Matt Slocum / Associated Press File (2023)
New Jersey Devils’ Tyler Toffoli, pictured Nov. 30, 2023, in Philadelphia, is in the final year of a four-year contract at a $4.25 million cap hit. The Devils might be running out of time to recapture last year’s playoff magic, and if they’ve accepted that fact, Toffoli would be a quality, and affordable, addition to the Vegas forward group.
Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 2 a.m.
The NHL’s trade deadline might be the equivalent of Christmas morning for the Golden Knights.
Every year comes the opportunity to get that one special present under the tree. Some years have felt like getting that new video game console you’ve been wanting — like when Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev were brought to Vegas, once upon a time.
Then there are moments like the voided Evgenii Dadonov trade that result in one giant heap of coal.
Either way, the Golden Knights find a way to be at, or close to, the head of the table every year leading up to the trade deadline. That’s not any different this year with Vegas trying to defend its Stanley Cup title. The Golden Knights are in the market for at least one upgrade at forward, with a potential likelihood for a second, if the price is right.
“What I love about this organization is they’re in the now,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “They’re trying to win now without being reckless, and if they can help us, I believe they will.”
This year’s trade deadline has a different feel because the Golden Knights are in freefall mode. They’ve lost eight of their past 10 games and ended their five-game road trip Monday with a cannonlike dud in a 6-3 loss to the Eastern Conference basement-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Golden Knights earned just three of a possible 10 points on the trip and missed out on at least three that were within reach, if not for losing a shootout in Ottawa and failing to complete a three-goal comeback in Boston. As a result, they’ve dropped to the first wild card spot in the West and trail Los Angeles, Edmonton and Vancouver in the Pacific Division standings.
The Golden Knights are preparing to go through their final 20 games without captain Mark Stone, who is likely to miss the rest of the regular season with a lacerated spleen. Stone’s $9.5 million cap hit was moved to long-term injured reserve (LTIR)to pave the way for the return of center Jack Eichel on Monday after he spent about six weeks out of the lineup with a lower-body injury.
“With some of our injuries, yeah, we could use a little bit of help,” Cassidy said. “I’m sure we’re going to get some of those guys back. I just don’t know what the timeline is.”
Eichel’s return will help, but the Golden Knights are dealing with more problems than just an injury-riddled roster. Despite having all six defensemen from last year’s Cup run and both goaltenders finally healthy, they’ve given up at least three goals or more in the eight losses. Meanwhile, offensively, Vegas is averaging 3.2 goals per game. That’s a number that should win more than two games.
“We’re not looking ahead,” defenseman Shea Theodore said after the 6-2 win in Toronto on Feb. 27. “We’re focusing on the guys in the room. Whoever’s in that lineup has to come in and do the job. That’s up to management.”
All of those factors could lead to a shakeup, or two, prior to the deadline at noon Friday.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon is off to a fast start.
The Golden Knights made their first addition Tuesday by sending second- and fourth-round picks to the Washington Capitals for Anthony Mantha. Vegas hopes the 6-foot-5 power forward, who has 20 goals this season, can assist with his toughness and physicality along the boards.
And Wednesday they acquired Noah Hanifin from Calgary. The trade sends defenseman Daniil Miromanov to Calgary along with a first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick and gives the Golden Knights’ fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Stone going on LTIR gives the Golden Knights approximately $4.4 million in cap relief to work with, according to CapFriendly, the online hockey website that maintains a salary cap database, after Washington retained 50% of Mantha’s $5.7 million cap hit.
Here is a look at players the Golden Knights could target before Friday.
Jake Guentzel — F, Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel prepares for a face-off during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Pittsburgh, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Vegas is hardly the only potential buyer for Guentzel, but he could bring instant help if the Golden Knights can swing a deal for him.
The top trade target on the market, Guentzel would bring immediate goal scoring to any team in need of offense.
The Golden Knights might not be that team, but they’ve never been shy about making a splash. Guentzel has 52 points in 50 games for a Penguins team that has underperformed and is in danger of missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Guentzel, a two-time 40-goal scorer, is in the final year of a four-year deal with a cap hit of $6 million, so the Golden Knights would have to make a couple of other corresponding moves — putting William Carrier (upper body) on LTIR, for one — to fit the salary cap. The Golden Knights have been linked as one of the favorites in the running for Guentzel, but after setting the tone with the Mantha trade, transactions may come in waves forcing Vegas to pivot.
Tyler Toffoli — F, New Jersey Devils
The Devils are in a weird spot. They just fired coach Lindy Ruff during a disappointing season, but are reportedly still trying to improve their team by adding a quality goaltender. New Jersey, however, is eight points out of a playoff spot with 20 games remaining.
But if the Devils are ready to sell and give up on this season, their most appealing trade chip is the 31-year-old Toffoli in the final year of his four-year contract at a $4.25 million cap hit.
Toffoli scored a career-high 34 goals last season in Calgary and was traded to New Jersey last summer, where he has 26 goals this year. The Devils might be running out of time to recapture last year’s playoff magic, and if they’ve accepted that, Toffoli would be a quality, and affordable, addition to the Vegas forward group.
Pavel Buchnevich — F, St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich, left, celebrates with defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) and center Brayden Schenn (10) after scoring in overtime against the Seattle Kraken Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in Seattle.
Perhaps one of the most underrated players in the league is reportedly on the market with the Blues on the outside looking in at a playoff spot.
Buchnevich scored 76 points in 2022 with the Blues, then followed with 67 points in 63 games last season. With 48 points in 59 games, Buchnevich is on pace to hit the 60-point mark once again.
Though the Blues and Golden Knights did business last year in the deal for Barbashev — the Knights sent prospect center Zach Dean to St. Louis — it would take more to work together a second time for Buchnevich. He has one more year on his current deal after this season. For the level of player he is, parting with Buchnevich would require a much bigger haul.
While not impossible, should the Golden Knights want to go all-in for this, it would take more than they might be willing to part with.
Frank Vatrano — F, Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano, right, clears the puck past Buffalo Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton during the first period Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif.
The Ducks are another team in selling mode with another year at the bottom of the standings. They might be able to capitalize on positive value should they want to part with Vatrano.
Turning 30 years old on March 14, Vatrano is one goal from his first career 30-goal season while on a $3.65 million cap hit. He has one more year left on his deal after this season after signing with Anaheim two summers ago.
Vatrano is the perfect fit for what the Golden Knights need in the interim. He plays a strong brand along the boards and has strong hands to keep hold of the puck in the offensive zone. Vatrano also does most of his work in front of the net, an area where the Golden Knights have lacked at both ends of the ice.
Working with a division rival may require slightly more compensation, but it’s an avenue Vegas could explore at the right price.
