Even though the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a playoff run, they will still be sellers at the trade deadline. So they need to find a way to keep players like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone on the team and stay under the cap. So naturally, teams will want to take advantage of this. of course Vegas will want something in return, and players with a small-cap hit who will add to their playoff dreams will likely be what they are looking for.
Make sure to check out all of our other NHL Trade Deadline Previews.
Current Status
Current Record: 32-23-4
Division Standings: Third in the Pacific
Buyers or Sellers: Sellers
Alec Martinez
Compared to other Vegas players, Martinez is likely to bring more back in a trade than other players. He is currently on the injured list but is expected to return soon. However, the 34-year-old has only played 11 games for Vegas, and while they may not want to see Martinez go, his price tag of $5.25 million will not help their money issues.
He hasn’t played since November 11 following a facial laceration from a skate and has also been in COVID protocols. However, Martinez was seen practicing in a gray jersey this week, but he is still considered not ready. The Golden Knights have the depth to replace him, and he would be an excellent addition to any team needing a defenseman.
Reilly Smith
Smith is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $5 million. He has playoff experience, and his stats this season have been okay, with 16 goals and 22 assists in 56 games. Smith would bring depth on the right side to any team, perhaps bolstering one of the bottom-six lines.
He is second in scoring for Vegas behind Jonathan Marchessault. Any team that would like to trade for him knows he would be a rental and has to weigh that against what he would bring to their team. Vegas more than likely will trade him rather than let him walk away for nothing because they won’t be able to re-sign him thanks to their cap situation.
Mattias Janmark
Janmark is a two-way forward capable of playing all three forward positions. He would be a fit for the bottom-two lines of a team, possibly bolstering the secondary scoring. This season, he splayed 47 games, netting seven goals and ten assists. He also has shown himself to be a defensive forward and could assist on penalty kills.
He only carries a $2 million cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. As a result, Janmark will be a rental for a playoff-bound team. However, his low cap hit would possibly lead to a permanent place on that team, depending on the outcome and his stats.
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