3 past Vegas Golden Knights deals that led to postseason success

1.) The Golden Knights get their future captain in Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators

Perhaps there wasn't a bigger move (although the Eichel move is close) in the history of the Golden Knights than acquiring Mark Stone. After acquiring the future captain, he signed an eight-year, $76 million extension to stay in Vegas. The move turned him into a vital player for the organization, making him the team's heart and soul.

The purpose of this trade was acquiring a two-way forward who could get dirty when needed. There was a need for a better forecheck, where players could play the entire 200 feet of the ice. Stone fit that description perfectly, amassing 335 takeaways during his six years with the Golden Knights. On top of that, he's gotten serious consideration for the Selke Trophy, finishing as high as second in 2018-19.

Overall, he's scored 89 goals and 167 assists during his Vegas tenure, making him into a vital team piece. Stone scored 32 goals, 32 assists, and had a plus/minus of +6 in 75 games with the franchise, making him a reliable postseason player. That included a solid 2022-23 campaign, where he scored 11 goals and 13 assists. As for Brannstrom? Well, the former first-round draft pick is in Colorado where he's hoping to revive his career and get... higher.