Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Golden Knights’ Top 5 Trade Deadline Targets
Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

It practically seems like an inevitability at this time of year, but the Vegas Golden Knights have once again managed to emerge as a central player ahead of the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline . With a clear need at forward on account of the prolonged absences of Jack Eichel and Mark Stone (and William Carrier, Brett Howden, and Pavel Dorofeyev, to a lesser extent), the Golden Knights seem to be in the middle of everything, as they so often are heading into the deadline.

With a Stanley Cup title defense forthcoming and potential trade target battles emerging with division rivals, let’s make sense of some of the rumors and take a closer look at some of the forwards who could be in the crosshairs of the Golden Knights:

Jake Guentzel, PIT

It’s the Golden Knights we’re talking about here, so of course, we’ll start with the biggest name on the trade market. Jake Guentzel’s 22 goals in 50 games before suffering his recent upper-body injury actually represents something of a down year for him after potting 76 goals over the previous two seasons. Nevertheless, the offensively gifted 29-year-old is averaging more than a point per game and looks like the best player who could be moved in the coming days, especially since he should be back on the ice soon.

Why Vegas would want him is obvious. With Eichel progressing slowly and Stone questionable for even a postseason return, the club could use Guentzel’s top-of-the-lineup talent. And if both men are healthy and productive come playoff time, well, an embarrassment of riches isn’t exactly a bad thing.

Of course, a front-line player who still hasn’t hit 30 isn’t going to come cheap. Recent reports have suggested that the Pittsburgh Penguins are asking for a first-round pick, a top prospect, and an NHL player as the starting point in trade talks for the Omaha, Nebraska native. From a Vegas standpoint, that could mean something along the lines of this year’s first, Brendan Brisson, and a player like Paul Cotter, Nicolas Hague, or Dorofeyev – a rather steep cost for a rental. Furthermore, Guentzel is still working his way back from his own upper-body injury. And yes, there will be plenty of competition for his services.

Pavel Buchnevich

Vegas general manager (GM) Kelly McCrimmon and St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong, both hockey lifers in their own right, got to work a year ago in making the Ivan Barbashev deadline deal. The Golden Knights were so happy to land one-third of their dominant top playoff line that they re-signed Barbashev for five more years this past off-season. Could another deal involving a 28-year-old Blues forward from Russia be in the works?

Buchnevich already has 24 goals and 48 points this season, significantly better numbers than the 10 goals and 29 points that Barbashev held prior to last year’s trade. Like Guentzel, he would immediately slot into a top-six role. Also, like Guentzel, however, he could prove to be a costly addition. Because the Blues may well look to play a rival organization (such as the Edmonton Oilers) against Vegas in trade negotiations, the return cost on Buchnevich may be more than Vegas wants to spend.

Jordan Eberle

Quickly approaching the 1,000-game mark for his career, postseason success has largely eluded Jordan Eberle thus far. Sure, the 33-year-old has played in 76 career playoff games and even went to the Eastern Conference Final as a member of the 2019-20 New York Islanders, but the 33-year-old is now in his 14th season without a Cup Final appearance to show for it. A trade to Vegas may be able to change that.

Throughout those 14 seasons, Eberle has established himself as a consistent, reliable secondary scorer. A member of the Seattle Kraken dating back to the Expansion Draft, he has spent much of the season playing up alongside Matty Beniers and Jared McCann on the team’s top line. Though not the offensive dynamo that Guentzel or Buchnevich are (he has 14 goals and 35 points in 56 games this season), the Saskatchewan native would bring plenty of leadership (he is an alternate captain with the Kraken) and playmaking into the Vegas fold.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Any discussion related to acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko ultimately comes down to the question of how much the Russian sniper has left in the tank. This really shouldn’t be a question for a player who just turned 32 in December. Yet after enjoying four consecutive seasons of producing between 33 and 40 goals in his mid-twenties, Tarasenko has one 34-goal campaign and a mere 40 total goals in the four other seasons since.

You Might Also Like

Of course, context is key. The pandemic- and injury-marred 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons produced just seven combined goals, but they came in only 34 games. Tarasenko’s 18-goal 2022-23 season was split between the struggling St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers. Once the then-lifetime Blue hit Broadway, he recorded eight goals and 21 points in 31 games and three goals in seven postseason contests. Meanwhile, this season in Ottawa has been mired by underperformance from players and the team.

