I just don’t see McPhee ponying up for a player that hasn’t touched 20 goals yet. I say the Golden Knights walk away from Nash and feel safe about it.