Golden Knights Rumors: Veteran Defenseman Could Be Dealt This Season

The Vegas Golden Knights are looking to make another deep run in the playoffs and the goal is to win the Stanley Cup again. There is a lot expected of the players and team each season and we have seen that they are willing to make drastic moves to continue to be a top team. This may come at the cost of Alec Martinez next.

According to Ken Boehlke of the Sin Bin, the Golden Knights may be inclined to move Martinez to free up cap space. He has a cap hit of $5.25 million AAV and is a UFA at the end of the season. His role has decreased over his time with the Golden Knights, most notably this season as he only averages 18:32 of ice time per game. Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, and Braden McNabb all have significantly higher ATOI, while the third pairing of Nic Hague and Zach Whitecould have 18:49 and 18:29.

The defense of the Golden Knights is very strong and Ben Hutton has come in and done well for them in Theodore's absence. While he could be an option, a younger and cheaper defenseman being brought in could also benefit the team as they'd have room to add in other areas, most notably the wing. Martinez has played parts of five seasons with the Golden Knights and is most known for his shot blocking and defensive play. He is now 36 years old and I can see Hague take over a spot in the top-four if the team moves on from Martinez.