In a recent interview with Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague spoke about the end of his tenure with the Vegas Golden Knights. According to Hague, it doesn’t sound like he was given a particularly warm goodbye from the only organization he had ever known.
Even before the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hague believed he would be extended by the Golden Knights, saying, “I thought I had a deal done with Vegas done before the playoffs, and we had agreed on what it was going to be. On both sides, it was a word agreement. Obviously nothing was signed. Because I said to them, ‘We’re going into the playoffs. That’s the No. 1 priority right now and we’ll reconvene and get this done after the season.’ It was all good.”
As it turns out, Vegas pivoted away from their purported verbal agreement with Hague, needing to open the necessary cap space to acquire Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade. The day before the trade was made for Marner, the Golden Knights traded Hague to the Predators for Jeremy Lauzon, Colton Sissons, and a 2027 third-round pick. Hague subsequently signed a four-year, $22MM extension in Nashville.
Other notes from the Western Conference:
- Earlier today, Meghan Angley provided a brief injury update regarding Taylor Makar, the younger brother of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. Makar is recovering from offseason upper-body surgery, and Angley asserts that he’ll be ready in the next few weeks. In the meantime, he’ll continue skating with the team in a non-contact jersey.
- One defensive prospect for the Los Angeles Kings is looking to avoid the dreaded “sophomore slump” this season. In an interview with Anthony Collazo of The Mayor’s Manor, prospect Angus Booth spoke about his mission to avoid the slump, saying, “I think you just don’t want to think about. The more you think about it, the more it could happen. So, I think you just focus on the moment. You practice, you play hard, you do what you’re going to do usually, and it should… it should be avoided.” The former fourth-round pick spent last season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, scoring two goals and 13 points in 50 games with a +6 rating.
What would you expect from Vegas a bouquet of flowers, your Jersey retired and a hug.
The Organization is all about themselves.
Shouldn’t all organizations be run like that? It’s a sports business. I can’t stand Las Vegas, particularly because their GM skates circles around other GM’s and does what it takes. I wish my club operated like them.
You don’t seem to grasp the concept that the NHL is a business. You want these teams to be sentimental to the players – except when you no longer want certain players on your favorite team. Then you will rant, rave, and scream about getting rid of those players with absolutely zero sentimentality. You are just another standard issue hypocritical fan.
The Hague trade looks like a pretty good deal for Vegas.
I think Hague could surprise. He’s a good Defensive guy and though he’s getting a bit old for a true breakout there’s untapped offence there that may or may never be seen.