NHL Rumors: Massive Golden Knights Move Could Be Coming This Offseason
Despite a strong regular season that earned them a Pacific Division title, Vegas looked outmatched in their five-game playoff defeat, raising real questions about whether their Stanley Cup window is starting to close.
Aging core pieces like Mark Stone, Alex Pietrangelo, and William Karlsson are all over 30, and while players like Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin are still in their primes, the roster is now filled with long-term contracts and limited flexibility. As The Athletic's Jesse Granger noted, Vegas has $10.5 million in projected cap space—enough to either re-sign pending UFAs like Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad or chase a marquee winger like Mitch Marner or Brock Boeser on the open market.
Big Changes Could Be Coming
With stars like Stone and Pietrangelo protected by no-movement clauses, and others like Tomas Hertl and Adin Hill recently signed to multi-year deals, any cap-clearing trade would require creativity—something GM Kelly McCrimmon has never shied away from. Vegas has a track record of bold, even ruthless moves, from acquiring Eichel and Pietrangelo to letting go of fan favorites like Marc-André Fleury.
The Vegas Golden Knights have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs 🚫 pic.twitter.com/2Zsvrq3df7
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 15, 2025
Though the Golden Knights lack a first-round pick in 2025 or 2026, they could dangle their 2027 first-rounder or promising prospect Trevor Connelly to land immediate help. Meanwhile, Jack Eichel becomes eligible to sign an extension on July 1, which could reshape the financial future of the roster. Pavel Dorofeyev’s breakout 35-goal season gives Vegas a rare cost-controlled weapon at just $1.8 million next year—but he'll be due for a big raise soon.
Still Contenders, But With Questions
Vegas remains a strong team, but its depth faltered when it mattered most. Players like Barbashev, Hertl, and Howden went goalless in the second round, and Adin Hill’s .887 playoff save percentage left much to be desired. Coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged that a rivalry with Edmonton is likely here to stay—and Vegas must be ready to match that firepower again in 2025-26.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2025
The Golden Knights won’t settle for another early exit. With limited future assets and aging stars, this offseason may bring another seismic shakeup in Vegas. Their identity has always been “win now”—and they might swing big again to keep it that way.
Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
