Penguins, Golden Knights Swap Defencemen The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights completed a trade of defensemen on Tuesday. The deal involves the Penguins acquiring defenseman Kaedan Korczak from the Golden Knights in exchange for Parker Wotherspoon. The transaction is part of both teams’ efforts to adjust their rosters ahead of the 2024-25 NHL season. Parker Wotherspoon, a 28-year-old defenseman from Surrey, B.C., will remain with the Golden Knights but will have his salary split. The Penguins will retain 50 percent of his $1-million annual contract, while Vegas will absorb the remaining 50 percent. Wotherspoon, who played in 80 games for Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 season, recorded career highs with three goals and 27 assists. Over his four-season NHL career, which included stints with the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, he accumulated four goals and 42 assists. Kaedan Korczak, a 25-year-old defenseman from Yorkton, Sask., joins the Penguins after spending his entire five-season NHL career with the Golden Knights. The 78-game performer in 2023-24 tallied three goals and 13 assists for Vegas. His contract with the Golden Knights, which runs through the 2029-30 season, includes an annual salary of $3.25 million. Korczak’s move to Pittsburgh marks his first transfer to a new team in his NHL career. The trade details highlight the financial and roster adjustments made by both teams. The Penguins’ decision to retain half of Wotherspoon’s salary aligns with the terms outlined in the original agreement. The Golden Knights, meanwhile, gain a defenseman with a proven track record of contributing on the blue line. Wotherspoon’s departure from Pittsburgh ends a brief but impactful stint with the team.#pittsburgh_penguins #vegas_golden_knights #kaedan_korczak #parker_wotherspoon #surrey_b_c
