When it comes to the trade deadline, Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon has a tendency to embrace the all-in spirit of the city his team calls home.
Under McCrimmon’s stewardship, the Golden Knights have never been afraid to make the big move. That attitude has been responsible for some of the best players Vegas has, including Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl. While the day will come when the bill from McCrimmon’s aggression comes due, it has paid off with a Stanley Cup and status as a legitimate contender.
Even with limited resources, the Golden Knights continue to be linked to the big fish of the deadline, mostly defensemen such as the Calgary Flames’ Rasmus Andersson and the St. Louis Blues’ Justin Faulk.
However, a new name has come up on McCrimmon’s radar in recent days: Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers.
How did we get here?
On Friday, Rangers general manager Chris Drury wrote a letter as his team languishes in the basement of the Eastern Conference.
“We are not going to stand pat - a shift will give us the ability to be smart and opportunistic as we retool the team,” wrote Drury in regards to his team’s strategy at the deadline.
“This will not be a rebuild. This will be a retool built around our core players and prospects. We will target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed, and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks, and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward. That may mean saying goodbye to players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years.”
Reports began to circulate soon after that the Rangers informed Panarin that they will not be renewing his contract at the end of the season, and they will work with him and his representation to find a suitable trade partner.
It will not be easy for the Rangers to move from Panarin, as the star forward’s no-movement clause gives him a significant degree of control over his situation. Drury will also certainly be asked to retain half of Panarin’s $11.65 million salary in order to fit him under the cap. With the long-term injury reserve loophole now closed, the challenge of balancing the books is more difficult than ever.
Can Vegas do it?
All you have to do is throw out a big name on the trade block and the Golden Knights are going to be one of the first teams to get linked.
However, Vegas is not as far-fetched as they seem at first glance. In fact, BetOnline has the Golden Knights listed as the +200 favorites to acquire Panarin’s services (the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens are next).
Also, just when the NHL thought the salary cap games with the Golden Knights were over, news on William Karlsson’s injury continues to get more dire.
According to SinBin, various sources have suggested that Karlsson could miss the rest of the regular season. If that is the case, Karlsson’s $5.9 million salary would wind up on season-ending LTIR…which just so happens to be enough to fit Panarin if the Rangers retain the maximum 50 percent of his deal.
If the Golden Knights are impressed enough with the Mitch Marner at center experiment to make it a long-term fixture, there would be a space on the wing for Panarin to slide into to create the most devastating top six in the NHL.
Why it might not happen
Years of going all-in have left the Golden Knights with very few chips on the table, putting them as a serious disadvantage if the Rangers trigger a bidding war for Panarin.
It means McCrimmon would have to add a player from the NHL roster to make a deal work, and the Rangers would likely have Pavel Dorofeyev as a target in a deal. That alone might be too much of an ask for McCrimmon, especially if he sees Panarin as a strict rental.
Even if the Golden Knights intended to extend Panarin, they would have some difficulties to fit the new number into their books. It would require them to potentially shed salary, with defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s $8.8 million on LTIR a candidate to be moved.
Anyone else?
Even if the Golden Knights come up short in the Panarin sweepstakes, there is still value to be had for McCrimmon to pick up the phone and give Drury a call.
Players like Vincent Trocheck, Carson Soucy or even Alexis Lafreniere could be on the block for the Blueshirts. However, McCrimmon may have his eyes set on another top target: defenseman Braden Schneider.
The 24-year-old defenseman already has a connection to the Golden Knights general manager, with Schnieder starring for McCrimmon’s old stomping grounds in the Brandon Wheat Kings. He also fits the right-shot defenseman role that the Golden Knights have sought out throughout the season, while still being young and affordable enough to be a key piece in the long haul. Schnieder would project as a seamless fit for the Golden Knights, as he looks on pace for his fourth straight season with triple-digit hits and blocks.
Panarin may be the crown jewel for the Rangers in terms of trade pieces, but the Golden Knights can still come away winners even if they do not reel in the biggest fish of all.
