Due to shaky play to this point of the 2022-23 season, it is expected that the St. Louis Blues are going to be sellers come the trade deadline, and there are reports that one of their players in particular is of interest to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Headlining the potentially available names in trades for the Blues are players such as Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly, both of whom are set to become unrestricted free agents this offseason. However, neither of those players are on the Golden Knights’ radar to due salary constraints. Instead, the Golden Knights have their eye on a much more affordable option in Noel Acciari.
Acciari, 31, signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Blues this offseason after having spent the previous three years with the Florida Panthers. He has performed reasonably well during his short time with them, having scored 10 goals and 18 points in 51 games thus far while averaging 14:30 minutes per outing.
As far as the rumor regarding Acciari to the Bruins, it was mentioned earlier in the week by Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts Podcast. Friedman is arguably the best insider in the entire game, meaning that things he says have merit, and have and/or are being discussed.
“Someone said to me, depending on particularly what Vegas’ injury situation is, they could see Vegas liking Acciari and (Ivan) Barbashev,” Friedman said. “Who’s coaching Vegas? Acciari was in Boston with (Bruce) Cassidy and Cassidy saw Barbashev play very well in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.”
As Friedman alluded to, Acciari spent parts of three seasons playing under Cassidy in Boston, and it was clear at the time that the now Golden Knights bench boss was a big fan of his game. The fit seems to be there, as Kelly McCrimmon’s roster could certainly use some more forward depth, making a player on an inexpensive deal like Acciari worth pursuing. This will be something to keep an eye on between now and the March 3 trade deadline.
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