The Nashville Predators lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, the same day they traded two players. First, they sent Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round pick. Then, the Predators pulled Cole Smith from the game amid rumors connecting him with the Tampa Bay Lightning. But when the deal got done, it was the Vegas Golden Knights bringing in Cole Smith before the NHL trade deadline.

“Vegas acquires Cole Smith. For a 3rd in 2028,” TSN's Darren Dreger first reported.

When the Golden Knights announced the trade, there was an additional piece involved. Vegas sent AHL defenseman Christoffer Sedoff to the Predators in the deal.

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Smith has never scored more than nine goals in a season, and he only has ten points this year. But his size and physicality on the wings are attractive to playoff-bound teams. At $1 million against the cap for the rest of this season, it is a low-risk bet for the Golden Knights.

The Lightning were poking around on Smith, which means they are looking for toughness and depth at the deadline. They struck out on the first two guys dealt from Nashville, but there are plenty more options where that came from. Vancouver Canucks forwards Drew O'Connor or David Kampf could help fill that role if Tampa wants to pay the price.

The Golden Knights lost to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. They are now 3-6-2 in their last 11 games, dating back to before the Olympic break. With the Anaheim Ducks soaring up the standings, Vegas needed a shakeup before Friday's deadline. Will Smith be their last move, or will Vegas make another move before Friday?