As always, value will surely dictate the Golden Knights’ appetite for risk. If the Senators can drum up enough trade interest across the league to spark a bidding war, the return cost may well be more than Vegas wishes to pony up. If the market on Tarasenko is cool, though, a proven scorer and past Cup champion (he would join Alex Pietrangelo and Barbashev as alumni of the Cup-winning 2019 Blues) looking for the right fit could be a worthwhile gamble.

Nic Dowd

One of these names is not like the others. While each of the aforementioned forwards have recorded at least 34 goals in a season, Washington Capitals center Nic Dowd has never scored more than 13. Dowd’s possible trade link to the Golden Knights has nothing to do with the organization’s need for scoring on the wing. Instead, the lockdown defender holds appeal for his defensive presence and potential fit as an upgrade in the middle of the fourth line.

With Vegas thin down the middle due to injury, Byron Froese has filled the role. Even if Eichel’s return bumps Nicolas Roy back to the No. 4 center slot and Froese out of the lineup, the club could always use another physical force to make life miserable for those they play. Still, while Dowd makes for an interesting fit, a move for the nine-year veteran would probably only come once the holes in the top six are filled.

The league’s trade board looks fairly thin on the defensive end, with Chris Tanev already Dallas-bound and few other notable names available. Up front, there could still be a number of difference-makers moved by Friday. Vegas will surely be involved in plenty of those discussions, but they won’t be alone. It’s going to be a busy week for McCrimmon and company.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: ‘He Just Lacks Humility'
NHL

Bruins' David Pastrnak Calls Out Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: ‘He Just Lacks Humility'

Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.

Ex-Lakers Big Man Ready to Cut NBA Ties With New Contract
NBA

Ex-Lakers Big Man Ready to Cut NBA Ties With New Contract

It was the Lakers who, eight years ago, gave center Thomas Bryant his first crack at the NBA, putting him into the lineup after acquiring him in a draft trade with the Jazz. Bryant's Lakers career did not last that long--he was gone after one season--but he came back to L.A. in the summer of 2022 after a successful stint with the Wizards. That go-round with the Lakers did not go much better than the first, as Bryant averaged 12.3 points but was traded away in a massive deal at the 2023 deadline that saw the Lakers add Mo Bamba and Davon Reed. The Lakers had two cracks at Bryant but were not able to get his best from him. Bryant has since moved on to Denver, Miami and most recently, Indiana, where he has not been a big-time scorer, but has filled a role nicely in each of his stops. But, unable to drum up a new NBA contract, it looks like Bryant's next role will come overseas. That's according to a report from Telesport, which noted that the Greek team Panathinaikos is in direct contact about getting Bryant signed. From Sportando, which points out that Jonas Valanciunas agreed to, then backed out of a contract with the team: "The American center, born in 1997, played last season with the Indiana Pacers. He has appeared in 333 NBA games throughout his career. It would be a high-level addition for Panathinaikos, who, after the breakdown of negotiations with Valanciunas, are looking for a center to further raise the quality of their frontcourt."

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Padres' Manny Machado Bashes Cardinals Coach, Ex-Padre Jon Jay in Epic Rant
MLB

Padres' Manny Machado Bashes Cardinals Coach, Ex-Padre Jon Jay in Epic Rant

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado played a significant role in a benches-clearing incident against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, and exchanged words with Cardinals assistant coach and former Padre Jon Jay during the incident. The Cardinals plunked Machado twice in the contest, however the third baseman took exception with the second incident. After being hit, Machado had words for Andre Granillo, who threw the pitch, and home plate umpire Lance Barrett. The benches slowly cleared to diffuse the situation, however it exploded after Jay began speaking to Machado. The umpires tossed Jay after the scuffle. He is the only member of either team who left the game. Machado didn't reveal what was said during the exchange with Jay, but had no shortage of words for the assistant coach. “I mean, poor kid. … I know he probably doesn’t want to do that in that situation," Machado said of Granillo. "Obviously, you see him, what he does. He just kind of feels bad. You’re just pissed off, you know? It is what it is. I mean, there was nothing to it. But then you got somebody else coming up and yapping their mouth. That’s when s— starts getting real.” Machado and Jay have a history together, as they have previously worked out in the offseason with Machado's brother-in-law Yonder Alonso, who is also a former Padre and teammate of Jay's. After the game, Machado made it clear he was not friendly with Jay. “Yeah, right,” Machado said. “I know the real him. … No, absolutely not. Absolutely not.” Despite the incident, Jay also kept quiet about the specifics of the incident after the game, but acknowledged his lack of composure during the incident. “I was just having my team’s back, but I’m a coach, and I shouldn’t have said anything,” Jay said. For more Padres news, head over to Padres on SI.