Golden Knights' 10 Best Acquisitions

Roster turnover is a two-way street for all 31 NHL franchises.
As the Vegas Golden Knights have progressed through three seasons in the league, players have come and gone through trades and free agency. Vegas has added players through the draft who are on the cusp of significant NHL production.

We have compiled a list in no particular order of the 10 best acquisitions in Golden Knights history. There are players in the organization who have the potential to play their way onto this list in the near future like a Nic Hague or a Nicolas Roy.
As Vegas gears up for its fourth season in the league, here are the best acquisitions Kelly McCrimmon and George McPhee have made.
Mark Stone - Vegas acquired Stone via trade with the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg and a 2020 2nd round pick (Egor Sokolov).
- A superstar. One of the best forwards in the NHL - GL
- One of the best two-way players in the game. With health and productive linemates, can be a point-per-game player. Exactly who you want leading your team to battle. - GW
Marc-Andre Fleury - Vegas acquired Fleury along with a 2020 2nd round pick (later traded to Chicago) from the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2017 Expansion Draft.
- Face of the franchise. Led VGK to the finals in Year 1 - GL
- Personality and character alone make him the ultimate teammate. Vegas welcomed Fleury with open arms, and he's given all he's got in the Golden Knights crease. He's a first-ballot hall-of-famer. - GW
Max Pacioretty - Vegas acquired Pacioretty via trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2019 2nd round pick (Samuel Fagemo).
- Returned to 30-goal form this season and the perfect fit to Stone - GL
- Few wield a shot like Pacioretty. His presence on the power play and ability to score from anywhere makes him a handful to deal with. - GW
Robin Lehner - Vegas acquired Lehner via trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Malcolm Subban, Slava Demin and a 2020 2nd round pick (Drew Commesso). Vegas also traded a 2020 5th round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the deal in exchange for Toronto taking on 50% of Lehner's salary for 2019-20.
- One of the best goalies in the NHL who came over in a rental deal then stayed long term - GL
- Lehner has proved to the world that he is an elite NHL goaltender. Even still, he is out there to prove to himself that he can be the best goalie in the league. - GW
Reilly Smith - Vegas acquired Smith from the Florida Panthers during the 2017 Expansion Draft in exchange for a 2018 4th round pick (Jack Gorniak).
- One of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. Fixture on the All Underrated Team - GL
- Not many teams have multiple elite two-way players. Vegas does in Stone and Smith. He couples defensive prowess with crafty playmaking in ways that most players can't. - GW
Shea Theodore - Vegas acquired Theodore and Clayton Stoner from the Anaheim Ducks during the 2017 Expansion Draft.
- Norris Trophy candidate. One of the smoothest skaters in the NHL with power and agility - GL
- Rising star. Theodore was the Golden Knights best player in the 2020 playoffs. Vegas invested in him after 2017-18 and he's paying it back with production. - GW
Cody Glass - Vegas selected Glass in the 1st round (6th overall) during the 2017 NHL Draft.
- Headed for top-six center work - GL
- Glass isn't the best NHL player from his draft class yet. But in 2-3 years, he certainly could be. - GW
Peyton Krebs - Vegas selected Krebs in the 1st round (17th overall) during the 2019 NHL Draft.
- Has superstar earmarks. Confident and driven - GL
- Krebs was in the bubble with the Golden Knights for a reason. He's only 19, but he's close to making an impact on the organization. - GW
Alex Tuch - Vegas acquired Tuch via trade with the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2018 3rd round pick (Connor Dewar) during the 2017 Expansion Draft.
- Big man with speed and skill. Threatening to burst through with a monster season - GL
- Tuch showed flashes of excellence in the 2020 playoffs. At full health, he can blossom into the player he's shown flashes of. - GW
Alex Pietrangelo - Vegas acquired Pietrangelo via free agency on Oct. 12, 2020.
- Well-rounded D who does everything at an elite level and a winning pedigree - GL
- One of the best all-around defensemen in the NHL. Pietrangelo brings the Vegas defense into a new echelon and adds to the VGK culture. - GW