The Vegas Golden Knights have eight NHL-caliber defensemen on their roster, but they will need to find one to deploy the top six on a nightly basis.
Ben Hutton has been the team’s seventh defenseman the past two seasons and with the emergence of Kaedan Korczak and his recent contract extension, he will be a full-time NHL player without waivers. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has been given the difficult task of deploying the top six, but GM Kelly McCrimmon’s potential trades could change that.
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Rumors have surrounded Shea Theodore about a possible trade since acquiring Noah Hanifin. The rumors grew even more after Hanifin signed an eight-year contract extension with the Golden Knights. In an ideal world, the salary cap wouldn’t affect the Golden Knights and they could draft both, but with Theodore’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, many believe it’s wiser to move on before he leaves for free in agency. free.
Related: Can Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin Coexist With the Golden Knights?
Zach Whitecloud is also another name that has come up in trade talks that would allow Korczak to enter the NHL and replace a right-handed defenseman.
Without any trades, here’s how the Golden Knights could line up.
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
The Hague-Whitecloud
We saw how effective this back end could be in the first round against the Dallas Stars last season and with more time to gel, it could be the best in the NHL.
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If Theodore and Whitecloud are traded moving forward, this is how the Golden Knights would likely run their blue line.
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Korczak
The Hague-Hutton
They would lose star offensive power and would likely rely more on Hanifin and Pietrangelo, but moving Theodore and Whitecloud would allow them to acquire a top forward.
If the Golden Knights decide to stick with eight defensemen, the rein on each player will likely be short. If someone is struggling or underperforming, they will quickly be moved to a lower pairing or out of the lineup. This creates healthy competition and forces each player to do their best.
The Golden Knights have always been built around their defensive core and will rely on them now more than ever during the 2024-25 season.
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