Ladies and gentlemen, it's almost that time of year again. It's the time when fans speculate whether the Vegas Golden Knights will make a massive move at the trade deadline. Last season, it was about acquiring Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin, and Anthony Mantha, capitalizing on a talent-laden roster for another Stanley Cup.
Sadly, that wasn't the case as Pete DeBoer and the Dallas Stars had other plans. They defeated the Golden Knights in the first round in seven games, ending all hopes and dreams of a repeat. That pesky DeBoer and crew are back at it again, competing with Vegas for the NHL's top spot.
So what's a team to do when the competition ramps up? Do they rest on their laurels and go with the crew they have? That's not what the Golden Knights have done in past seasons. With names like Mark Stone and Hertl, the team has shaped into a bona fide contender. As they always say, never doubt Kelly McCrimmon at his job.
Speaking of which, let's look at some of the moves that shaped that Stanley Cup-contending roster. These players have turned the Golden Knights into one of the top teams of 2024-25. After all, McCrimmon and company don't just acquire players for short-term rentals. The Golden Knights make deals for players that fit the long-term (i.e. Stone and Ivan Barbashev).
Three players come to mind regarding such moves, specifically this season. You're not getting such pieces and trading numerous draft picks for one season of a guy. That's not what the Golden Knights are about, after all. Let's explore the trade deadline moves that constructed the current roster in Las Vegas.
The Vegas Golden Knights acquire Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators
Trying to build off the success of the inaugural season, the Vegas Golden Knights needed a big-name forward at the trade deadline. That player needed to be a two-way forward who scored timely goals and invoked emotion in his teammates. Enter Mark Stone.
Coming from Ottawa, Stone had 123 goals and 188 assists in seven seasons with the Senators. The Golden Knights were so impressed by the Winnipeg native that they ditched former first-round pick Erik Brannstrom to get him. Lo and behold, the deal has worked wonders for Vegas with Brannstrom placed on waivers this past week (he did clear, though).
Stone has 101 goals and 194 assists in seven seasons with the Golden Knights, making him one of the offensive cornerstones. This season, he has 12 goals and 27 assists in 30 games, picking up where he left off last season (16 goals and 37 assists in 2023-24).
The thing with the Captain is he's dangerous when healthy. He has a keen hockey IQ that allows him to set up plays alongside Jack Eichel, making the top line a dangerous threat. Hockey fans will say that Eichel himself was the most important trade in Golden Knights history. However, Stone has proven he's as valuable if he's on the ice.