Summer Blockbuster Caps Off Golden Knights Offseason
Sept 15, 2022 22:14:08 GMT -5
Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and 4 more like this
Post by Vegas Golden Knights on Sept 15, 2022 22:14:08 GMT -5
The Golden Knights expected to be quiet this summer, as they were restricted by their limited cap space and had planned to move forward with primarily the same roster. A successful draft weekend that was recapped previously kickstarted Vegas' surprisingly busy off-season where they most notably acquired Erik Johnson from Vancouver. The team was hungry for more defense and were actively bargain hunting when free agency bidding opened. After being snake bitten with under two minutes to spare on their Alec Martinez bid by Minnesota, they shifted their sights to Marco Scandella, who signed a 3 year x 1 million deal. The Golden Knights also added veterans Patric Hornqvist (3 year x 1.2 million), Derek Ryan (2 year x 1 million), Kurtis MacDermid (2 year x 0.95 million) and Paul Byron (2 year x 0.90 million) to improve the team's depth.
UFA Marco Scandella signed a 3 year x 1 million deal with Vegas during free agent frenzy
The Golden Knights then reconnected with the Canucks on a minor trade to bring in Morgan Geekie who is expected to slot in on the team's fourth line and comes with another two seasons of team control. Vegas hopes Geekie can bring his game to another gear but are happy to introduce the 6'-3" forward to their lineup on a very team friendly deal.
Vegas acquired Morgan Geekie (shown above) and Nikita Grebyonkin from Vancouver for Samuel Errson, Brett Harrison, Semyon Der Arguchinstev & WPG 2023 3rd
Vegas capped off their summer with a blockbuster, acquiring Bo Horvat from Pittsburgh. The acquisition price for Horvat was high, as expected, but with a flush prospect system and without the inclusion of any of their top prospects, the Golden Knights were comfortable with the cost to ensure they acquired a player they highly coveted. They have now solidified a formidable 1-2 punch down the middle with Tavares and Horvat.
Vegas acquired Bo Horvat (shown above) from Pittsburgh for Jonathan Marchesault, Jacob Perrault, Cody Glass, VEG 2024 1st and VEG 2025 2nd
The deal doesn't come without risks though. This trade doesn't happen without the introduction of the new UFA rule limiting teams to only two UFA extensions per year. The rule pinched Pittsburgh into moving Horvat but the same rule will now pose problems for Vegas with Horvat, Stone and Kuznetsov all pending UFAs. Vegas will have tough decisions moving forward but head into the season with one of the league's most dangerous top six forward groups.
An added benefit of the Horvat deal is the cap space that opened up to allow Vegas to re-sign RFA Michael Bunting to a 2 year x 4 million deal, the final RFA the Golden Knights had after finalizing a deal with Noah Hanifin (4 years x 5.5 million) earlier in the off-season.
Vegas re-signed RFA Michael Bunting to a 2 year x 4 million deal following the Horvat trade
With an improved roster & a depleted draft pick pool, it's safe to say Vegas is clearly in win-now mode. While the top prospects continue to develop, here is how the Golden Knights 2022-2023 roster shapes up. The team is squeaking in under the 82.5 million salary cap during the final year of salary retention on Artemi Panarin (7.95 million retained), the first trade GM Rowsell completed upon taking the reins for Vegas two years ago. Fun fact - Sam Reinhart is the only player left on the NHL roster that was inherited from the previous GM.
Evgeny Kuznetsov - John Tavares - Sam Reinhart
Vladamir Tarasenko - Bo Horvat - Mark Stone
Michael Bunting - David Kampf - Patric Hornqvist
Loui Eriksson - Derek Ryan - Morgan Geekie
Erik Johnson - Noah Hanifin
Josh Manson - Jake Muzzin
Marco Scandella - Mason Geertson
Andrei Vasilevsky
Anthony Stolartz
Notable Prospects: Marco Rossi, Yaroslov Askarov, Peyton Krebs, Philip Tomasino, Jake Neighbours, Fabian Lysell, Liam Ohgren
Vladamir Tarasenko - Bo Horvat - Mark Stone
Michael Bunting - David Kampf - Patric Hornqvist
Loui Eriksson - Derek Ryan - Morgan Geekie
Erik Johnson - Noah Hanifin
Josh Manson - Jake Muzzin
Marco Scandella - Mason Geertson
Andrei Vasilevsky
Anthony Stolartz
Notable Prospects: Marco Rossi, Yaroslov Askarov, Peyton Krebs, Philip Tomasino, Jake Neighbours, Fabian Lysell, Liam Ohgren
