The Vegas Golden Knights haven't seen much success with Rasmus Andersson since he came over from the Calgary Flames. They traded an overall good guy in Zach Whitecloud for someone producing just four assists during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Four!
That won't get the job done in the playoffs, even when you have Carter Hart in the net. It's a full team effort to bring the Stanley Cup home, where you need guys like Tomas Hertl and Shea Theodore to step up. That's why the Vegas Golden Knights should do more business with the Flames and get a proven two-way winger.
I know, it sounds crazy, doesn't it?
But the Flames are having a fire sale and one of those names that keeps popping up is Blake Coleman. The Flames forward scored 20 goals and 15 assists this past season. That included three goals and two assists in April, making him one of the more clutch players on the Flames.
Believe it or not, there's room for a two-way player that could slot in well on the Golden Knights. But what would it cost McCrimmon to get him on board? Could the Golden Knights be looking at yet another veteran piece to bolster the lower forward units?
Where Blake Coleman's contract stands with the Calgary Flames
Next season will be the last year of Coleman's current contract. He's owed $4.9 million, which should work to Vegas's advantage, should they not retain either Pavel Dorofeyev or Andersson. However, there's a catch.
He has a 10-team no-trade clause that limits his options. While Calgary is looking to clean up the house a bit, it might add a bump in the road if Kelly McCrimmon decides to take a flyer. My, how that's a bit of a damper, eh?
Still, McCrimmon loves having veteran players on the Golden Knights. That's especially true with Vegas needing some key veteran forwards in the mix. What better way to do that than by adding a two-time Stanley Cup champion with 12 goals and 19 assists in four postseason appearances?
Why the Golden Knights should—and shouldn't—go after Coleman
First, the Golden Knights are going to lose plenty of key pieces on their penalty kill in the offseason. That includes Colton Sissons and Reilly Smith, both of whom are unrestricted free agents. If there was ever a person to step up on the penalty kill, it's Coleman and his four short-handed goals.
However, there's a caveat with this. Coleman is 34 years old, which adds another aging body to the roster. Eventually, the bill comes due and you'll need better, cheaper alternatives to fill the voids. Think of Braeden Bowman and Trevor Connelly as such alternatives to aging players.
Still, it could be worth inquiring about the two-time Stanley Cup champion and seeing what the price is. After all, the Golden Knights are constantly looking to improve the roster in certain spots. What better way to do that than by taking a flyer on a proven winner?
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