Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Cole Smith

The team's latest move aims to bolster their roster ahead of the playoffs.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired forward Cole Smith from another NHL team. Smith, a 27-year-old winger, brings a physical presence and depth scoring to the Golden Knights' lineup as they push for a playoff spot.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights have struggled with injuries and inconsistent play this season, so adding a versatile forward like Smith could provide a boost as they try to secure a postseason berth. Smith's combination of size, speed, and two-way ability makes him a valuable depth piece for a contending team.

The details

The Golden Knights acquired Smith in a trade with an undisclosed team. Smith, who stands 6'3" and weighs 215 pounds, has 10 goals and 15 assists in 60 games so far this season. He's known for his physical, forechecking style of play and should provide energy and secondary scoring for Vegas.

  • The trade was completed on March 4, 2026, following the Golden Knights' 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
  • Smith is expected to join the Golden Knights and be available for their next game on March 6, 2026.

The players

Cole Smith

A 27-year-old forward acquired by the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade. Smith is known for his physical, two-way style of play and should provide depth scoring and energy for the team.

Kelly McCrimmon

The general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, who made the trade to acquire Cole Smith and bolster the team's roster for the playoff push.

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What they’re saying

“Cole Smith is the kind of player who can make a real difference for us down the stretch. He plays a hard-nosed game and will bring some extra physicality and scoring punch to our lineup.”

— Kelly McCrimmon, General Manager, Vegas Golden Knights (chatsports.com)

What’s next

Smith is expected to make his debut for the Golden Knights on March 6, 2026 when the team takes on the Los Angeles Kings.

The takeaway

The acquisition of Cole Smith represents a savvy move by the Golden Knights' front office to add depth and physicality to their roster as they push for a playoff spot. Smith's well-rounded game should provide a boost to the team's bottom-six forwards and help them match up better against physical opponents down the stretch.