One blockbuster trade the Vegas Golden Knights should have made in 2024 offseason

Could a deal still happen? How would it affect Adin Hill?

There are some caveats to getting Linus Ullmark from the Ottawa Senators. One, he has a 15-team no-trade list, complicating matters. He would also be a one-year rental unless he got a contract extension, for he's in the last year of his current deal. That could be tough considering the Vegas Golden Knights have other priorities, including preparing for a potential Jack Eichel extension.

However, Ottawa hasn't fielded a playoff team since 2017, where they had guys such as... Mark Stone. There's a possibility that won't change with the Atlantic Division being tougher than last season. With the defending Stanley Cup champions, a Jake Guentzel-led Tampa Bay Lightning, and those same Bruins, getting a playoff spot will become impossible.

There's also Ullmark's current deal, which has a cap hit of $5 million. Kelly McCrimmon isn't afraid of having other teams retain salary, lessening the blow for the Golden Knights. As for Adin Hill? That would mean being relegated to the backup position. He was originally signed for that purpose entering the 2022-23 season. However, the move would give Vegas one of the best goaltending tandems in hockey, making them a Stanley Cup contender.

Will this move happen at the trade deadline? Only time will tell, although the Golden Knights will have other priorities to address. That could be a big name like Patrik Laine, who could catapult Vegas to new heights. However, the 2024 offseason was the best opportunity to address their underlying goaltending issues. That could haunt them during the regular season, even with Bruce Cassidy's system in place.