(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

The free agency dinner bell is set to ring in two days, and the Golden Knights have plenty of business to take care of. Understandably, most of the focus has been on VGK sniffing around some of the biggest names available, but they also have a lot of work to do with their own players set to hit free agency. Here’s a quick look at each player set to hit the market’s situation, projected contract value, and a prediction of his future in Vegas.

Rasmus Andersson
UFA
Age: 29
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $8,744,914 AAV for 6 years

From the moment the Golden Knights acquired Andersson from the Flames, it was pretty clear they were going to re-sign him. Andersson’s play was a bit sporadic during his time in Vegas, especially in the Stanley Cup Final, but he has shown more than enough upside to prove to be worth an extension. We’ve reported, as have others, that the Golden Knights and Andersson agreed to a contract outline months ago and still believe that deal will come through in the extremely near future.

Prediction: $8,500,000 AAV for 7 years with VGK

Dylan Coghlan
UFA
Age: 28
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $850,000 for 1 year

Coghlan returned to the Vegas organization last summer looking for an opportunity to break back through at the NHL level despite a pretty deep defense corps. It took him a long time to finally do it, but once he did, he made quite the impact at quite the time. He played just three games in the regular season before appearing in 13 during the playoffs and five of the six Stanley Cup Final games. He proved to be up to the task, which actually could make life a bit more difficult on VGK. Other teams will be lurking on a player who has never signed a deal worth more than six figures annually. That may change this summer.

Prediction: $1,000,000 one-way contract for 2 years with VGK

Ben Hutton
UFA
Age: 33
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $1,421,600 AAV for 2 years

The lovable 7th defenseman has been ready and able to step into the VGK lineup every time he’s been called upon for the last five seasons. However, if someone is willing to offer beyond the league minimum, the Golden Knights probably won’t be able to keep him around. He’s proven capable enough to play regularly and is an absolute gem in the locker room.

Prediction: Leaves in free agency

Jeremy Lauzon
UFA
Age: 29
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $3,130,400 AAV for 3 years

It took Lauzon some time to find his stride with the Golden Knights. There were massive penalty problems early in the year, and his defensive game wasn’t up to speed as he battled through a few injuries. Once the playoffs rolled around, though, he looked like exactly the player Vegas thought they were getting. His physical presence was crucial in the Utah series, and he became much more reliable in his own end. The price tag seems a bit high for what he offers, but VGK may not have a choice as they really don’t have anyone else quite like him.

Prediction: $2,500,000 AAV for 2 years with VGK

Brandon Saad
UFA
Age: 33
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $1,920,218 for 1 year

Saad posted just nine points in 49 regular season games and then tallied just two assists and no goals in five playoff games. He’s a good veteran to have around a team, but the price seems way out of whack for what he has offered since coming over from St. Louis. Unless he’s willing to take a league minimum deal and be at risk of being placed on waivers (which seems unlikely considering how it ended in STL), he’s probably going to be wearing a new jersey next season.

Prediction: Leaves in free agency

Akira Schmid
RFA w/ Arbitration
Age: 26
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $2,527,200 for 2 years

No one started or won more games in the regular season for the Golden Knights in 2025-26 than Akira Schmid. The easy-going Swiss goalie is the perfect backup as he’s capable of winning games in a rotation, able to step in for longer stretches if needed, and can go long periods between games and remain sharp. There’s even still some potential upside as a starter if handed the reins behind a defensively solid team. The challenge for VGK will be the price. If Adin Hill remains in Vegas, they’ll have a hard time paying him more than the league minimum, but if Hill is moved, Schmid is a perfect backup for Carter Hart.

Prediction: Files for arbitration, re-signs for $1,750,000 for 2 years before hearing with VGK

Colton Sissons
UFA
Age: 32
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $1,508,577 for 2 years

Over the course of the season, Sissons turned into a bit of a jack of all trades for the Golden Knights. He played all over the lineup with bunches of different players and in many different situations, and pretty much performed the same in every spot. Outside of faceoffs and penalty killing, though, he doesn’t bring a ton of pop to a lineup, and the Golden Knights are probably going to be looking for a little more offensive bang for their buck this season.

Prediction: Leaves in free agency

Cole Smith
UFA
Age: 30
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $2,098,720 for 2 years

In a perfect world, the Golden Knights would probably love to have Cole Smith back and playing every night on their 4th line along with Nic Dowd. However, Smith has likely priced himself out of Vegas with his consistency throughout the VGK playoff run. He came up with a couple of huge goals early and was a forechecking force the entire 22-game stretch. If the market softens on him, maybe the Golden Knights can bring him back, but more than likely, he’ll cash in elsewhere.

Prediction: Leaves in free agency

Reilly Smith
UFA
Age: 35
Projected Contract by AFP Analytics: $1,400,753 for 1 year

This one comes down to what Reilly Smith wants to do more than what the Golden Knights want. If Smith is willing to take a league minimum deal with some incentives, there’s no reason why VGK wouldn’t take him up on it. There’s still potentially some untapped value if he can find his way back onto a line with William Karlsson, which never happened once Karlsson returned this season, and his value to the locker room and community is unmatched.

Prediction: $850,000 for 1 year with VGK