For many groups, dropping a high defenseman for an prolonged time frame can be a significant trigger for concern.
However this might be simply what the Golden Knights wanted to turn out to be big-time patrons on the commerce deadline and add to an already good roster.
For one, the Golden Knights are a protected guess for the playoffs whether or not they have Theodore within the lineup for the following couple of months or not. They’re a greater workforce with him, however their playoff place is strong and the workforce itself is sweet sufficient to beat his absence.
Second, in the event that they put him on the long-term damage checklist it can enable them to exceed the wage cap and herald a comparable wage to his $5.2 million cap hit.
Vegas is already banking future cap house with ahead William Karlsson on the LTIR, and assuming Theodore will get on that checklist it may give an already good Golden Knights workforce the flexibility so as to add a possible impression participant earlier than the March 8 commerce deadline.
Vegas has used this method to its benefit a number of instances previously, particularly with accidents to ahead Mark Stone lately.
The benefit comes from the truth that the wage cap goes away within the playoffs, that means Vegas wouldn’t solely get to make use of the gamers it will purchase on the deadline, but additionally deliver again the injured gamers. it creates a state of affairs the place a workforce may put a lineup on the ice come playoff time that considerably exceeds the league’s cap.
It’s all throughout the guidelines, and the NHL has not likely accomplished something to stop groups from doing it.
Vegas has been one of the crucial aggressive entrance places of work within the league because it arrived throughout the 2018-19 season, however common supervisor Kelly McCrimmon has beforehand stated it is perhaps a quieter deadline for the workforce, however that was earlier than he gained some potential wage cap flexibility.
The Golden Knights may use extra scoring depth, particularly on its second and third strains. The issue goes to be that the Golden Knights shouldn’t have a first-round choose within the 2025 or 2026 drafts (each have been traded lately) and shouldn’t have a very deep farm system. So piecing collectively a commerce when it comes to moveable property is perhaps troublesome. The wage cap house, nevertheless, must be there for them to make use of.
