Daily Nuggets: Golden Knights Trade Rumors; Smith Held Out Again

Gooooooood morning, Las Vegas! The Golden Knights don’t play until Wednesday, but I can distract you with trade chatter. It’s Tuesday, March 4th, and the NHL Trade Deadline is just four days away; I’m positively giddy just thinking about it. 

On the newest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman shared a Trade Deadline preview for every NHL team. And wouldn’t you know it, the Golden Knights are, as usual, front and center. Can I interest you in some Mikko Rantanen smoke, anyone? 

Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, Reilly Smith was held out of the Rangers lineup again on Monday. Spencer Knight was darn near perfect against the Los Angeles Kings. The New York Islanders are still stuck in purgatory, and the Avalanche aren’t done adding.

Golden Knights News

On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Golden Knights and the Toronto Maple Leafs were competing for St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn. Well, now the Blues are winning. On Monday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Friedman opined that the Blues might be less likely to sell their players now that they’re winning.

Oh, ho, ho. What’s this, now? More Mikko Rantanen chatter? Elliotte Friedman says that if he’s available, the Golden Knights will try to acquire him.

“[Kelly] McCrimmon really likes his secrecy, and he works hard to maintain it. But I think we always know that with Vegas, you expect a big swing. If Rantanen becomes available… You have to believe [McCrimmon] will do what it takes to try to get it done, one hundred percent. That’s just who he is.”

The New York Rangers held Original Misfit Reilly Smith out of the lineup on Monday for the second consecutive game. He’s officially on the trade block.

32 Thoughts Podcast Recap

Monday’s episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast was nearly three hours long. If you didn’t listen to it, that’s fine because I don’t have a life outside of hockey. I took one for the team, put it on 2x speed, and listened the whole way through. Here’s what you missed around the Pacific Division:

Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers are trying to move Evander Kane. They’d also like to move Viktor Arvidsson, but he has a full no-move clause.

Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are looking for a scorer and are trying to extend Vladislav Gavrikov. 

Vancouver Canucks: Nobody knows what to say about the Elias Pettersson situation, not even Elliotte Friedman. If he continues to play the way he has, he’ll become one of the big storylines this summer.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

New York Islanders Hockey Now: No one knows what the Islanders will do at the Trade Deadline on Friday— not even former MSG Analyst Thomas Hickey.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings are in a position to be buyers at the Trade Deadline for the first time in a long time, and they’re in the market for a defenseman.

Chicago Hockey Now: The Blackhawks have their goaltender of the future. Spencer Knight proved it on Monday when he put on a clinic against the Los Angeles Kings.

Colorado Hockey Now: The Avalanche sent Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Nečas and Jack Drury. They acquired Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers. But General Manager Chris MacFarland isn’t ‘totally satisfied.’

San Jose Hockey Now: When the Toronto Maple Leafs lose, we all win. The Sharks launched a third-period two-goal comeback and won in the shootout.

NHL History: On March 4th, 1967, Terry Sawchuk of the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first goaltender to record 100 regular season shutouts.