Hannah Kirkell
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is less than 24 hours away, and you can’t afford to look away for a second. Over the past few days, there has been a seemingly endless flurry of activity as general managers around the league scramble to make the necessary additions. The Vegas Golden Knights are no exception, entering the rat race with a pair of pre-deadline deals.
Less than 48 hours after acquiring a gritty winger from the Nashville Predators, the Golden Knights made their second deadline move. On Thursday, they traded Jesper Vikman and two draft picks to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Nic Dowd.
Nic Dowd, a veteran center from Huntsville, Alabama, won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. Even at 35, he’s still one of the most effective fourth-line centers in the league. Dowd doesn’t generate much offense— he has 88 goals and 192 points in 637 NHL games. However, he makes up for it with his defensive prowess and physicality.
If you didn’t get the picture after Tuesday’s trade, the Golden Knights are clearly trying to get tougher. Dowd was third on the Capitals in hits with 113 in 55 games. He also isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.
Dowd is in the first year of a two-year contract carrying a $3 million AAV.
Jesper Vikman, the 23-year-old goaltending prospect heading back the other way, was selected by the Golden Knights in the 5th round of the 2020 NHL Draft. In 18 games with the Henderson Silver Knights this season, Vikman has a 8-7-4 record and a .866 save percentage.
In addition to Vikman, the Capitals will get a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. The 2027 third-rounder originally belonged to the San Jose Sharks; the Golden Knights acquired it in the Tomáš Hertl deal.
