Evaluating VGK’s Trade Assets For Upcoming Deadline

The NHL Trade Deadline is right around the corner. And with William Karlsson already on long-term injured reserve and reports about Shea Theodore’s 4 Nations injury indicating his timeline for return is in line with the postseason, it appears likely they’ll be financially open for business once again this season.

It’s impossible to predict exactly how much cap space they’ll have to operate with. However, their history has shown that if there’s a will, there’s a way, and that will be no different this season.

One difference this year will impact Vegas’ high-octane front office, the asset pool. After trading two 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, a 1st round prospect, and a usable NHL defenseman at last year’s deadline, coupled with massive moves throughout the previous three or four seasons, the Golden Knights’ available pool of assets is limited.

Here’s what’s left, ranked in order of most to least trade value at this upcoming deadline.

Trevor Connelly
1st Round Pick – 2024

Connelly stands as one of just two 1st round picks (of 10 since 2017) left in the Golden Knights’ system. He’s an excellent prospect and has shined on the ice since arriving at Providence College. Connelly has fought through some injury troubles but when he’s healthy he looks every bit of a 19-year-old 1st round pick. He’s as good, if not better, than a 2025 or 2026 1st round pick based on what he’s shown since being selected #19.

There is one caveat with Connelly. One of the reasons he dropped to the mid/late 1st round was due to some off-ice issues in his past. Every day that passes and he proves to have grown from them makes them less and less important, but if he is offered up in a trade less than one year from selection it may raise red flags to other teams. It only takes one team to be willing to take the same risk the Golden Knights did, and that team is surely out there, but many passed on him in the draft, and they could easily pass via trade as well.

Nic Hague
2024-25: 45 GP, 3 G, 5 A
Career: 341 GP, 18 G, 61 A
Contract: Pending RFA w/ Arbitration at $2,294,150

Hague stands as the most valuable active NHL trade asset for many reasons. First, he’s one of the few players in the VGK lineup without a contract for next season. His RFA status keeps him under control for Vegas or any other team that would acquire him though. Second, the Golden Knights have backup options to place into the lineup if they were to part ways with him. Theodore’s injury limits that a bit, but Kaedan Korczak and Ben Hutton give the Golden Knights an abundance of defensemen, offering flexibility.

To some teams, Hague would be even more valuable than Connelly because he’s already proven at the NHL level. He’s a Stanley Cup champion who can step into any lineup instantly. It’ll all depend on the future outlook of the team involved in the trade.

2025 + 2026 2nd Round Picks

2nd round picks can be quite valuable at deadline time. Vegas acquired Alec Martinez for exactly two 2nd round picks back in 2020. They got Mattias Janmark for a 2nd and a 3rd. And last year Anthony Mantha was acquired, with salary retention, for a 2nd and a 4th.

Realistically, the pair of 2nd round picks could net the Golden Knights a decent player, but it won’t be anyone at the level of Shea Theodore or William Karlsson. Throw them into a deal with either of the assets listed above, maybe.

Kaedan Korczak
2024-25: 18 GP, 0 G, 3 A
Career: 55 GP, 1 G, 13 A

Korczak appears to be a ready-made NHL defenseman in waiting. Yet, his time to breakthrough has not happened, mainly because of VGK’s depth at the position. With Theodore out he will likely step into the lineup and become the everyday player he’s been touted as ready to be for a while now. He’s a young, strong, stay-at-home defenseman who is a good skater and has decent offensive instincts. There’s absolutely a team out there that would take him, and there’s a chance he could be a steal for a team in the future, but don’t expect Korczak to be the kingpin to any trade at this deadline.

2027 1st Round Pick

The further into the future a draft pick resides, the less value it has. One of the main reasons for this is that often the general manager looking to acquire the picks isn’t sure he’ll still hold his position when the draft pick eventually comes to light. It is not completely unheard of for picks three years into the future to be included in trades, but it’s far less common than ones in the upcoming or following draft. The Golden Knights have never traded a 1st round pick more than two drafts away.

Brendan Brisson
2024-25: 9 GP, 0 G, 0 A
Career: 24 GP, 2 G, 6 A

The former 29th overall pick in 2020 simply hasn’t been able to make headway to jump-start his NHL career. Each time he’s had an opportunity to come up and play with the Golden Knights the performances have been lukewarm while his time in Henderson has not blown anyone away either. He’s still a 1st round pick who has never truly been given an opportunity at the NHL level, so value remains, but it’s severely limited compared to what it was. Vegas once traded Cody Glass for Nolan Patrick in a swap of maligned Top 10 draft picks. Maybe VGK can find something similar, but more likely Brisson’s value is something close to a 3rd or 4th round pick right now.

Mathieu Cataford
3rd Round Pick – 2023

Cataford has been really good in the QMJHL since being drafted by the Golden Knights. He’s been well over a point per game and scored as many as 40 in a single season. He was selected to the Team Canada World Juniors roster this December as well. There is certainly value in a prospect with offensive upside like him, but it’s hard to imagine trading him straight up for just about any NHL player. He’d more likely be an added prospect at the end of a deal to sweeten the pot.

Notable Additional Assets: Carl Lindbom (G), Lukas Cormier (D), 2025 4th Round Pick, Matyas Sapovaliv (F), Jakub Demek (F), 2025 and 2026 5th Round Picks, Jakub Brabenec (F)