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 prospect in the system, but are they willing to part ways with the promising winger who was drafted 19th overall in 2024? Earlier this year, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic ranked the Golden Knights’ prospect pool 22nd in the league, which, to be honest, is generous (from ‘Vegas Golden Knights are No. 22 in 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings‘, The Athletic, 1/18/25).
Outside of Connelly, there are not a ton of high-profile prospects. But they have Mathieu Cataford, Carl Lindbom, and Matyas Sapovaliv. They will undoubtedly have teams interested in some of these players, but they won’t be getting an Eichel-level player in return.
McCrimmon has some options in his war chest of draft picks, but not a lot. The team has no first-round picks until 2027 but eight second—and third-round picks combined until 2028. The Golden Knights could make something work with what they have available. Having three third-round picks in the 2025 Draft helps, and their second-round picks could also attract some draft capital-hungry teams.
Players That McCrimmon Could Target Come Trade Deadline
Rather than focusing only on who the Golden Knights would have to give up, who could they look to acquire? In the past, they’ve gone after size, and if they’re going to make a big splash, I’d expect a trade similar to the Barbashev acquisition. That brings to mind New York Islander Brock Nelson, who is in the final year of his contract.
Given that Vegas has under $1 million in cap space, they’d have to figure out how to make his $6 million contract work. Nelson has been solid this season with 17 goals and 35 points in 55 games, putting him on pace for 52 points. Of course, the Golden Knights have used long-term injury reserve (LTIR) to their advantage better than any other NHL team, so they might look to do something similar to afford Nelson.
Another player who could make sense is former Golden Knight Alex Tuch. He was part of the blockbuster Eichel trade and has been with the Sabres since then. Buffalo is struggling again this season, sitting in last place of the Atlantic Division at the 4 Nations Face-Off break. It’s been a rough kick at the can for the Sabres, so selling Tuch, who turns 29 in May, could make sense.
Finally, McCrimmon might consider Brayden Schenn, who would likely be the hardest to fit onto the roster because of his contract, but he’s still a player worth looking at. The asking price would be high for the Blues captain, who’s been floating around the rumor mill for the past few weeks. Schenn has 11 goals and 32 points in 56 games this season and could be a nice fit in Vegas, given his playoff experience and veteran presence.
McCrimmon Could Make Lots of Noise March 7
Given McCrimmon’s history, Golden Knights fans will want to circle the deadline date on their calendars. While it’s not a ton, they have some nice resources to make noise and get in on the flurry of trades that have already happened early in 2025. Since Vegas is in a good position now, they may not look to add much to an already highly-skilled roster, but, as we said, expect the unexpected.
