Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Gamble; Crosby Signs; NHL Trade Rumors

Hockey loves to make news in quick bursts, and Monday was no different. Vegas Hockey Now dialed up our colleague in New Jersey for a deep dive on new Vegas Golden Knights winger Alexander Holtz and why New Jersey was so frustrated with him. Also in the Nuggets, the Edmonton Oilers are chumming the NHL trade market, the Philadelphia Flyers have set a high trade ask for their angry prospect, Sidney Crosby finally signed a new contract and explained why, but Alex Ovechkin suffered an injury in an unofficial practice.

Did anyone else miss hockey?

In fairness, there are more things to do in Vegas than in any other city in the NHL. Someday, I’ll get myself a dune buggy and whip around in the desert or accept my standing invitation to join a group of friends who go to every concert in the city, but hockey is life. The Golden Knights are ready to begin training camp, and we’re ready to cover the heck out of them.

It’s going to be a fun season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas Hockey Now: An eye-opening telling of what the Golden Knights and coach Bruce Cassidy are going to be dealing with this season. Coaches and GMs have publicly ripped him, yet he can score goals by the bunches. What are the Golden Knights getting with Alexander Holtz?

SinBin: Here’s a cool story on the milestones within reach this season, including Jack Eichel being 86 points away from 600. Here are all of the milestones VGK fans could see this season.

The prospects tournament wrapped up. Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, their best players are on AHL contracts–those players should dominate rookie camps and tournaments. The real show begins in training camp.

NHL Trade Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

Bob Stauffer is THE Edmonton guy. When he talks trade rumors and needs, it’s usually good to listen.

Great to see the @EdmontonOilers key Management people and HC Kris Knoblauch all in Penticton.

Fully expect the Oilers to be in the market for a 2nd pairing RD…at some point…
Preferably with a little term left…

— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) September 15, 2024

It would seem that a few teams without playoff hopes have right-handed defensemen, but can Edmonton make it work? The top-heavy Oilers don’t have much surplus salary to trade away.

San Jose Hockey Now: The Golden Knights’ rivals are stocking prospects like Walmart stocks Pop-Tarts before bad weather (It’s true. Look it up. You all apparently eat more Pop-Tarts when it’s cold or rainy). Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith were just a few of the players who dominated the rookie tournament, and they are just the start for the San Jose Sharks.

NY Post: Bad, bad news for the Islanders? I know it’s out east, but this story was surprising. There were rumblings in the offseason that top goalie Ilya Sorokin was injured, but on Monday at a golf outing, coach Patrick Roy let slip that Sorokin had back surgery.

Philly Hockey Now: It’s not quite an NHL trade rumor, but Philadelphia has a very unhappy Russian goalie prospect who stormed out of the country last Spring and hasn’t returned. Teams are calling, but the asking price is high. Here is the tense Philadelphia Flyers situation.

Colorado Hockey Now: The road to the Stanley Cup probably runs through Denver. However, the Avalanche are having trouble with their 2023 first-round pick. He’s content in Russia but also not playing so well. I know–you’re heartbroken, eh? Here’s the problem for the Colorado Avalanche.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The big guy is signed, sealed, and delivered. Interestingly, Sidney Crosby explained the reassurances he was given from management that they’re committed to winning. What that means is no rebuild. Here’s the situation and why he took a lot less money. The Sidney Crosby contract.