Many Vegas Golden Knights fans (or writers) want to talk about the current cap space situation. It's a touchy subject where most Golden Knights won't return next season. Sadly, it's the reality dealt to hockey fans in the current salary cap era in the NHL. Long gone are the days where owners like Mike Ilitch would load up on superstars to win Stanley Cups.
Now, hockey fans live in the new age where teams must abide by a sound salary cap. No more spending money like there's unlimited credit on the card. Everyone's on a level playing field, trying to balance everything out. For the Golden Knights, it's become a chore. Figuring out who stays and who goes isn't an easy task, you know.
So what's the Golden Knights's cap space situation currently? How much wiggle room does the team have for this upcoming offseason? The number might surprise a few people... or not. After the new contracts were added to the team, the number drastically changed.
The projected cap space for the Vegas Golden Knights
Currently, the Vegas Golden Knights sit at $897,516 in salary cap space, leaving minimal wiggle room for the Golden Knights. Of course, there will be departing free agents that should free up room, along with the bump in the salary cap. However, it seems like Vegas must make a trade or two to free up space.
Whether that's through some trades or not retaining specific players, Kelly McCrimmon has many questions in front of him. That will mean making tough decisions with the team and cutting loose specific players to make room. Yet, the Golden Knights are no strangers to making tough choices with the roster. They did this with Marc-Andre Fleury a few years prior and with Reilly Smith last season. Expect more of the same with Vegas during the summer, for their priorities are creating space for free agency.
Of course, this comes with adding Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin (and extending him) during the trade deadline. With these moves, McCrimmon has made it clear the Golden Knights's window to win is now. That means no shortcuts or looking back. However, this will come at the expense of a few key players.
That might include Shea Theodore, who's making $5.2 million next season (the last year of his current deal). That might also mean Brayden McNabb is gone, with his $2.85 million for next season off the books. That might mean players like Chandler Stephenson don't get re-signed. Whatever the case, this summer will provide Golden Knights fans with a roller coaster ride filled with emotions.