How many first-round NHL Draft picks have the Vegas Golden Knights traded?

A previous article covered the number of overall draft picks by the Vegas Golden Knights. It spanned seven rounds throughout the years, with names such as Nicolas Hague and Paul Cotter coming up. These players served a greater purpose, providing benefits such as hard hits and blocked shots. However, there's one running gag that's never let go.

That would be trading first-round picks from the NHL Draft, where Vegas has acquired better players. That includes Ivan Barbashev, who's helped them win the Stanley Cup. Ironically, another post highlighted the highest pick in Golden Knights history. He happened to also be expendable, going to the Nashville Predators in 2021.

It's worth exploring the trend taken by the team in recent years. It's been the de facto strategy for getting stars like Barbashev and Jack Eichel. Along the way, it's cracked open their Stanley Cup window, making them one of the more complete teams in the NHL. It's safe to say it's worked out well for Vegas.

So how many times has this happened in franchise history? How many former first-round NHL Draft picks have been shipped out for better superstars? You'd be surprised at how often this has happened with the Vegas Golden Knights. It makes one wonder if they'll trade the 19th overall pick at some point.

The Vegas Golden Knights have traded first-round picks from the NHL Draft six times

Of the seven NHL Draft prospects selected in the first round, six have been traded. The exception to this rule has been Brendan Brisson, who was the 29th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He managed to stick around and produce good numbers for the Henderson Silver Knights in 2023-24 (19 goals, 19 assists). Names like Nick Suzuki have gone out the door, making way for big-name players.

The Vegas Golden Knights won't have a first-round pick next year or the year after. With the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks acquiring a first-round draft pick from next year's draft, it leaves the cupboard bare. Therefore, Vegas must get creative in the offseason and figure out how they'll attack various weaknesses.

Until the Golden Knights suddenly fall out of contention, this trope will remain a part of their history. But that's not always a bad thing, for there have been players who were traded for better pieces (i.e. Mark Stone). Of course, others like Nick Suzuki have done better things. However, it'll be something to watch as the team continues its quest for its second Stanley Cup.