TRADE: Golden Knights & Predators Complete Deal

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 ,

Nashville Predators forward Cole Smith celebrates goal during 2025 game.

The Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights linked up on a late-night deal that sent bottom-six forward Cole Smith to the desert.

Predators Golden Knights trade adds grit in Vegas

Vegas landed Smith for a 2028 third-round pick and defense prospect Christoffer Sedoff. 

Smith, 30, brings a specific package that plays in the spring: he has 10 points this season, but he’s also thrown 119 hits, logged heavy shorthanded work at 2:19 per game, and plays a relentless, defense-first style of play. 

Vegas has lived in cap-crunch mode for years, so grabbing a $1 million cap hit depth winger who can kill penalties is a very on-brand move for a team still chasing another deep run after winning the Stanley Cup in 2022–23.

Over his six-year NHL career, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward has recorded 23 goals, 62 total points, 223 penalty minutes, and 736 hits across 271 games played.

Nashville turns Cole Smith into futures

For Nashville, this is Barry Trotz turning expendable roster pieces into picks and depth. 

Nashville confirmed the return as Sedoff, 24, plus that 2028 third, and the move adds to their growing stash of future selections. 

Sedoff has spent most of his time in the American Hockey League, where he has four assists and a plus-5 rating in 38 games this season, and he gives the Predators another lottery ticket on the back end.

Smith played just three seconds against the Columbus Blue Jackets before the deal was completed. Nashville moved Michael McCarron earlier in the day, and it sure looks like they're leaning into asset collection, even if they are not fully out of the picture yet. 

Photo Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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