3 free agents the Vegas Golden Knights can steal from their Pacific Division rivals
Free agency can be a crapshoot for many teams (get it? Because Las Vegas). Some teams are looking for new fits to come and fill in positional voids left by other players. Others are depth pieces that bolster the position outright, making the team much more potent. Of course, this isn't just related to hockey and the Vegas Golden Knights. This is a universal fact that spans every sector within sports. Whether it's football or baseball, teams want that one sweet impact piece that can get them a shiny championship.
With the offseason coming right after the Stanley Cup playoffs, there are the usual bits of speculation about who goes where. How does this piece fit in? Where can fans see this player play in this position? It's a mind-boggling practice filled with guesses that take fans on a wild fantasy trip. Vegas is no different, with numerous question marks to fill up. The endless array of predictions and guesswork makes the art even more intriguing.
So why not look inward to their division for some answers? There are plenty of free agents that can help the cause for the Golden Knights next season. Some of these players can even be acquired cheaply, which is excellent news for the salary cap-restricted team. Granted, there won't be Connor McDavid or Quinn Hughes on the board. But solid contributors await in free agency.
So who would be the ideal free agents for Vegas to acquire? What would the reasoning be for said pick-ups? Raiding the division for the best available players sounds like the perfect way to exact your revenge, especially after coming short this season. Here's a look at the three pending free agents the Golden Knights should poach from within their division.
Elias Lindholm, C, Vancouver Canucks
Elias Lindholm had a down year from his 2022-23 campaign this season, scoring 15 goals and 29 assists. The Swedish star was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks during the season, giving life to Vancouver's forward position. Now, his team is on the cusp of the Western Conference Finals, where Pete DeBoer and the Dallas Stars await.
But let's examine why Lindholm would be a nice piece from free agency for the Vegas Golden Knights. For one, he's a versatile forward that can play on any line. His flexibility would allow Bruce Cassidy the ability to make the necessary adjustments, giving Vegas a good advantage. The center is also a face-off merchant, winning off the draw 53.5% during his career.
One bonus of acquiring the Swedish star is he stays relatively healthy, playing 818 games during his 10 seasons in the NHL. Plus, having good special teams acumen makes him a nice fit for Bruce Cassidy, where he can be deployed in any situation. Add incredible defensive skills that make him a regular candidate for the Selke Trophy and... Boom! You have a good free agency target that could serve as a fallback plan should the original plans go awry.