The Vegas Golden Knights And Nashville Predators Have Just Made A Trade
Despite there being a break in the NHL schedule for the 4 Nations Face-Off, trades can still happen, and that's exactly what occurred between Vegas and Nashville.
Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon announced today that the team has traded forward Grigori Denisenko to the Nashville Predators in return for future considerations.
Denisenko, at the age of 24, played in only one game with Vegas during the 2024-25 season. In Henderson of the AHL, he skated in 42 games and recorded 24 points (10 goals and 14 assists) this season.
The native of Novosibirsk, Russia, was selected to represent Henderson at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic game this past January and was also claimed off waivers by Vegas from Florida prior to the 2023-24 season.
Denisenko was previously on assignment to AHL Henderson and will now have to report to Nashville's affiliate in Milwaukee. He does not need to clear waivers at this moment.
Originally selected by the Florida Panthers in the first round (15th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Denisenko made his NHL debut back in 2020-21 with the Panthers.
He went on to play in 26 games across three seasons for Florida, where he put up seven points (all assists) and appeared in one game during the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.
Denisenko was claimed off waivers by Vegas a couple of seasons ago
After he was claimed by Vegas, he led their AHL club in points (56) and assists (36) and finished second in goals (20), all of which were career-highs back in 2023-24.
Prior to coming to North America, Denisenko played two seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20) with Yaroslavl of the KHL.
During those seasons, he put up 18 points (10 goals and 8 assists) in 63 regular season games and 47 points (19 goals and 28 assists) in 63 career regular season games with Loko Yaroslavl (2016-19) of Russia's junior league (MHL).
He was also a member of two MHL championship teams (2017-18 and 2018-19).
![Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the third period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/529746.webp "Feb 17, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Brandon Hagel (38) controls the puck during the third period in a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team Finland at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images")
![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty (89) looks on against Team Sweden in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/529645.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty (89) looks on against Team Sweden in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/529619.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
