General manager Kelly McCrimmon had two tasks he wanted to accomplish heading into free agency: Take care of his own free agents, and clear cap space.
A busy first day of the new league year ensured the Vegas Golden Knights tidied up those loose ends. They ended the day with 13 signings, including eight of their own free agents.
“We had some expiring contracts that we had to make decisions on and get those taken cared of,” McCrimmon said. “We’ve done that.”
The Knights have their seven defensemen they’ll take into training camp, starting with the re-signing of Rasmus Andersson to a seven-year, $59.5 million contract when the day began.
What came before was the most surprising signing with Jeremy Lauzon returning on a six-year, $24 million extension — hours after the Knights acquired Parker Wortherspoon from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Kaedan Korczak.
Dylan Coghlan is also coming back on a two-year deal. He will replace Ben Hutton as the seventh defenseman that will challenge for a third-pairing spot.
It’s also a defense that’s heavy with left-handed shots. Andersson and Coghlan are the only righties.
McCrimmon said he spoke with new coach Ryan Craig and assistant coach John Stevens, and all parties agree they can work through that. McCrimmon said there is enough versatility for someone to move to the right side.
“It’s a really important part of our hockey team,” McCrimmon said. “I like the mix. I like the balance of the guys that returned.”
Tough trades
Doing so came at a cost.
Korczak, a second-round pick in 2019, was sent to Pittsburgh in a one-for-one swap to clear his $3.25 million cap hit. The Knights got Wortherspoon on 50 percent retention of his $1 million cap hit, clearing $2.75 million in space.
The Knights also traded longtime fourth-line forward Keegan Kolesar to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday for a seventh-round pick next year and a 2029 third-round pick.
Kolesar was entering the second year of a three-year, $7.5 million extension he signed in December 2024.
“It was a hard phone call for both of us,” McCrimmon said. “No bitterness. He understands how it works. I think we’ll have a friendship forever. I hope he does great.”
The Knights’ roster now holds nine forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.
Land of opportunity
On the surface, the Knights have some spots to fill. McCrimmon said this will be an offseason of opportunity.
The Knights signed forward Marc Gatcomb from the New York Islanders to a two-year contract. The 26-year-old from Woburn, Massachusetts played 49 of his 88 career games last season. McCrimmon sees him as someone who can fill Kolesar’s void.
McCrimmon also gave a ringing endorsement to Braeden Bowman following his 54-game rookie season. Bowman will challenge for a spot following his 26-point campaign.
“He proved he belongs,” McCrimmon said. “He’ll be an everyday player with us.”
Another one of those spots will be filled by the returning Victor Olofsson, who is back with the Knights on a one-year deal after spending last season with Calgary and Colorado.
Olofsson played 56 games with the Knights in the 2024-25 season, finishing with 15 goals and 29 points.
Olofsson, a Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native, comes with a dangerous shot that could replace the outgoing Pavel Dorofeyev on the first power play unit.
“We wanted to add someone that has a history of being able to score goals, which Victor does. We had him, so we know the player,” McCrimmon said. “We liked more about his game then and now than just the fact he’s a shooter, but he brings that skillset to our team.”
Challengers from Henderson
That, theoretically, leaves one spot up for grabs. McCrimmon didn’t give specifics, but noted how well Kai Uchacz and Tanner Laczynski played when called up last season.
Laczynski signed a three-year extension with a $900,000 cap hit.
There’s also the possibility that 2024 first-round pick Trevor Connelly challenges for a roster spot, but those answers will come during training camp.
McCrimmon said he didn’t anticipate being a big spender on Wednesday because of the cap limitations. In their four trades since Friday, the Knights acquired six draft picks and created $5.25 million in cap space.
Or, as McCrimmon called them, “much-needed assets.”
“As your team is trying to win all the time, you’re using up assets as you improve your team,” he said.
And with those assets, you can’t expect the Knights to sit on their hands all summer.
They are reportedly one of three teams Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin would like to be traded to. Larkin carries an $8.7 million cap hit for the next four seasons. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman isn’t looking for a futures deal — nor is he in any hurry.
That’s going to require more cap maneuvering if the Knights want to get involved in that.
“Over the course of the offseason, we’re going to stay plugged in with what’s going on in the league,” McCrimmon said.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
