{"id":18791,"date":"2017-11-18T08:22:45","date_gmt":"2017-11-18T13:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=18791"},"modified":"2017-11-18T08:22:45","modified_gmt":"2017-11-18T13:22:45","slug":"vegas-golden-knights-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/11\/18\/vegas-golden-knights-deadline\/","title":{"rendered":"Should the Vegas Golden Knights Trade Now or Later?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vegas Golden Knights<\/a> have regressed after their strong start. Just 4-5-1 in their last ten games, the team has come back down to earth.<\/p>\n

Amid their hot start, everyone has expected a reversion to normality sooner or later. Some are questioning their Stanley Cup Playoff credentials. However, the fact is, only two teams in NHL history have ever missed the Playoffs after earning 16 points in their first nine games. One of them was Montreal in 2015-16, who lost star goaltender Carey Price<\/a><\/strong> for most of the season with an injury. Thus far, Vegas have survived their own goalie misadventures,<\/a>\u00a0and sit second in the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n

Should the Vegas Golden Knights Trade Now or Later?<\/h2>\n

As improbable as it looked a month ago, the Golden Knights have a realistic chance to be a playoff team. However, fans seem split as to whether or not they should be buyers or sellers come the trade deadline. A better question is should the Vegas Golden Knights look to trade now or wait for the trade deadline?<\/p>\n

Unprecedented Early Success<\/h2>\n

Of the last nine teams to join the NHL, the San Jose Sharks<\/a>, and Minnesota Wild<\/a> were the quickest to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, both making it in their third season. These teams had a clear roadmap which they followed and capitalized on. At the other end of the scale, the\u00a0 Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> went through eight seasons before they saw playoff hockey. The Knights could do it in one, and people are confused.<\/p>\n

George McPhee<\/a><\/strong>, the team\u2019s general manager, built this team through the most favorable Expansion Draft format in NHL history. He took full advantage, even using his expansion capital to further bolster the team through trades. McPhee secured enough good players to put a competitive product on the ice, headlined by James Neal<\/a><\/strong> and Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/strong>. He\u00a0acquired young talent and prospects for the future. He prioritized cap space. McPhee\u2019s commitment to building his hockey team intelligently has paid off, and lots of smart hockey people at far more recognizable teams envy what he’s done.<\/p>\n

The Golden Knights are also benefiting from puck luck to this point in the season. Their xGF% at 5v5 is 15th in the NHL at exactly 50%, but their actual goal differential is +4 in said situations. Special teams have been even better, moving them to a goal differential of +8 in all situations. A PDO of 102.2 certainly hasn’t hurt.\u00a0 All of this suggests that the team, while better than what most would have expected from an expansion team, is by no means guaranteed the playoff spot they currently occupy.<\/p>\n

Trade Rumors<\/h2>\n

As of February 25 approaches \u2013 the NHL\u2019s deadline day \u2013 all eyes will be on which of their epithets Vegas chooses to prioritize: contemporary or future competitiveness. While they may not boast any centerpieces or generational talents, the Golden Knights are a deep hockey club. They\u2019ve already been through three goaltenders and continue to win, despite Malcolm Subban<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0Oscar Dansk<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Maxime Lagace<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0combining for only two appearances in the League prior to this season. There is talent throughout this organization<\/a> \u201creal contenders\u201d would love to get their hands on, if the Knights revert to resembling an expansion team.<\/p>\n

Depending on Fleury\u2019s return, one of the backup goaltenders may become available, if they find their way off the injury reserve list. Perhaps Vancouver could be in line for a partner for Jacob Markstrom<\/a><\/strong> while Thatcher Demko<\/strong> fills out<\/a>. Pittsburgh is looking for a backup to Matt Murray<\/strong>. Will Ondrej Pavelec<\/strong> be good enough as the Rangers number two goaltender?<\/p>\n

Defensemen Luca Sbisa<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Griffin Reinhart<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0left wing David Perron<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>are others who could draw interest from others around the League. The team even has AHL players who could come at a cheaper price, including Brandon Pirri<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0Teemu Pulkkinen<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Flexible Organisation<\/h2>\n

There are a lot of different directions the Knights can go in. That\u2019s the beauty of the roster flexibility McPhee has built. He is prepared for situations he may not have envisioned, such as his side winning nine of its first 14 games.<\/p>\n

Come February, it is likely this team is not a traditional \u201cbuyer\/seller\u201d. After all, they\u2019re still learning about their own team and what they have, as are we. There\u2019s no rush to execute anything.<\/p>\n

If McPhee sees a deal he likes, he should take it, especially if its payoff is clear and tangible. That\u2019s what good NHL teams do, and they are a good team. It may frustrate fans to not be able to compartmentalize them as a buyer or a seller, but this is far from a typical NHL team.<\/p>\n

Sticking to a plan and trusting the organization is key to achieving success in the NHL, but when it starts to rain, you use an umbrella. Good teams may not make wholesale changes to their plan, but they do tweak it according to the climate of League. McPhee may be confronted with a similar conundrum soon.<\/p>\n

His plan has gotten him this far, and it\u2019s likely to get him farther, but what\u2019s best for the team may mean detouring from the Stanley Cup Playoffs this April. We will likely not know until the deadline in February, if then.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>