- Golden Knights acquire Parker Wotherspoon from Pittsburgh for Kaedan Korczak on free agency eve
- Pittsburgh retains half of Wotherspoon’s salary, opening more than $3 million in Vegas cap space
- Read below for what each side gets out of the blue line swap
The Golden Knights cleared cap space with a day left before free agency.
Vegas acquired defenseman Parker Wotherspoon from the Penguins on Tuesday in exchange for defenseman Kaedan Korczak. Pittsburgh is retaining 50% of Wotherspoon’s salary, which turns the swap into more than $3 million in fresh cap room for the Knights ahead of July 1.
The Golden Knights made it official:
Korczak was the bigger commitment to move. The 25-year-old is signed through 2029-30 at a $3.25 million cap hit, and shipping that number out tells you how badly Vegas wanted flexibility this week.
He also happens to be leaving the only NHL franchise he’s played for. Korczak put up three goals and 16 points in 78 games last season, then added three assists across 13 playoff games during the Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Pittsburgh gets a cost-controlled piece for its back end. Korczak is 25 and locked up for four more seasons, which fits a Penguins group still sorting out its next core.
Wotherspoon goes the other way after the best year of his career. The 28-year-old played 80 games and set personal highs with 30 points, finished plus-17 to rank second on the Pittsburgh roster, and led the blue line with 112 blocked shots.
With half his money retained, Wotherspoon counts just $500,000 against the Vegas cap on a deal that runs through next season. That is cheap, reliable third-pair depth the Knights can plug in right away.
Vegas has stayed busy on the margins, having already flipped goaltender Akira Schmid to the Panthers earlier this week.
Pittsburgh confirmed its side:
Free agency opens Wednesday, and Vegas just handed itself more money to spend when it does.
