Published on: March 4, 2026, 12:23 PM.

Updated on: March 4, 2026, 12:25 PM.

• NHL Trade Deadline Approaches: This Friday at 3 PM EST
• Vegas Golden Knights, seeking to end a three-game slump, face off against the Red Wings in Detroit tonight
• Currently ranked 4th in the Western Conference, the Golden Knights lead the chasing San Jose Sharks by just six points

As the NHL Trade Deadline looms this Friday at 3 PM EST, the Vegas Golden Knights may already have made a significant move by acquiring defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames back in January.

January’s Trade for Andersson

In exchange for Andersson, the Golden Knights sent Zach Whitecloud, two draft picks, and a prospect to the Flames. However, the anticipated impact has yet to materialize.

Currently, the Golden Knights hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference (topping the Pacific Division) with a record of 28-19-14, accumulating 70 points—21 points behind the leading Colorado Avalanche. Additionally, they are nearly maxed out against the salary cap, with roughly $3.7 million available before Friday.

One troubling aspect for the Golden Knights is the proximity of the teams trailing them. The Seattle Kraken in eighth place are just three points back, while the San Jose Sharks in ninth are only six points behind (with the top eight qualifying for the playoffs).

Recent Performance

The Golden Knights have experienced a dip in form recently, losing three straight games, including a tight 3-2 match against the Buffalo Sabres last night. Their next challenge is a game against the Red Wings in Detroit this evening.

As the trade deadline approaches, what steps should the Vegas Golden Knights take? An upgrade in goaltending is critical.

Currently ranked 17th in the NHL with 3.08 goals against per game, the goaltending statistics are concerning. Akira Schmid holds a save percentage of .895 over 31 games, while Carter Hart’s is .871 across 11 games. Adin Hill and Carl Lindbom follow with save percentages of .858 and .873 over 12 and eight games, respectively. Enhancing goaltending should be the top priority as they head into the playoff season.

What Do the Sportsbooks Predict?

Reports suggest that the St. Louis Blues are looking to trade Jordan Binnington, who previously played as a key goaltender for Team Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs are also in a sell-off mode, striving to stockpile prospects and picks, while holding onto experienced goalies like Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll.

According to Caesars Sportsbook, the odds for Vegas winning the Stanley Cup are currently set at +1000. This places them behind the Colorado Avalanche at +350, Tampa Bay Lightning at +450, Carolina Hurricanes at +500, and Edmonton Oilers at +900.

“There has been a noticeable decline in betting activity on the Knights compared to earlier in the season, especially in contrast to the Avalanche, Wild, and Sabres,” stated Karry Shreeve, Head of Hockey at Caesars Sportsbook.

“Despite the Knights’ inconsistent play and results, we maintain their odds at 10/1 primarily due to their divisional standing. These odds will likely remain stable as long as they continue to perform averagely while holding a top position in the Pacific Division. Any alterations before the deadline are not expected to have a major impact on the odds. March will be pivotal in clarifying the playoff landscape, particularly in the Pacific Division.”

Review of Recent Trade Deadlines

During the 2023 deadline, the Golden Knights acquired Ivan Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues, goalie Jonathan Quick from the L.A. Kings, and defenseman Teddy Blueger from the Pittsburgh Penguins, culminating in a Stanley Cup victory that year.

In 2024, they made significant moves again, acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin from the Flames along with forwards Tomas Hertl from the Sharks and Anthony Mantha from the Capitals.

The previous year was less eventful, focusing on bringing back forward Reilly Smith from the Rangers.

Regardless of the high-profile players being discussed, the Vegas Golden Knights consistently find themselves in the thick of trade conversations.