Sometimes, it's best to sit back and take it easy. Life can be too stressful to sacrifice your future, where you take a minute of satisfaction for prolonged suffering. Sadly, that's what life has become: short-term satisfaction is prioritized over the future. Wow, did I just become philosophical? Jack Eichel and Mark Stone are certainly impressed.
Anyway, that was the mindset Kelly McCrimmon had as he signed Brandon Saad to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Friday. The former St. Louis Blues forward terminated his contract with his former team, placed on unconditional waivers. Saad has seven goals and nine assists in 2024-2025, a far cry from his glory days. Remember, the former Chicago Blackhawks winger used to score 20 goals in a season easily (i.e. 2023-24, where he scored 26).
But some good consequences come with signing the forward to a "prove-it" deal. For one, Kelly McCrimmon doesn't have to send over prospects or draft picks in a big trade. Sure, trading for Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller would've been cool. However, it would've come at a massive price that he couldn't afford. So why not take the safe route and get a player that just hit the open market? Again, thinking about the future here.
It also shuts out a division rival from building their winger depth, helping the Golden Knights in the process. The Edmonton Oilers will watch their bitter enemy sign a guy and play mind games with them, leaving them searching for forward depth. There's also one unintended consequence that will help retain a certain superstar in Vegas for years to come.
Why the Brandon Saad deal helps Jack Eichel get a new deal with the Vegas Golden Knights
You might not think about it too much. But Brandon Saad signing with the Vegas Golden Knights has an unexpected consequence. It starts with shoring up the roster (on paper) and giving Bruce Cassidy a full lineup once William Karlsson returns. With Alexander Holtz falling out of favor with his head coach by playing badly, it created the necessary opening.
But it also prevents a big-name contract from being put on the books for the long term. Sure, the NHL salary cap is expected to jump to $113.5 million by 2027-28. However, being locked in an $11.6 million cap hit can hinder a team, even with half the salary retained. It prevents you from making other moves, whether it's bolstering the goaltender position or extending players such as Pavel Dorofeyev and Nicolas Hague.
Teams like the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres might be enticed to acquire players like J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. However, it'll hurt them in the long run, where they're saddled with a contract until 2030 or 2032. On top of that, that player would've been 33 years old, which isn't a bad age. But as fans learned from the Jonathan Marchessault saga, it takes the right player to commit to a Stanley Cup run. In this case, it's Jack Eichel. Getting Brandon Saad cuts out these problems and focuses on the main goal: Extending your superstar.
The stars are aligning for the extension to happen
While the focus is going to be on winning another Stanley Cup, next season will turn towards Eichel and getting a deal done. The 28-year-old will be in the last season of his current contract in 2025-26. Therefore, the urgency to get a deal done for the face of the franchise will be heightened, especially with the team competing for another Stanley Cup.
However, Brandon Saad's deal alleviates matters by offering a better alternative. No long contracts that'll eat up the salary cap. No sacrificing a position to become a glass cannon. No trading prospects or draft picks to other teams. Just a player fitting a need on a prove-it deal.
The best part? Kelly McCrimmon is in a win-win situation with the 32-year-old. If Saad works out, the Golden Knights should make a deep Stanley Cup playoff run. If it doesn't, they can just cut ties with him. But most of all, they don't have to mortgage their future by sacrificing their main superstar. It's a one-year, "prove it" deal that the organization won't think about in 2025-26. Gotta think about the future, you know?