Star Players Golden Knights Could Trade For With Stone Out

The worst has come to pass for the Vegas Golden Knights as they have lost Mark Stone for the indefinite future. The VGK have announced that the captain had successful back surgery on Tuesday and will be out of the lineup indefinitely. Thoughts and prayers to Stone and his family in this recovery process.

With Stone out, the Golden Knights have gone 1-5-2 in their last eight games and are struggling. With the NHL Trade Deadline not far away, Stone is now out indefinitely, and with the potential of $9.5 million in cap space to be freed up if his contract hits LTIR, many are expecting the VGK to make a trade soon.

Here is part one of an article detailing 15+ players general manager Kelly McCrimmon could go after at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. Spoiler alert: They are all forwards, as the VGK need to shore up their depth up front. 

We'll keep the descriptions of some of these players short as we have either written about them before or plan to in the future.

Golden Knights Trade Targets

Patrick Kane- Chicago Blackhawks

The Details: 1 Year Left at $10.5 million AAV (UFA), 34 years old, RW, NMC

Patrick Kane is perhaps the biggest name on the trade block this season as it looks like his time with the Chicago Blackhawks organization is coming to an end. Despite scoring only nine goals this season, Kane is still a great assist man and would work well with someone like Jack Eichel. However, a high asking price both in terms of cap hit and what general manager Kyle Davidson would want back might scare the VGK off. 

VHN's Thoughts: While Kane on the Blackhawks would be surreal, it doesn't make sense for the Golden Knights to swing this big after they missed the playoffs last season. We don't see it happening as it is too much of a risk.

Vladamir Tarasenko- St. Louis Blues

The Details: 1 Year Left at $7.5 million AAV (UFA), 31 years old, RW, NTC

The St. Louis Blues appear to be packing it in for the season as they are on the road to missing the playoffs and have multiple pending free agents. You'll see a good chunk of Blues on this list as a result. Most of them won a Stanley Cup with Alex Pietrangelo in 2019. Vladamir Tarasenko is perhaps the Blues' biggest trade chip, and just like Kane, general manager Doug Armstrong will be asking for a high price for Vlad.

VHN's Thoughts: We think this deal is more likely than Kane, but it is still a longshot for the same reasons.

Ryan O'Reilly- St. Louis Blues

The Details: 1 Year Left at $7.5 million AAV (UFA), 31 years old, C, on IR

Blues captain and former Conn Smythe winner Ryan O'Reilly has also heavily been involved in trade chatter. Like Kane and Tarasenko, his cap hit is high and his asking price will likely be as well. O'Reilly is currently on injured reserve with a broken foot. 

VHN's Thoughts: Given that the Golden Knights would be better off acquiring a winger, and also considering the price for ROR, we don't see this happening.

Jonathan Toews- Chicago Blackhawks

The Details: 1 Year Left at $10.5 million AAV (UFA), 34 years old, C, NMC

Three-time Stanley Cup Champion Jonathan Toews will likely be the consultation prize for the team that missed out on the Ryan O'Reilly sweepstakes as he is the older, more expensive, and less productive of the two. But he could still offer a contending team a veteran presence down the middle.

VHN's Thoughts: See our thoughts on Ryan O'Reilly. The same things apply here.

James van Riemsdyk- Philadelphia Flyers

The Details: 1 Year Left at $7 million AAV (UFA), 33 years old LW, RW

Rounding out our veteran star player section is James van Riemsdyk, who could net the struggling Philadelphia Flyers something as he is also coming to the end of his deal. JVR makes a little bit more sense for the Golden Knights as he is a winger and also has strong connections with Phil Kessel. His asking price shouldn't be too high, but managing a $7 million contract would be a tough bargain for McCrimmon and the VGK.

VHN's Thoughts: It's possible, but given his age and cap hit, there are other better options for the Golden Knights on the trade block.

Timo Meier- San Jose Sharks

The Details: 1 Year Left at $6 million AAV (RFA) 26 years old, RW, LW 

Now we're talking. Timo Meier is a dynamic speedy scorer and could be easily the most valuable trade deadline addition to whichever team can land him. With Bo Horvat setting the asking price for a top forward at the deadline and considering the Sharks are a division rival, this would be a tough one for McCrimmon to pull off. Meier, a Golden Knights villain, has 48 points in 51 games this season and is a former 9th overall pick in 2015.

VHN's Thoughts: If the Sharks are stupid enough to trade Meier, the Golden Knights should absolutely make a push for the young forward and try and move some cap space around to potentially re-sign him. Out of all of the names on this list, we believe that Meier has the best chance of bringing the Golden Knights the same energy that Mark Stone brings to the team as an electric scorer and prime-time playoff performer. 

Tyler Bertuzzi- Detroit Red Wings

The Details: 1 Year Left at $4.75 million (UFA), 27 years old, LW, RW

Tyler Bertuzzi and the Detroit Red Wings are in the same boat as Bo Horvat was with the Vancouver Canucks a few days ago. The Red Wings are looking to re-sign Bertuzzi, but if they can't reach an agreement by the trade deadline, they could flip the switch and trade him for assets at the deadline. 

VHN's Thoughts: Bertuzzi is a skilled player and has a lot of grit to his game, which is perfect for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, something he has never been a part of. But he has only played 17 games this season due to three separate leg injuries and that could scare the VGK away.

Max Domi- Chicago Blackhawks

The Details: 1 Year Left at $3 million AAV (UFA), 27 years old, C, LW

A gritty player who is having a less-injury prone season is Max Domi, who has scored 35 points in 48 games played in his first season with the Blackhawks. It is unknown what his fate is, but word has come out stating that Domi might stay in Chicago past the deadline as he has found a home there. But, as a pending unrestricted free agent on a selling team, we had to include him

VHN's Thoughts: Domi is our no. 2 pick for a player that could bring the same type of heart-and-soul play to the VGK. But now it's looking unlikely that he will even be traded.