2 Trade Targets For the Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights had their worst start to a season in franchise history this year, but that can easily be attributed to the number of injuries that tore through the team right from the start of training camp. Now that their top guys are finally slotting back into the lineup, the Knights look more like the team that made the Final 4 in each of the last two seasons, and they're only going to get better. Vegas already made their big trade for this season, acquiring Jack Eichel from Buffalo in exchange for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and draft picks. As such, the team is right up against the cap and will be looking to shed salary at the deadline rather than bringing any additional players in. For the first time, fans can expect a quiet deadline from Vegas, but some moves will still be made. Here are two players the Knights could fit in under their cap hit.

Zdeno Chara

Yes, he's still playing. Chara proved last year that he still has game to give, putting in a strong season with the Washington Capitals and not looking at all out of place on their blueline. This season with the Islanders has been less of a success, but there's no way to say if that's on Chara or simply a result of the Islanders' terrible string of luck to start the year. Between significant injuries throughout their lineup and a 13-game road trip to kick off their season, the Isles have struggled across the board. They are currently paying Chara $750k for this season, and likely won't ask for too much in exchange for moving him elsewhere. Chara wants a shot at one more Stanley Cup, and the Knights could use a veteran to fill at least some of the role that the injured Alec Martinez plays for them. Chara could be that guy, and while he's not the game-breaker he once was, he's still one of the biggest and strongest hockey players around.

Derick Brassard

Speaking of guys with lots of game to give, Derick Brassard hasn't made the best decisions regarding which teams to sign with in the last couple of seasons. Since leaving the New York Islanders, his time in Arizona and Philadelphia has been a rough road. The Flyers have fallen off hard since their promising start to the year, and the upcoming UFA Brassard is one of the few players they have available that likely won't be back next year but could bring in some assets in a trade. He has 4 goals and 7 points in 18 games this year, and although he won't slot in at the top of the forward group, Brassard is the type of player that can really galvanize a team's bottom 6. He has a tendency to show up in a big way in the playoffs as well. With his salary currently set at a meager $825k, the Knights won't have to break the bank or get crafty with LTIR money to fit him in, and Brassard could provide a big scoring boost once the post-season rolls around. 

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