Revisiting The Golden Knights’ Blockbuster Offseason Trade With The Devils

The Vegas Golden Knights shocked the NHL world when they acquired Alexander Holtz from the New Jersey Devils but has it paid out for them?

The Golden Knights acquired Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid in exchange for Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round pick on the second day of the NHL draft in a move that made sense for both clubs. The Golden Knights were looking for young goal scorers and a goaltender after trading away Logan Thompson. The Devils needed a forward for their third line that could add a physical element and got just that with Cotter.

The Golden Knights drafted Cotter in the fourth round (115th overall) in the 2018 NHL draft. The 25-year-old played 138 games with Vegas, scoring 22 goals and 45 points. In his first season with the Devils, Cotter is on pace to set a career-high in goals (19) and points (30). Besides the goals and points, Cotter has fit HC Sheldon Keefe’s style of play perfectly. He’s willing to skate the puck in transition and is heavy on the forecheck when the team does elect to dump and chase.

He’s provided the Devils with versatility, playing up and down the lineup.

Holtz’s tenure with the Golden Knights hasn’t been as favourable. Through 41 games he’s scored just three goals and 10 points, on pace for lower production than both of his totals from last year in just about the same amount of ice time. He’s been given the opportunity to play up in the lineup with Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson but hasn’t impressed and has been demoted to the fourth line for quite some time.

A move that at the time made sense for the Golden Knights hasn’t panned out quite like they had hoped. Cotter was in and out of the lineup during his time with Vegas but has made a major impact with a top-10 team in the NHL standings. Despite that, the Golden Knights lead the Presidents’ Trophy race and have a 22-year-old winger who still has a small glimmer of hope of becoming a middle six-scoring winger.

GM Kelly McCrimmon has won a lot of his trades, but the early signs of this deal aren’t as positive as his others.

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