Penguins Linked to Vegas D-man, 2nd Possible Target Available

There are not many restricted free agent defensemen, especially ones who might be considered attractive acquisitions with little risk. Further, most teams with RFAs now have more salary cap space due to the coming salary cap spike up to $95.5 million for next season. The financial conditions and market dearth make the few targets high-profile acquisitions, and now reports suggest that Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has a serious interest in one.

The Vegas Golden Knights were little more than a speed bump as the Edmonton Oilers rolled through Vegas on their way to the Stanley Cup Final, so changes need to be made in the desert, and defenseman Nic Hague might be the trade chip to get the process started.

According to Nick Kypreos, published in the Toronto Star, both the Penguins and Montreal Canadiens are “in hot pursuit” of Hague, who is a tough 6-foot-6 defenseman with a heavy shot. His point shot has been nicknamed the “Haguer-bomb,” but it is his work in the defensive zone, especially in front of his own net, that makes him an attractive trade get.

According to colleague Hannah Kirkell of Vegas Hockey Now, “Hague is a tough customer, unafraid to drop the gloves to stick up for a teammate. He’s nasty in front of the net. He doesn’t always play up to his size, but he’s plenty physical. Hague isn’t exactly an offensive defenseman, but he moves the puck reasonably well.”

Hague is only 26 years old with plenty of big-game experience earned from the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup run and has inflicted far more bruises than he’s received. He’s finishing a three-year deal with a salary cap hit just below $2.3 million.

The left side of the Penguins’ defense became a crater of mistakes and misfortune after the team traded Marcus Pettersson in January. The gaggle of Matt Grzelcyk, Ryan Graves, P.O Joseph, Ryan Shea, and eventually Conor Timmins weren’t able to solidify the left side as Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang struggled or whiffed on the right, and the Penguins’ blue line crumbled.

An additional RFA target took center stage Monday as the NY Post’s Larry Brooks wrote that it seems inevitable that the New York Rangers will “move on” from younger defenseman K’Andre Miller.

Miller, 25, completed a two-year bridge deal with a $3.872 million salary cap hit and is arbitration eligible, which is a significant fact that will impact any trade talks. As Dubas noted to PHN on Friday, an RFA arbitration request is a serious consideration in any internal and presumably external moves.

Reportedly, the Rangers will undergo an overhaul as GM Chris Drury does not believe the team chemistry is conducive to winning. Drury fired head coach Peter Laviolette following the season and quickly hired former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan in hopes of adding a firm hand behind the bench to straighten out some of the problems with caused the Rangers to fall from their Presidents’ Trophy winning season in 2023-24 to out of the playoffs in 2024-25.

A weekend report from The Athletic’s Arthur Staple indicated only a few players on the roster were untouchable. Interestingly, the Penguins also own the New York Rangers’ 2025 or 2026 first-round pick. Trade provisions protect the ’25 pick because it’s 12th overall, but the ’26 pick is unprotected. The Rangers have until 48 hours prior to the NHL Draft on June 27 to decide if they’re keeping the 2025 pick or giving it to the Penguins to satisfy the trade they made with the Vancouver Canucks for J.T. Miller, and the Canucks subsequently included the pick tp the Penguins in the Pettersson and Drew O’Connor deal.