Vegas Golden Knights made the right decision trading Cody Eakin
Trading Cody Eakin to the Winnipeg Jets should help the Vegas Golden Knights add another piece or two at the 2020 NHL trade deadline.
After trading for Alec Martinez, the Vegas Golden Knights needed to create some cap space ahead of the 2020 NHL trade deadline. They are reportedly going to do so by trading Cody Eakin to the Winnipeg Jets.
In return, the Knights are getting a conditional fourth-round pick. That pick turns into a third-round pick if the Jets make the Stanley Cup Playoffs or they re-sign Eakin.
This trade was desperately needed for the Golden Knights. Trading for Martinez left the Knights without much cap space. In fact, it left them pretty much right up against the cap ceiling. Getting rid of Eakin’s $3.85 million cap hit is huge. It should give them a chance to add another piece before the NHL trade deadline on Monday.
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The Golden Knights are a team who could certainly stand to use another piece. Even after acquiring Martinez, their blueline could stand for another upgrade. They could also use an upgrade at forward, though I’d say it’s not as important as adding another defenseman.
Also, the Golden Knights already had a good replacement for Eakin in Chandler Stephenson. Stephenson has been a nice surprise for the Knights since coming over from the Washington Capitals. In 33 games with Vegas, he has 18 points.
Jesse Granger of The Athletic is reporting the Golden Knights have expressed interest in Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson. He’s a flawed defenseman because he’s not very good defensively. That said, the Knights blueline desperately needs someone who can put up some points and move the puck up the ice in transition. In the right role, Gustafsson could provide a big boost to the Knights.
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With a $1.2 million cap hit though, the Knights could easily afford to add yet another player if they wanted to. Considering they only have 11 healthy forwards with Eakin gone, it wouldn’t be surprising if that other player was a forward. Most likely a center.