Vegas Golden Knights: Trade Deadline Shopping List

Thanksgiving is here and, before we know it, so will the Trade Deadline and it could be a busy period for the Vegas Golden Knights.

We all know that it hasn’t exactly been a vintage start to the 2019-20 regular season for the Vegas Golden Knights so far, and there are a plethora of factors behind their slow start.

It is still only November, however, and there is a hell of a lot of hockey still to be played, plus there is enough talent in that locker room to get the job done when it comes to making the postseason.

There are some obvious flaws, though, including a severe lack of secondary scoring and the absence of a real bona fide horse on the blueline.

I also have some concerns over Malcolm Subban as a backup goaltender, and I do feel that this team could do with some more depth if they intend on making a deep run in the playoffs.

So, as a result, I have decided to step into the shoes of President of Hockey Operations George McPhee and General Manager Kelly McCrimmon and draw up a to-do list for the Trade Deadline.

Let’s dive into it…

Trade Cody Eakin

I’ve touched on this before and, while I know some don’t agree with me, let’s look at the facts here.

Firstly, Cody Eakin is a pending UFA and will be able to walk in the summer and there is no guarantee that he will sign a new deal in Vegas.

Secondly, the Golden Knights will have around between $3-5 million in cap space at the Trade Deadline, but they will need a bit more cash to splash in order to really improve this team.

And, thirdly, Eakin has regressed this season and I do think it is time for Vegas to cut their losses and look at the bigger picture at play.

Because, not only would trading Eakin free up some much-needed cap space, it would also free up a center spot for Cody Glass, who is currently stuck out on the wing.

Glass is a natural center and he was at his best this year when he centered the second line between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone so, for me, trading Cody Eakin would hold a multitude of benefits for this team.

Leave The Goaltending

Okay, so I know I mentioned at the top that I am concerned about the goaltending depth and that is still true, but if I were the front office I wouldn’t touch that area at the Trade Deadline.

And the biggest reason for that is the fact that the Knights will have some, but not a lot, of cap space and they are in dire need of secondary scoring and reinforcements on the blueline.

Plus, Marc-Andre Fleury has been playing at an elite level this year and he’ll be able to carry down the load down the stretch and in the postseason.

In the meantime, you could almost treat the backup position as a job by committee in terms of using both Malcolm Subban and Garret Sparks in order to get the job done.

The Knights will have around $15 million in cap space next summer so they will be in a much stronger position to address the goaltending then.

Add a puck-moving defenseman

One name – Tony DeAngelo.

I’ll do something more substantial on this soon but the New York Rangers defenseman ticks every single box for the Vegas Golden Knights.

He’s young (24-years-old), he’s an offensive defenseman who can move the puck, get it out of the zone, help with the transition game and he’s also a right shot, which is something the Knights are lacking.

Oh, and did we mention that DeAngelo is having himself a season?

He has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 22 games, including six points on the power play, and he really seems to have finally put it all together.

DeAngelo would slot right into a top four role and another huge positive is the fact that he’s also on a team-friendly $925,000 deal.

That would help with Vegas’ cap situation a lot and they wouldn’t have to worry about paying DeAngelo until the summer when his current contract expires.

It is a trade that would make a hell of a lot of sense for the Golden Knights, who could also try to persuade the Rangers to chuck in young goalie Alexandar Georgiev in any potential trade.

The New York Rangers are rebuilding so would welcome draft picks and prospects and, again, I’ll do something more detailed on this soon because I think the two teams are ideal trade partners.

Address lack of secondary scoring

This is the biggest priority for me without a doubt.

The lack of secondary scoring has been a glaring concern all year long and it is starting to hurt the Golden Knights right now.

Brandon Pirri was a disaster with just one goal in 11 games and is now in the AHL, as is Valentin Zykov, Alex Tuch has been plagued by injuries, Cody Glass needs to be playing center and Cody Eakin has struggled.

The fourth line is what it is and they contribute in other ways but the third line has been woeful and the Knights need to bring in some reinforcements.

For me, that has to be the number one job at the Trade Deadline because, as we’ve seen recently, the explosive and stacked top six will go through slumps during the course of the regular season and that’s when you need your secondary scoring to step up to the plate.

That hasn’t happened so far and I would be surprised if this front office doesn’t make an aggressive move or two in order to spark the secondary scoring into life ahead of the playoffs.

That’s it for our Vegas Golden Knights to-do list and we’ll have more in-depth trade articles coming soon.