Shea Theodore has had an interesting offseason filled with trade rumors and potentially leaving. He's been linked in countless scenarios involving Mitch Marner and other prominent names. The defenseman has maintained peace during such tumultuous times, with the Vegas Golden Knights exploring their options. But there are some reasons why that's the case.
First, he's in the last season of his current contract. The Canadian hockey star carries a cap hit of $5.2 million, which would create some salary cap space for the Golden Knights. He's also expected to fetch a sizable deal, with an AAV estimated at around $8 million next offseason. It's enough to make fans consider sending the "Golden Misfit" elsewhere, specifically with the cap crunch.
Currently, Vegas sits at roughly $2.6 million in cap space (LTIR included), which would give them some relief heading into the season. However, Kelly McCrimmon hasn't shied away from making cost-cutting moves, with moves such as Reilly Smith and Marc-Andre Fleury being shining examples. Therefore, it would make sense for the Golden Knights to move Theodore's contract and earn some draft picks.
At least, it sounds good on the surface. There are plenty of reasons why Vegas should hold onto their premier defenseman for another season. For one, he makes the power play much better. He runs the offense on the man advantage, staying ahead of his opponents. That led to 74 career power play assists with the Golden Knights, a franchise record.
But what other aspects make Theodore a lucrative asset to Vegas's plans? What about the other end of the spectrum, where the Golden Knights can send him elsewhere? It's time to settle the debate once and for all and determine why the star defenseman should stay or go.
The case for the Vegas Golden Knights trading Shea Theodore
Shipping that $5.2 million cap hit elsewhere looks more plausible when a team has a surplus of blue-liners. That's the case with the Golden Knights, who employ seven defensemen on their current roster. All seven can be regular starters minimum for Vegas, possessing strong forechecking skills.
That includes players like Brayden McNabb and Nic Hague, who've made a living off blocking shots and playing physical. Some players mix both elements into their game (i.e. Hague, who had 111 blocked shots and 153 hits last season). Still, there's little to no room for seven defensemen when there are six starting slots.
Having young prospects waiting in the wings makes things much more complicated. Kaeden Korczak should get some ice-time with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. There's also the possibility Lukas Cormier gets those same opportunities. Whatever the case, the blue-liner room is crowded and the youth movement makes moving Shea Theodore's contract much more plausible.