The Vegas Golden Knights have never been shy about making bold moves, and this season is no different. After already pulling the trigger on a significant deal to bring in defenseman Rasmus Andersson from Calgary-costing them at least one first-round pick, potentially two-the Knights are once again in position to make another splash before the Olympic trade freeze hits on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
This time, the target should be Nashville Predators forward Michael Bunting.
Let’s start with the basics: Bunting is on an expiring deal, has no trade protection, and is producing at a solid clip-30 points through 55 games. He’s not a blockbuster name, but he doesn’t need to be. What Vegas needs right now is depth, and Bunting fits that bill perfectly.
The Golden Knights’ top line of Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner is among the most dynamic trios in the NHL. But once you move down the lineup, the scoring drop-off becomes noticeable-and costly.
Keegan Kolesar, for example, is earning $2.5 million this season and has managed just 14 points in 55 games. That’s not the kind of secondary production a Cup contender can afford to carry into the spring.
That’s where Bunting comes in. Plug him into the middle six, and suddenly you’ve got a more balanced attack that can roll three lines with real scoring potential.
He’s a gritty, high-motor winger who thrives in systems that play with pace and structure-exactly what Vegas brings to the table. And with his contract up at the end of the season, the Knights wouldn’t be on the hook long-term, which is critical given their cap situation.
Vegas has just over $3 million in deadline cap space, and that number gets tighter when you consider that both Andersson and Pavel Dorofeyev will need new contracts this offseason. That’s why a rental like Bunting makes so much sense. He’s affordable, effective, and expendable after the season-especially if he boosts his value with a strong playoff run and earns himself a big payday elsewhere.
From Nashville’s perspective, the writing’s on the wall. With Barry Trotz expected to step aside, the Predators are shifting into seller mode.
Elliotte Friedman reported that a deal to send Bunting to the Islanders nearly happened in late January, falling apart only over the year of the draft pick involved. So the Preds are clearly open for business, and Vegas should be on the phone.
A deal could involve Kolesar heading to Nashville along with a draft pick, with the Predators potentially retaining some of Bunting’s salary to sweeten the return. That’s a win-win. Vegas upgrades their forward depth, Nashville adds future assets, and Bunting gets a chance to shine on a legitimate Cup contender before hitting the open market.
Now, it’s worth noting that the Golden Knights weren’t in the mix for the Quinn Hughes blockbuster, which raised some eyebrows given their history of swinging big. But let’s not forget: this team has already landed marquee names like Stone, Marner, Eichel, Pietrangelo, Hertl, and Hanifin.
The result? One Stanley Cup, two Final appearances, and a playoff berth every year since their 2017 debut.
They don’t need to chase every big name-they need to make the right moves. And right now, Bunting looks like the right move.
Of course, forward depth isn’t the only concern. Goaltending remains a question mark heading into the Olympic break.
While there aren’t any clear trade targets in net just yet, that could change quickly as teams reassess their situations closer to the March deadline. Don’t be surprised if Vegas keeps an eye on that market, too.
But for now, the focus should be on Bunting. He’s the kind of under-the-radar addition that can pay off in a big way come playoff time.
And with the Olympic freeze looming, the clock is ticking. If the Golden Knights want to stay ahead of the curve-and ahead of the pack-they’d be wise to make their move now.