The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Cole Smith from the Nashville Predators. In return, the Predators will receive a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Entry Draft, as well as defenseman Christoffer Sedoff.
This is the second trade in just a few hours for the Predators. They previously traded Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild.
Golden knights add spice
Smith is a 30-year-old forward who is in his sixth NHL season. In 41 games in Nashville this season, the Minnesota native scored six goals and added four assists.
Related: 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Tracker
Smith’s greatest contribution, however, is his perseverance. He doesn’t spend much ice time on average, but he isn’t afraid to use his body to make plays. Smit currently has that 119 hits during the seasonwhich was ranked second to the Predators. Interestingly enough, the team leader was the aforementioned McCarron, so the Predators traded their two hit leaders within hours of each other.
With the Golden Knights, Smith will likely do that sliding into a bottom six role. His physicality will be welcomed if they want to make a run in the play-offs. Teams looking to compete usually benefit from having someone who isn’t afraid to get rough in the trenches.
Smith will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. He’ll likely just be a rental and hit free agency this summer.
Predators keep dealing
The Predators appear determined to sell at this trade deadline. Two pieces have already been moved and there is still a possibility that Steven Stamkos will be moved before Friday’s deadline.
Sedoff was a 2020 draft pick and was considered a “project” for the team that drafted him. He has a lot of upside, though, and his play has improved over the seasons since he was drafted. He has always been a strong passer, but his skating has improved, allowing his existing strengths to flourish even more.
As for the draft pick, we’ll have to wait until 2028 to see who the Predators pick, assuming they don’t move the pick in a later trade. However, every pick has the potential to produce something great, and for a team looking to turn things around, there’s no such thing as too many draft picks.
Market affected?
As mentioned earlier, courageous players are beneficial to competitive teams. It will be interesting to see if players like Smith are moved, and if so, how the return compares to what the Predators got.
Check in with The hockey writers as we continue to break down trade coverage heading into Friday’s trade deadline!
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