There's obviously stylistic and role-based redundancies when it comes to Gustafsson/Gostisbehere. And as the Golden Knights know, sometimes these things can come together quickly. Sami Vatanen is a pending unrestricted free agent in addition to being a right-sided defenseman under the age of 30. He can generate offence at 5v5 and the PP and produce, but he's an absolute liability defensively. Sami Vatanen is a 28-year-old, right-handed defenseman with four goals and 10 points in 23 games this season. But that’s not the Devil they should have their eye on. There was a report on Sunday night that Schmidt was set to go to the Florida Panthers, but that was later (at least for now) shot down by Pierre LeBrun. Follow along with all the latest news and rumors right here in our live tracker... Matt Mullin The Golden Knights like their prospects and have plenty of draft picks they could trade, including New Jersey’s third this year and second next year they got for Nikita Gusev. He’s probably a step above Vatanen. Some feel Vegas should go after St. Louis’ Alex Pietrangelo, but the Blues aren’t trading their captain when they’re hunting for another Cup. With a need at left wing, it makes sense that the Golden Knights would be interested in acquiring him and creating perhaps the best forward group in the NHL. He’s in play. Here's more from Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer: If Vegas does land Pietrangelo, it may free needed cap space by trading talented defenseman Nate Schmitdt, who figures to interest the Flyers. He was suspended for 20 games in 2018 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, and he said at the time that it was “surreal” and unwarranted, and that he had used only “supplements provided by my NHL team.”. The cap is calculated daily and that can change, but it will take some maneuvering to add a player as expensive as Vatanen. That point production is right about where Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore have been as Golden Knights. That’s a complex question and one without a definitive answer. Marc-Andre Fleury, James Neal among high-profile players made available to Vegas, Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen among Ducks dealing with injuries, Ducks D Sami Vatanen (upper-body injury) scratched from Game 2, Ducks recall Brandon Montour with Sami Vatanen out for road game, Ducks re-sign D Sami Vatanen for 4 years, $19.5 million, Ducks shoulder blame for Bruce Boudreau firing after playoff exit, Ducks GM Bob Murray doubtful F Matt Beleskey will re-sign with Anaheim, Second-round preview: Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks, First-round preview: Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets. © Las Vegas Sun, 2020, All Rights Reserved, Marchessault back to his old (hat) tricks as Golden Knights defeat Devils, Golden Knights acquire Chandler Stephenson from Capitals, adding forward depth, Touro University Announces Partnership with Vave, DNC Chairman Tom Perez Joins Voting Events. He also added four assists in 10 games during the postseason. The Golden Knights could trade one of their two second-rounders this year or one of their three next year, along with a later pick to acquire Vatanen. Any potential trade would likely involve futures — either draft picks or prospects. And as I've reported for a while, Ghost is very much on the block. Ducks get Adam Henrique in multiplayer trade with Devils. [inquirer.com]. So what would it cost to acquire Vatanen? Vatanen would settle onto the right side of the blue line in Vegas. Vatanen could play behind Theodore on the second power-play unit, where he has been New Jersey’s top option at the point. Fletcher said this weekend that the team isn't going to make a move just to make one, but they recently lost Matt Niskanen to retirement, and the team could be looking to replace him with another veteran to pair with some of their young defenseman. [ inquirer.com ] PhillyVoice Staff, Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer, How to watch the final Trump-Biden presidential debate on Thursday, Colleges and the Thanksgiving COVID-19 risk: Fauci’s right – holiday plans may have to change, Barack Obama expected in Philly next week for Biden campaign event, Wasp venom may help solve the problem of drug-resistant infections, Eagles-Ravens final injury report, with analysis, Ravens coach cracks D-cell battery joke as Eagles fans make return to the Linc. Or perhaps they go free-agent hunting for Pietrangelo or Tyson Barrie or any of the other options. Both teams were competing though, and this was more of a hockey trade than a rebuilding team sending assets to a competing one. Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account. The Ducks moved to try to improve their 27th-ranked offense, acquiring forward Adam Henrique in a multiplayer trade with the Devils. UPDATE [5:41 p.m.] — The Flyers have made a move — although it's not exactly what you'd call a big splash, and certainly not a direct replacement for Matt Niskanen — by signing offensive-minded defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a one-year deal that carries a $3 million cap hit. Vatanen has been on injured reserve since the beginning of the month. The Devils traded Vatanen to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, according to a report from TSN, with the deal coming about 15 minutes prior to the 3 p.m. trade deadline. © 2020 WWB Holdings, LLC. Miller netted Vegas a second- and third-round pick this summer in a trade with Buffalo. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/3fRTLHUiUp. New Jersey won 5-3. The Golden Knights currently project to have just under $150,000 of cap space at the Feb. 24 trade deadline, according to CapFriendly. Could the Flyers sneak in at the last minute and make a deal to land Schmidt? “You do your work, you stay prepared, you make decisions as you go.”. Sami Vatanen, defenseman Vatanen will likely yield the most value for the Devils due to the lack of premier defensemen on the trading block. All the latest stats, news, highlights and more about Sami Vatanen on TSN The team announced the signing on Monday evening. He’s responsible in his own end and plays on the power play and penalty kill. It doesn’t make sense for New Jersey to acquire veteran players unless they are part of a bigger deal, and it doesn’t make sense for the Golden Knights to weaken one part of their roster to bolster another. He’s been one of the best players on a bad New Jersey team and as the Devils spiral toward another draft lottery, it stands to reason that they would try to cash any chips they have. What about a right-handed offensive defenseman who the Golden Knights just traded? Lindholm will be out for four to five months and Vatanen will be sidelined longer, general manager Bob Murray said. For those reasons alone he was a prime trade target. I figured that would dampen any interest for a trade. But, there may be a ripple effect in Sin City that could open up an option, should the team decide to make any sort of splash on the free agent market. More realistic comps would include Justin Braun, who the Sharks moved to Philadelphia for a second- and third-round pick, and Calvin de Haan, who was traded with a prospect from Carolina to Chicago for Anton Forsberg and Gustav Forsling. New Flyers defenseman Erik Gustafsson during a game with the Calgary Flames. In fact, those 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) were more than all but three Flyers posted that season, and all three of those were forwards (Claude Giroux, Jake Voracek and Sean Couturier). about 1127 days ago | ESPN.com news services; Ducks defensive duo to have shoulder surgeries. He’s not the blockbuster deadline acquisition that Mark Stone was last year or even Tomas Tatar the year before that, but he’s the kind of player who complements a playoff roster.