After Mitch Marner trade from Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs, Golden Knights add key blue line depth to bolster NHL roster

The Vegas Golden Knights continue to reshape their roster following their blockbuster acquisition of Mitch Marner from Auston Matthews‘ Toronto Maple Leafs. Their latest move addresses the blue line, as the franchise signed restricted free agent Lukas Cormier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level.

Cormier, 22, missed a significant portion of the 2024–25 season due to an offseason injury but returned in March to contribute nine assists in 19 games with the Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas’ AHL affiliate. His NHL experience is limited to two games, though he recorded an assist in his debut during a win over the New York Islanders in January 2024.

Despite his injury setbacks, the Golden Knights appear committed to developing internal talent while supplementing a roster already bolstered by high-profile additions like Marner.

Is Lukas Cormier ready for a bigger NHL role?

Though still largely unproven at the NHL level, Cormier has shown signs of potential. Drafted in the third round (68th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, he developed through the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders before turning pro in 2022.

In 267 AHL games between Utica and Henderson, the Winnipeg native has tallied 83 points and a career plus/minus of +32. His offensive instincts and skating have made him one of the more intriguing depth prospects in Vegas’ system.

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After falling short of expectations in the 2024–25 playoffs, Vegas entered the offseason with clear intent. Mitch Marner’s arrival via a sign-and-trade with Toronto was the major headline, but the club has quietly made additional moves to build depth and flexibility.

Cormier may not be a headline-grabbing addition, but in a league where depth on defense often determines playoff resilience, his signing could prove timely.