You know, I was taking a long nap when I realized the NHL Draft was coming up fast. That meant barely getting any sleep en route to Los Angeles and packing my belongings together. Better get your rest at Harry Reid International Airport to make this an easy trip, eh?
But I also realized another thing. The few days before the NHL Draft are rife with crazy rumors and rumblings. One example is Tomas Hertl, who's been subjected to rumors of being traded to Carolina.
Now, not many people would expect the center from Prague to be moved. He carries a $6.75 million cap hit and a modified no-move clause. However, you want to do everything possible to get that "Core Four" member on your team.
Yes, you know exactly who I'm talking about. The guy named Mitch Marner, who apparently hates being in Toronto. He must've grown tired of hearing Drake's terrible bets.
But that also has an effect on this year's NHL Draft. You get more picks and can bolster your prospect pool. With that, let's go bold.
I'm talking about THIS KIND OF BOLD.
Here are three bold takes involving the Golden Knights and the 2025 NHL Draft.
1.) The Vegas Golden Knights will trade into the first round
If you notice one thing about this season's NHL Draft, it's that nobody's willing to hold onto their first-round draft picks. There have been talks about teams like the Chicago Blackhawks trading their picks like they're filled with asbestos.
Of course, this leaves an open opportunity for the Golden Knights to move into the first round. Considering the team's looking to hop into the Mitch Marner sweepstakes, almost anything is on the table. That includes a higher-end player getting dealt.
Could that be Tomas Hertl as the rumors suggest? Could it be someone else? Who knows. One thing's for certain, though. Don't sleep on a crazy move from McCrimmon if it means getting one of the best free agents of the summer.
2.) Nicolas Hague will bring in two second-round picks
Consider this, dear reader. When you put a player on the trade market, you notice that he has plenty of trade suitors. That's a good indication that he'll fetch a solid trade where someone will overpay.
Teams like the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens have been rumored to be in on Nicolas Hague, meaning that the overpay signals could be flashing like Batman's symbol.
That'll be good news for McCrimmon come NHL Draft day, when he puts on his cape and superhero tights to save the day. In comes two second-round draft picks and a prospect pool replenished like a fridge full of fresh food.
3.) The Golden Knights will take a goaltender in the NHL Draft
With the Golden Knights already swimming in goaltender prospects, there isn't a real need to take another netminder. Names like Cameron Whitehead and Carl Lindbom come to mind. Such netminders have proven they're capable of playing at the NHL level.
But what if Vegas took another goaltender to bolster that pool further? Think about names such as Semyon Frolov or Louis-Antoine Denault that could be late-round selections.
The Golden Knights aren't known for following a conventional path in their draft pursuits. They trade away their first-round draft selections for better pieces to win a Stanley Cup. Maybe they continue adding to their goaltender depth and getting stronger with more prospects.