NHL Trade Rumors: Insider Names Two Teams Pursuing Trade For Nicolas Hague

Monday, June 09, 2025 , , ,
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague stands during 2025 game.

With limited cap space and a crowded blue line, the Vegas Golden Knights appear set to move 26-year-old defenseman Nicolas Hague, and the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are leading the charge. 

According to multiple reports, including The Toronto Star’s Nick Kypreos, both clubs are aggressively pursuing the 6-foot-6, 245-pound blueliner, who becomes a restricted free agent on July 1. Vegas isn’t actively shopping Hague, but they are entertaining calls amid mounting salary demands and internal roster logjams.

Canadiens and Penguins in Bidding War for Nicolas Hague

For Montreal, Hague fits the bill as a rugged left-shot defender who can also play the right side, bringing badly needed size and physicality to a young blue line. Analyst Marc-Olivier Beaudoin even suggested a potential trade package of Jayden Struble and a mid-round pick. 

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is in desperate need of young, reliable defensemen after moving Marcus Pettersson and watching their left side depth evaporate. Hague, a steady presence with 83 career points and over 570 hits, could be a long-term solution, especially with the Penguins trending younger.

While the Philadelphia Flyers were previously seen as frontrunners, they now face stiff competition. With Vegas aiming to shed cap and Hague’s price tag rising, the Golden Knights may prefer a quick resolution, possibly by draft weekend. 

Montreal and Pittsburgh have the cap space and draft capital to close the deal, and with Hague’s value likely to climb, one of these two clubs could land a major piece for their defense sooner than later.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

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