Golden Knights wanted to make deadline trades, despite not actually existing yet
By Josh Hill
The still not totally existent Las Vegas Golden Knights wanted to get in on the NHL trade deadline but ‘the man’ said no.
Golden Knights were hoping to make deadline trades, despite not actually existing yet
Next Wednesday will mark the NHL Trade Deadline, and the frenzy that ensues could very well change the fortunes of a few teams. Buyers and sellers will get together and see what works for both parties, but one “team” won’t be involved.
The term “team” is used lightly here because the Las Vegas Golden Knights don’t exist yet. That’s not a philosophical statement either, they literally do not exist on paper. Final franchise paperwork officially naming the team as a member of the NHL has yet to be filed, which isn’t a big deal unless you were really pulling for some blockbuster moves to be made in the desert.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley was hoping to have the proper paperwork finalized and filed in time for the team to participate in the trade deadline frenzy.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly nipped any such talk in the butt though, stating that logically the idea of the Knights making trades without any player assets to offer is — I’m paraphrasing — stupid.
"The trade deadline is virtually irrelevant to the Vegas franchise at this point because they won’t be able to make trades involving real players under contract. They have no player assets to offer and they can’t acquire any in the form of real players. So every trade and transaction Las Vegas would be able to make before the trade deadline, they will be able to make after the trade deadline.”"
If this seems odd, you’re not alone. In theory, the Golden Knights could trade draft picks and cash assets for players. But those players would be going to a team where they wouldn’t play until next year, which means no expiring contracts would likely change hands since there’s no guarantee that the player would re-sign.
There’s also the whole thing about there being no team to play on.
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It seems the Golden Knights’ tenure is already off to a hazy and confusing start — which is perfect for Vegas.