Golden Knights invade the latest NHL Trade Bait Board
The NHL is working on a January 13th start with rumors the Board of Governors will vote on it next week. This has also sparked new trade talks around the league.
As things get moving the NHL Rumors Mill is about to get more fun. Here’s The Daily Goal Horn’s updated Trade Bait Board with updates.
The Daily Goal Horn NHL Trade Bait Board
First let’s take a look at the previous board from November 28 with some notes.
- Patrik Laine, WPG (moved down)
- Johnny Gaudreau, CGY (moved down)
- Tyler Johnson, TB
- Alex Killorn, TB
- Shayne Gostibehere, PHI (moved down)
- Jaden Schwartz, STL (moved down)
- Phil Kessel, AZ (moved down)
- Pavel Buchnevich, NYR (moved off)
- Josh Bailey, NYI (moved down)
- Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (moved down)
- Jack Eichel, BUF (moved off)
- Mitch Marner, TOR (moved off)
Now here’s the updated board adjusted to the latest news and rumors. We are also showing 12 names instead of 10. Call them The Daily Goal Horn’s Dirty Dozen.
- Max Pacioretty, VGK (added)
- Patrik Laine, WPG (moved down)
- Johnny Gaudreau, CGY (moved down)
- Tyler Johnson, TB
- Alex Killorn, TB
- Jonathan Marchessault, VGK (added)
- Shayne Gostibehere, PHI (moved down)
- Alec Martinez, VGK (added)
- Jaden Schwartz, STL (moved down)
- Phil Kessel, AZ (moved down)
- Josh Bailey, NYI (moved down)
- Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (Added)
NHL Rumors: Max Pacioretty is your new number one

The Golden Knights are up against the cap and new reports suggest they are aggressively shopping Max Pacioretty. According to Frank Seravalli, “The Vegas Golden Knights have doubled down in recent days and weeks in an attempt to move Max Pacioretty.”
He’s not the only Knight in trade chatter either. Still, moving the 32 year-old won’t be easy. He comes with a $7 million cap hit with three years left on his deal. In order for the Knights to move that they will have to giving up a high draft pick and possibly eat up to 50% of his cap number.
Teams are reportedly interested, but which specific ones have yet to materialize. There’s a report that the Penguins are, but in all honesty, GM Jim Rutherford is involved in almost every trade rumor these days.
Jonathan Marchessault and Alec Martinez on the board
Also mentioned in the rumor mill are Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alec Martinez. These are not going to be easy moves. If you recall, MAF at 50% retained was turned down by the Carolina Hurricanes. At the draft they demanded a 1st round pick was added to make it happen. Vegas obviously turned it down.
For this reason I am not putting Fleury on the board yet. Marchessault comes in at 6 simply because acquiring Pacioretty may be to expensive and team may settle on him. He scored 22 goals and 47 points in 66 games last season. The 29 year-old has 4 seasons left with a $5 million AAV.
NHL Rumors: New York trade chatter to watch out for
Rumors around Mathew Barzal will continue around the Isles until he’s signed. The Islanders have been real aggressive in trying to shop veterans like Leo Komarov, but no takers.
Florida Hockey Now said that a source suggested to them the Islanders may trade forward Josh Bailey. He makes $5 million AAV for the next three seasons, so the Islanders may need to eat salary or throw in a high draft pick to facilitate a move.
Coming off the board for now
Jack Eichel is off the board with his recent comments about being pleased with the Sabres offseason moves that was highlighted by signing Taylor Hall.
Mitch Marner is a name that may pop up again come the NHL Trade Deadline. Same for Pavel Buchnevich, as a source told me he isn’t going anywhere to start the season.