3 Trade Destinations For Golden Knights’ Nic Hague

The Vegas Golden Knights are likely going to trade Nic Hague this offseason as he is a RFA and the team has Kaedan Korczak as well as Ben Hutton available to come into the lineup. The Golden Knights will be more focused on getting better and filling holes up front as their defense has and will continue to be very solid.

There will be interest in the 25-year-old 6'6 defenseman and a solid return to Vegas if they are to trade him. Let's look at some of the most likely options where Hague will end up this summer.

Los Angeles Kings

The LA Kings might lose Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency and if that happens, I don't think that Joel Edmundson can properly handle second pairing minutes on the left side for the team. Hague could be in store for more minutes that he wouldn't be able to get in Vegas, but could split time or even shift up the lineup if the Kings acquire him. LA definitely needs to address that hole on the left side if Gavrikov leaves and will have the money to give Hague a raise that he will be looking for as he is a RFA without a new contract at this time. The size would go a long way in helping the Kings get over the hump.

Florida Panthers

Would the Florida Panthers be against getting bigger and better on defense? I don't think so. The team already has Niko Mikkola on the left side, so why not add another beast for the third pairing where Hague plays in Vegas right now? The Panthers use their size and bully teams, so Hague would fit right in. He is very used to a good defensive style of hockey and winning already by playing on and winning the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights. With Nate Schmidt likely leaving in free agency, there will be a hole on the left side of the third pairing. I would guarantee that the Panthers would prefer Hague over Uvis Balinskis, Tobias Bjornfot, or Matt Kiersted on the third pairing.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche will likely let Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson go in free agency, so there is a bit of work to do on the back-end. Five of the defensive spots on the team are accounted for, but Keaton Middleton should be the seventh defenseman, not the sixth playing every day. That leaves a hole on the third pairing for a left shot defenseman such as Hague. Cap space will be tight, but finding a way to free up more space, acquire, and sign Hague would really help the Avalanche get back to the top of the mountain.