Rumor: Golden Knights have a trade in place as they prepare to sign Pietrangelo.

I speculated earlier this evening that Alex Pietrangelo could be just the first domino to fall in Las Vegas and now it very much sounds like will be the case.

Both Andy Strickland of Fox Sports and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period are now reporting that the Las Vegas Golden Knights currently have a trade in place with the Florida Panthers. a trade that will send veteran forward Nate Schmidt to the Panthers.

Hearing Nate Schmidt will be traded to the Florida Panthers to create the necessary space to sign Alex Pietrangelo. #Vegasborn #Flapanthers
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) October 11, 2020

Vegas has a trade in place involving D Nate Schmidt. https://t.co/hG2gx99PDz
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 11, 2020

The deal appears to be contingent on whether or not Pietrangelo will sign with the Golden Knights. Earlier this evening Blues insider Jeremy Rutherford revealed that his sources informed him that the two sides were getting close to a deal, so close in fact that an announcement could be made as early tonight.

Hearing a deal between Alex Pietrangelo and Vegas could be getting close. A decision/announcement may come as soon as tonight.
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) October 11, 2020

That would certainly explain the pick up in chatter around Nate Schmidt and this trade to Florida.