The Vegas Golden Knights did not make any additional moves in the hours leading up to the NHL’s trade deadline on Friday.
However, Vegas made two moves in the days prior, most recently acquiring forward Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals for goaltender prospect Jesper Vikman and two draft picks. Vegas also landed landed forward Cole Smith from Nashville on Tuesday. The main addition came back in mid-January when Vegas traded for traded for defenseman Rasmus Andersson from Calgary.
The true splash of the 2025-26 season came in the summer with the sign-and-trade deal for Mitch Marner, and the Golden Knights also inked Carter Hart to a two-year contract in October.
In the end, it was clear that Vegas’ primary goal at the deadline was to improve the bottom-six group of forwards.
In particular, the Golden Knights added a lot of heart, defensive reliability and energy to reshape the fourth line, which has not been a dynamic threat for several seasons.
Smith made his Vegas debut against Detroit and delivered a good first impression.
“I think you got a little bit of a feel for what he brings,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He’s 6-3, 195 pounds. He plays a very direct game. He likes to get in on the forecheck, he likes to play behind defensemen, he likes to play in the front-of-the-net area.”
Dowd is expected to center the fourth line in Friday’s game against Minnesota, with Smith on one side and Colton Sissons on the other.
McCrimmon said Dowd is “pretty much best in class in terms of what he does. He’s been one of the top defensive forwards in the NHL for the last five seasons. He really understands his role, relishes his role.”
Dowd scored at least 10 goals in each of his previous five seasons and has started 82 percent of his shifts in the defensive zone while averaging 2:40 on the penalty kill this year. That’s something he and Smith bring to the table.
McCrimmon cited the fact that both Dowd and Smith start the majority of their shifts in the defensive zone.
“It gives [Cassidy] a lot more flexibility in terms of how he deploys his forward group,” McCrimmon said. “These are defensive players, but I think this is really going to improve our forward group overall.”
McCrimmon also provided updates on the injury status of multiple players.
Mark Stone, who was placed on injured reserve on Thursday and who will miss his third straight game on Friday, remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Stone will not be available for Sunday’s game, but he is not expected to be out long-term.
Brett Howden, who has been out since Jan. 10, is expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s tilt against the Oilers, which will be a welcome addition to Vegas’ forward group.
William Karlsson has been out of the lineup since Nov. 8. He was not placed on season-ending long-term injured reserve, but he will not return in the regular season. Vegas will have to qualify for the postseason and win at least one round for Karlsson to return this year.
Lastly, Hart remains week-to-week. McCrimmon said the team will roll with three goalies when he returns.
The Golden Knights (29-19-14) have 20 games remaining in the regular season. Vegas is currently in first place in the Pacific Division, with Anaheim trailing by one point with a game in hand.
Photo courtesy of the Golden Knights