Mere minutes remained during last season’s trade deadline, and all seemed quiet, especially for general manager (GM) Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights, who had recently traded for Noah Hanifin. McCrimmon then made a last-minute stunner by acquiring Tomas Hertl from the San Jose Sharks.
Fast-forward to this season and the Golden Knights sit in first place in the Pacific Division, tied with the Edmonton Oilers at 72 points. They’ve seen uprisings from Russian winger Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel, who is on pace for a career year, and many more, but there are always ways to improve.
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Given McCrimmon’s unpredictable nature, we could see another under-the-radar move before the deadline. He could stand pat, given the team’s standing, but if he’s taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.
McCrimmon’s Past Tells Us Moves Could Be on the Horizon
McCrimmon is a gunslinger, and his past moves show that. Since the 64-year-old was hired in May 2019, he has made 14 deals at or very close to the trade deadline. Of course, not all of them were splashes, but he swung for the fences on the ones that were, like trading for Hertl and Hanafin within 72 hours.
In 2023, the team acquired longtime St. Louis Blue Ivan Barbashev along with Teddy Blueger, and both helped lead the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. Then, in 2021 and 2022, McCrimmon moved to the backseat, not making any moves, but in 2020, he was active, trading for Robin Lehner, Alec Martinez, and Nick Cousins. Although not near the deadline, in November 2021, Vegas traded for Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres in a blockbuster deal.
McCrimmon has a strong track record on the trade market, and it makes sense: he wants to win and has an owner who trusts the process, even during growing pains. The process has made the Golden Knights a contender since their inaugural season. Expect McCrimmon to make a splash before the March 7 deadline because there are always holes to fill on a roster, even if they aren’t as apparent as others.
Which Players/Draft Picks Could Be on the Block?
This is where things get tricky; McCrimmon doesn’t have a lot to offer since past moves have depleted the farm system and draft stock. Trevor Connelly remains the top…
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