Good morning, folks. The Vegas Golden Knights haven’t had much luck drafting. Just over 10% of the players they’ve drafted will be on NHL rosters at the start of the 2025-26 season, and half of those are fringe-NHLers. They need another success story.
Elsewhere in the Daily Nuggets, ten interesting Free Agents remain unsigned. For the second time in six months, the Pittsburgh Penguins fleeced the Vancouver Canucks in a trade. Without NHL work, a journeyman scoring winger has his sights set on the KHL. The decentralized Draft is here to stay, and the Florida Panthers have undergone a complete change in the past six years.
In a bit of personal news, the movers I hired to haul my possessions cross-country arrive today. And not a moment too soon; I made the unfortunate decision of not taking my coffee machine in my car. It’s been fun living with just a bed– no, not really– but I’m ready to return to civilized life. So, tonight, I’ll stop watching Tales From the Crypt on my laptop and upgrade to a TV screen. Huzzah!
That’s enough from the peanut gallery. Let’s talk hockey!
Golden Knights News
For far too long, the Golden Knights have been the butt of every ‘bad development’ joke. They’ve made 58 draft picks since entering the league in 2017, and only six will start the 2025-26 season on NHL rosters. After Nic Hague’s departure, they need another development success story. And there’s a real chance that one will come to fruition this season.
ICYMI: As far as the Golden Knights’ prospect pool goes, Trevor Connelly is the cream of the crop. That hasn’t gone unnoticed– he’ll join Team USA in Minneapolis for the 2025 World Juniors Summer Showcase.
The Athletic ($): The Athletic staff compiled a list of predictions for next season. Spoiler alert– they’re all pretty high on the Golden Knights.
NHL News, Rumors, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet: Oh, goodie. Despite the decentralized Draft lasting *checks notes* 4 hours and 28 minutes, the NHL voted in favor of keeping the format for the 2026 Draft. I’m sure we’re all equally thrilled about this new development.
Sportsnet: The “Free Agent frenzy” has come and gone; everything’s quiet now. Despite a lack of activity, there are still a few Free Agents in need of a new home, including Victor Olofsson.
The Athletic ($): This is the most fun article I’ve read in months– maybe longer. We’ve officially hit the dog days of the offseason. Sean McIndoe decided to make the most of it, playing a game where he drafts a lineup of players from a single team with no repeated initials.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Oh, how far the Vancouver Canucks have fallen since the 2023-24 season. They’ve gone from a top-three team in the Western Conference to a rudderless ship, throwing stuff at the wall to see if it sticks. They’ve lost four of their last five trades, including sending Artūrs Šilovs to the Penguins on Sunday.
Florida Hockey Now: Just a few years ago, the Panthers were at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, incapable of even making the playoffs. Now, they’re a dynasty. What changed between 2019 and now? In a word, everything.
Detroit Hockey Now: It’s unusual for such a talented goalscorer to have this much trouble finding work. Two years ago, Daniel Sprong scored 18 goals in 76 games with the Red Wings; three years ago, he scored 21 in 66 with the Kraken. Now, with no Free Agency interest, he might be forced to leave the NHL for the KHL.
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