When NHL free agency begins Wednesday at 9 a.m., the Vegas Golden Knights will have several holes to fill after trading Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers on Friday. The departure of the 25-year-old winger leaves a scoring void, but the team may look to the free-agent market rather than promote from within.
Here are five players the Knights could pursue:
Patrik Laine
Age: 28 | Position: Right wing | 2025-26 stats: 1 assist in 5 games | Career: 224 goals, 422 points
Laine is a low-risk, high-reward option. When healthy, he is one of the league’s elite shooters, with 85 power-play goals since entering the NHL in 2016. He scored 20 goals in 52 games for Montreal two seasons ago. However, he missed most of last season after core-muscle surgery. Laine said he is healthy now, and the Knights could add him on a cheap deal to boost their power play.
Patrick Kane
Age: 37 | Position: Right wing | 2025-26 stats: 57 points in 67 games | Career: 508 goals, 1,400 points
Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, may prioritize winning in the twilight of his career. After missing the playoffs with Detroit and with captain Dylan Larkin requesting a trade, Kane could seek a contender. The Knights need depth scoring, and Kane remains one of the best scorers of his generation.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
Age: 31 | Position: Right wing | 2025-26 stats: 12 goals, 32 points | Career: 184 goals, 416 points
Bjorkstrand is a two-time 50-point player and six-time 20-goal scorer. After a down year with Tampa Bay (32 points) and a pointless first round, his market value may drop below his previous $5.4 million cap hit. He is a playmaker but also a power-play threat, with nine of his 12 goals last season coming on the man advantage.
Jamie Oleksiak
Age: 33 | Position: Defenseman | 2025-26 stats: 5 goals, 15 points, plus-9 | Career: 161 points, 758 games
If the Knights do not re-sign Jeremy Lauzon, they will need a physical, third-pairing defenseman. Oleksiak, known as “Big Rig” at 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds, could slot in next to Kaedan Korczak. He averaged 16:56 of ice time in 78 games for Seattle last season.
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Age: 34 | Position: Defenseman | 2025-26 stats: 3 goals, 14 points, plus-6 | Career: 161 points, 751 games
Van Riemsdyk was selected by the Knights in the 2017 expansion draft but traded the next day. Now a veteran with Washington, he has missed only 43 games in five seasons and adds durability and championship experience. He could provide steady depth on the blue line.
