The Vegas Golden Knights are set to debut their newest blue-line addition tonight, as defenseman Rasmus Andersson suits up for the first time since being acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Calgary Flames. After a brief delay due to work visa issues, Andersson is officially active and ready to go against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
To make room for Andersson on the active roster, Vegas reassigned Jaycob Megna to AHL Henderson. It’s a procedural move, but one that clears the way for Andersson to immediately step into a top-four role. The Knights didn’t hold a morning skate ahead of tonight’s game - the second half of a back-to-back after a 4-3 loss to the Bruins - so we’ll have to wait until warmups to see who pairs with the right-shot defenseman on the left side.
Andersson brings a strong two-way game and some offensive pop, which Vegas will gladly welcome. He closed out his time in Calgary with a goal and two assists over his last four games, and if he can carry that momentum into his Golden Knights debut, he could be a difference-maker right out of the gate.
From a cap perspective, Andersson’s $2.275 million hit is manageable - especially with Calgary retaining half of his salary. Even while he was on the non-roster list, his cap number still counted, so there’s no additional financial shuffle needed now that he’s active.
Vegas currently has $3.09 million in cap space, thanks in part to Alex Pietrangelo being on season-ending LTIR, and both William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb on standard LTIR. That number also accounts for Carter Hart, Brett Howden, and Brandon Saad, all of whom remain on injured reserve.
As for Megna, his latest NHL stint was short-lived - just four days. He was recalled as insurance on the blue line while Andersson’s paperwork was processed, especially after Vegas sent Zach Whitecloud to Calgary as part of the trade.
Megna did see action Monday against the Flyers, logging just over 11 minutes and recording a shot on goal. He was then scratched for Tuesday’s game in Boston, making way for Dylan Coghlan to step into the third pair.
Coghlan, for now, remains the seventh defenseman on the roster, though his spot could be temporary with McNabb expected to return after the Olympic break. That could send Coghlan - or another depth piece - back to Henderson as the lineup continues to evolve.
For Megna, this marks his eighth NHL season and his first with the Golden Knights. The 6-foot-6, 214-pound veteran has played in four games this year, posting a -5 rating and a 45.0% Corsi For. While his NHL numbers haven’t jumped off the page, he’s been a steady shutdown presence in the AHL, tallying seven points and a +4 rating in 27 games with Henderson.
The Knights, despite dropping their last two in regulation, still sit comfortably atop the Pacific Division. They’ll be looking for Andersson to bring some stability and spark to a defensive group that’s been in flux due to injuries. If he can settle in quickly, Vegas will only get tougher to play against - and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the West.