The verdict
Originally, a trade involving Shea Theodore made sense considering the team's circumstances before free agency. They were looking to get a star forward and bolster their top line. Whether it was re-signing Jonathan Marchessault or signing Steven Stamkos, the Vegas Golden Knights needed to make room for that big name.
However, that time passed with neither of those names coming to Vegas. The Golden Knights lost a major piece to their power play unit, so why trade another piece to create cap space? Besides, Vegas has filled their roster, getting younger in the process. That includes players like Alexander Holtz, who have tremendous upside to their game.
Yes, the 28-year-old will be in the last year of his contract and should fetch a sizable deal next offseason. However, having Theodore around for another year can give the Golden Knights some bite in other aspects. Why not run it back and get the most out of one of the better blue-liners in the NHL?
Who knows? They might actually pull the trigger on getting Marner and bolstering their top line. However, Vegas is hurting for offensive production at any juncture. If the Golden Knights want to win the Stanley Cup this season, that might mean holding onto that $5.2 million cap hit until year's end... or even beyond.