The Vegas Golden Knights have swapped defensemen in their cupboard, as Dylan Coghlan has been recalled from AHL Henderson, while Jaycob Megna has been assigned to the AHL in a corresponding transaction, per the team.
The exact move occurred on December 8th, and since then in the last several weeks, both players have cycled between the NHL and AHL.
Coghlan, in his second stint with Vegas, figures to take Megna’s spot in the lineup on the third pair tonight as the team hosts Columbus. A righty, he is a natural fit alongside Ben Hutton. The 27-year-old came to the Knights as an undrafted free agent prior to their first ever season, a high scorer out of the WHL, who immediately showed promise with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Coghlan debuted with Vegas during the 2020-21 season, and played in 59 games the following year, figuring to be a piece in the team’s future.
As the Knights missed the playoffs in 2022, Coghlan was dealt to Carolina in the Max Pacioretty deal as management shook things up. After short stints in the Hurricanes and Jets organizations, he caught back on with his original team on a one-year deal worth $775k at the NHL level last summer. As usual, Coghlan has been highly productive in the AHL so far this year with 16 points in 28 games as a top defender.
On the other hand, Megna was last recalled on New Year’s day, making three appearances in the last week, his first action as a Golden Knight. In those contests, the left hander was a -5, the team going 1-1-1. The 33-year-old, originally a seventh round pick back in 2012, has managed to carve out a 12-year career in North America mainly due to his size (6’6”). In 196 career NHL games, he has 27 points, spending most time in the AHL, besides 40+ game campaigns with the Sharks and Blackhawks from 2021-2024.
Megna is in the first year of his two year deal with the Knights organization. As captain of Henderson, the plan was not for him to spend much time away, but due to several injuries on the blueline, the Florida native got to make his mark with his sixth NHL team, now to return as the group’s leader.
Set for a homecoming moment in Vegas after three years away for his first NHL action of 2025-26, Coghlan will look to bring more mobility and consistency to the lineup against Columbus.