Trade deadline season is upon us, which means the rumors will fly in like cicadas in the summer. All sorts of names will fly around various teams, with endless speculation floating until March. Some names are expected while others come out of nowhere (i.e. Tomas Hertl last season).
This year is no different with Mikko Rantanen being dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes. What's funny is he's on the trading block... again. That's right, dear reader. What's more, the Vegas Golden Knights have been linked to the superstar winger. What better way to cause 31 other fanbases to have a mental breakdown than to acquire the Finnish forward?
But there are other names that come to mind, such as Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks. These options could be the low-cost move that Kelly McCrimmon has searched for, giving him the top-nine forward he needs. If the general manager wants to stay in the safe lane, this move could be a low-cost move that pays dividends.
Be warned, though. Not all trade targets are made equal. Some carry some baggage with them while other cost too much (such as Elias Pettersson). That's why the following two players won't make much sense to obtain. It wouldn't help the team win their second Stanley Cup, especially with the Edmonton Oilers entrenched in a Pacific Division battle.
Trevor Zegras must be avoided at all costs
First is Anaheim Ducks forward, Trevor Zegras. There was so much potential and hype for the 23-year-old entering the NHL.
"Oh, he can do the Michigan! Look at those handles!"
Being able to do a tremendous move in the NHL can only get you so far. First, he deals with a wave of injuries that hamper his time and abilities on the ice. Then, he's suspended three games for a high hit on Michael Rasmussen of the Detroit Red Wings.
On top of that, the former first-round pick has been severely underwhelming this season. He has seven goals and nine assists, a disappointing mark for a supposed franchise player. Some will say he's a nice reclamation project to tackle. But what good does it do when he's not on the ice much?
The Vegas Golden Knights should also try to avoid Brock Nelson
It's not a knock against Brock Nelson. Unlike Trevor Zegras, the New York Islanders center is having a productive season. He has 17 goals and 20 assists entering Wednesday. However, there are some caveats with picking him up in a trade.
First, he carries a $6 million cap hit, which is difficult unless there's retention involved. The tenured Islander is also seeing his numbers decline from the last three seasons, where he scored 30+ goals. This isn't the same Brock Nelson fans will be getting in Las Vegas, which raises some concerns.
Besides, the Golden Knights already have a player older than 30 brought in. His name's Brandon Saad and he's playing in a reduced role compared to prior iterations of his career. Sure, getting more goal-scoring is fine. But it must be in a limited role and cheap price similar to what Saad is doing.