Vegas looking to move team scoring leader to become cap compliant

Word coming out of Las Vegas has forward Max Pacioretty not only available, but being shopped fairly aggressively in order to provide the Golden Knights the ability to become cap compliant for the 2020-21 season, for which the league is targeting a January 13th start.

After inking big fish free agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a 7-year, $61.6M contract, putting the team nearly $1M over the cap, the Golden Knights find themselves in a position where either Pacioretty or fellow winger Jonathan Marchessault will have to be moved to provide the team with some cap flexibility.

The team was able to open up some space earlier this offseason when GM Kelly McCrimmon shipped defenseman Nate Schmidt and his $5.95M cap hit off to the Vancouver Canucks for 3rd round pick in 2022, but further moves are necessary with the team still sitting just above the cap.

Pacioretty was the team leader in both goals last season with 32 and points with 66 and is signed for another three seasons at $7M per season. At 32 years old, Pacioretty isn't getting any younger, but should still be able to provide quality production to go along with his excellent peripherals, as one of the team's best play-drivers.

One would have to imagine that the price tag on Pacioretty would be moderate-to-high, given his status as the team's leading scorer in 2019-20 and the fact that the Golden Knights moved Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a 2nd round pick to acquire him.

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