NHL Rumors: Insider Links Blues Defenseman to Golden Knights

The St. Louis Blues have plenty of notable trade targets heading into the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline. Players like Vladimir Tarasenko, Ryan O'Reilly, and Ivan Barbashev are reportedly available, but they also have an underrated trade candidate in Niko Mikkola. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Vegas Golden Knights could make a push for Mikkola.

Playoff teams always aim to add to their defensive depth before the postseason, so it would make sense for the Golden Knights to acquire Mikkola. After all, they have been dealt with injury trouble this season, so having another bottom-pairing option like him would be a good idea. With that, his steady defensive play would make him a solid option for their penalty kill.

Mikkola is unlikely to net the Blues a major return at the deadline, so there's no harm in Vegas bringing him in as a depth piece. We will need to wait and see if they do in fact bring him in from here.