Why Golden Knights Should Deal for Flyers' James van Riemsdyk amid NHL Trade Rumors

The Vegas Golden Knights have been busy trying to improve their roster ahead of the NHL trade deadline, which is set for Friday at 3 p.m. ET. They acquired center Teddy Blueger in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, then traded for Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jonathan Quick on Thursday.

Even though time is running out to make moves, the Golden Knights may not be done. They still have $2.9 million in available cap space, per CapFriendly. So Vegas has a bit of financial flexibility if it hopes to work out another trade.

And it's quite possible the Golden Knights are going to do just that.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman James van Riemsdyk is a player who is "on the radar" for Vegas. A 14-year NHL veteran, Van Riemsdyk has spent the past five seasons in Philadelphia. But his time there could soon be coming to an end.

"It is believed he will be moved by the Flyers by the deadline," Johnston said on TSN's Insider Trading.

However, the Golden Knights may not be alone in their potential pursuit of Van Riemsdyk. Johnston also reported that the Winnipeg Jets could be in the mix.

"There's been some intel to connect those two as well," Johnston said.

Vegas should do what it takes to ensure that Van Riemsdyk doesn't end up in Winnipeg, though. The Golden Knights are a top Stanley Cup contender, as they're in second in the Western Conference with 78 points. And they need to make their roster as deep as possible as they try to end the season by winning a championship.

In 41 games this season, the 33-year-old Van Riemsdyk has proved he's still a solid player. He has nine goals and 14 assists, along with an even plus-minus rating.

Even if Van Riemsdyk isn't at the peak of his career, he would be a solid addition to the defensive line for Vegas. The Golden Knights rank ninth-best in the league in goals allowed (171), so there's still a bit of room for improvement.

The interest in Van Riemsdyk picked up as other players available on the trade market were moved earlier this week. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Flyers were "getting more calls" regarding Van Riemsdyk at that point.

So it wouldn't be surprising if Van Riemsdyk is no longer in Philadelphia by the time the trade deadline passes. And it makes quite a bit of sense for Vegas to land him.

The time is right for the Golden Knights to go all in and attempt to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The asking price for Van Riemsdyk may not be too high, so it's the right type of additional move that Vegas should make.