Fresh off their Stanley Cup victory, the Vegas Golden Knights are already making moves to position themselves for another championship run. The team announced the re-signing of forward Ivan Barbashev to a five-year, $25 million contract, while also trading longtime player Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins. These transactions occurred just before the start of the NHL draft.

General Manager Kelly McCrimmon stated that the team's goal was to maintain the core of their championship roster. He acknowledged the difficulty of making decisions involving players who were instrumental in their Stanley Cup win, but expressed confidence in the moves made. The re-signing of Barbashev was a key priority for Vegas. McCrimmon highlighted Barbashev's strong performance during the playoffs, where he tallied 18 points in 22 games, and emphasized the team's desire to secure a player of his caliber. The 27-year-old Russian forward will carry a $5 million cap hit through 2028.

Trading Smith, an original Golden Knight and a key figure in the team's history, was a difficult but necessary move. McCrimmon expressed his appreciation for Smith's contributions and wished him well in Pittsburgh. The trade marks the first significant roster move for new Penguins president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas. Acquiring Smith provides Pittsburgh with a veteran presence as they aim to return to playoff contention with their established core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.

Looking ahead, both teams have more decisions to make. Vegas needs to secure a new contract for goaltender Adin Hill and potentially begin discussions on an extension for playoff MVP Jonathan Marchessault. Meanwhile, the Penguins are expected to be in the market for a starting goaltender.