When you're the Vegas Golden Knights, you don't think too much about the future. You're thinking about assembling a team of Avengers to win as much as possible. That means irritating the living feces out of the other teams, but hey, haters gonna hate, right?
But that goes back to a broader point: the Golden Knights aren't afraid to trade anybody. You look at someone like Zach Whitecloud and are saddened to see him go. He was a high-character player who never ruffled any feathers and simply put his head down to get to work.
That also includes prospects, where names like Nick Suzuki, Zach Dean, and David Edstrom get offloaded to other teams. Hey, that's part of the business, where you're looking to win at all costs, you know?
But let's look at three names that could be enticing for other teams to pick up. After all, you're not getting names like Dylan Larkin or Connor Hellebuyck for free. These three names can definitely sweeten the package in a hypothetical deal, bringing in the best players around.
1.) Trevor Connelly
The big issue with Connelly is that he's dealt with injuries during his Golden Knights tenure. Is he able to stay healthy throughout his hockey career or will he be subjected to another debilitating injury? That's the big question that will hover above Connelly's head.
On top of that, Kelly McCrimmon is well-versed in trading former first-round picks (or future) for big names. Take the recent Rasmus Andersson trade and prominent names such as Ivan Barbashev and Tomas Hertl as shining examples.
2.) Cameron Whitehead
Now, this could be interchangeable with Carl Lindbom. That's especially true if the Golden Knights decide to explore a long-term goaltender and seek veteran help. However, Lindbom has gotten his licks with the Golden Knights and looks like he's ready to take on a long-term role himself.
That's why I'm picking Whitehead as the more viable option here. The Northeastern alum was outstanding with the Tahoe Knight Monsters this past season, posting a save percentage of .921 and two shutouts. His height and tracking process makes him a good target for any team seeking fresh netminding.
3.) Matyas Sapovaliv
Originally, I had Mathieu Cataford in this spot. However, I don't think teams are going to bank on a prospect who scored three goals and 10 assists in 59 games with the Henderson Silver Knights in 2025-26. At least, that's when you compare him to other viable prospects.
While I'm not sold on Sapovaliv being traded (not yet, at least), the Czech prospect could be a viable lower-line winger. He also had a good season with Henderson, posting 18 goals and 17 assists in 72 games. That certainly looks better than three goals and 10 assists, even if it was Cataford's first full foray in the AHL.
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