Do you like chicken wings, dear reader? Well, I like chicken wings myself. In fact, almost every hockey fan loves munching on wings (not of the Detroit variety) during an NHL game. It doesn't matter if you're watching the Vegas Golden Knights play or J.T. Miller and Alex Tuch score. The juiciness and flavor of a wing is simply...
Fans also love trade gossip and rumors, especially if it involves an excellent piece. For some teams, that one piece could be the difference between golfing in May and hoisting the Stanley Cup in June. Who wouldn't want a player who scored 100+ points the season prior? Add some hot sauce to that order because it's getting spicy here!
Let's combine the two loves and make this into a whole-hearted meal for everyone! Would you like french fries like you're at Buffalo Wild Wings, Golden Knights fans? Perhaps you want some ranch to go with Ivan Provorov? Maybe you want a "Granny Smith Apple Soda" to go with... Reilly Smith?
So here's how it works. Each trade target is given a wing flavor based on:
- Their skill level
- How plausible the trade is
- How they fit into the Golden Knights lineup
These factors will determine the players that could fit in best for the Golden Knights. So grab your wipes, glasses of soda, and napkins because it's time to dine! We're going to enjoy a gameday cuisine and see which trade deadline options fit best for the Golden Knights.
Plain: Yanni Gourde
There are some benefits to acquiring Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken. For one, he's a nice penalty killer who disrupts plays. Kelly McCrimmon and company have looked into the feasibility of adding the forward to the lower lines. He has a cap hit of $5.17 million, meaning plenty of retention must be done.
But is it worth it considering he's 33 and 5'9"? McCrimmon already balked at having an undersized undrafted player past 30 on his roster for the long run last summer. Sure, Gourde is a free agent after this season. However, rumors are circulating that the center could also fetch a first-round pick for Seattle. This looks like a lose-lose deal if Gourde's is acquired as a rental.
Lemon pepper: Brandon Tanev
Like his Seattle Kraken teammate, Yanni Gourde, Brandon Tanev is on the market. The winger has a modest $3.5 million cap hit and has eight goals this season. He'd be an excellent addition on the lower lines, specifically with how fast he is.
However, he's a free agent after this season and is 33 years old. Like Gourde, there's not much substance to giving up a draft pick or two if Tanev isn't around after 2024-25. McCrimmon tends to be reluctant towards making such moves if they don't fit into the Golden Knights's long-term plans. Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin come to mind regarding this stipulation.