Trader Talk: What Do the Vegas Golden Knights Do At The Trade Deadline?
Posted on: March 4, 2026, 12:23h.
Last updated on: March 4, 2026, 12:25h.
- NHL Trade Deadline set for Friday 3 p.m. EST
- Vegas Golden Knights, losers of three straight, are in Detroit tonight to play the Red Wings
- Golden Knights currently sit 4th in the Western Conference, just six points ahead of 9th place San Jose
With the NHL Trade Deadline this Friday at 3 p.m. EST, one could say the Vegas Golden Knights already made their big move in January, bringing in defenceman Rasmus Andersson in a trade with the Calgary Flames.
Andersson Trade in January
Zach Whitecloud, two draft picks, and a prospect were sent to the Flames. The impact, though, hasn’t been there.
The Golden Knights have been middling, at best, currently sitting fourth in the Western Conference (first in the Pacific Division), 28-19-14, for 70 points (21 points behind the Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche). They’re butting against the salary cap – around $3.7 million in cap space leading up to Friday.
What’s worrying for the Golden Knights is how close the teams chasing them are. The eighth-place Seattle Kraken sit just three points behind, and the ninth-place San Jose Sharks are just six points behind (the top eight teams in the conference make the playoffs).
Middling Play of Late
The Golden Knights have dropped three in a row, after losing 3-2 to the Buffalo Sabres last night. Next up is a game in Detroit tonight against the Red Wings.
So, what do the Vegas Golden Knights do at the trade deadline? Goaltending is an area in need of improvement.
The team is 17th in the NHL in goals against, at 3.08. Akira Schmid has a save percentage of .895 over 31 games. Carter Hart has an .871 save percentage in 11 games. Adin Hill has an .858 save percentage over 12 games. Carl Lindbom has an .873 save percentage in eight games. Improving goaltending has to be the priority, heading into the final stretch to the playoffs.
What Are the Sportsbooks Saying?
The Blues are reportedly shopping Jordan Binnington, who backstopped Team Canada at the Olympics. You have to wonder what the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing, in sell mode now, looking to re-stock prospects and draft picks, with two NHL playoff-tested goalies in the fold – Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.
Caesars Sportsbook currently has Vegas at +1000 to win the Stanley Cup, behind the Colorado Avalanche at +350, Tampa Bay Lightning at +450, Carolina Hurricanes at +500 and the Edmonton Oilers at +900.
Betting volume has decreased on the Knights from the beginning of the season, when we saw much more action on them, particularly relative to the Avalanche, Wild, and Sabres in that same timeframe,” said Karry Shreeve, Head of Hockey at Caesars Sportsbook.
“Despite the Knights’ very average play and results, we still currently have them at 10/1 simply because of their division spot. It will roughly stay in that neighborhood so long as they remain average and in a top spot in the Pacific Division. Any deadline moves wouldn’t really budge the number too much. March will be a very telling month as I’d expect the Pacific Division to finally spread out a bit and provide some clarity on what a Stanley Cup path could look like.”
Past Three Trade Deadlines
In 2023, on trade deadline day, the Golden Knights grabbed Ivan Barbashev in a deal with the St. Louis Blues, plus goalie Jonathan Quick from the L.A. Kings, and hard-nosed defensemen Teddy Blueger from the Pittsburgh Penguins. They won the Stanley Cup that year.
In 2024 the Golden Knights went big, snagging defensemen Noah Hanifin from the Flames, forwards Tomas Hertl from San Jose and Anthony Mantha from the Washington Capitals.
Last year was quieter, bringing back forward Reilly Smith from the New York Rangers.
Whenever big names are bandied about, though, the Vegas Golden Knights always seem to find a way, and are part of the discussions.
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