Vegas Golden Knights Make Defensive Trade

The Vegas Golden Knights made a defensive change, trading Kaedan Korczak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Parker Wotherspoon.

What happened?

Vegas Golden Knights agreed to the trade on June 30, 2026, in a straight swap of defensemen.

Korczak, 25, played 78 games for the Golden Knights last season, registering 16 points and a plus-6 rating.

Why it matters for Vegas Golden Knights

The move saves money for the Golden Knights, as Korczak is entering the first season of a four-year, $13 million contract.

Wotherspoon was a fixture in Pittsburgh's top defensive pair alongside Erik Karlsson last season.

What comes next?

The Golden Knights are now 4th in the Western Conference with a 39-26 record, on a W3 streak, after losing 0-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes on June 15, 2026.

Parker Wotherspoon is signed for another season at a $1 million cap hit, with the Penguins retaining 50% of his salary.

The Golden Knights add an impact defenseman in Wotherspoon, who played on one of the better units in the NHL last season.

Korczak is a right-shot defenseman, while Wotherspoon plays the left side, so it's not a clean lineup swap.

At 6 feet 3, 206 pounds, Korczak is a little bigger than Wotherspoon and also more than three years younger.

The trade gives the Golden Knights more flexibility on the blue line, with Wotherspoon's experience and skill set.