from Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,

Trade deadlines in professional sports are about sending messages.

The Golden Knights on Monday offered an obvious one:

“If anything happened to Marc-Andre Fleury, we weren’t strong enough to win playoff games if we get to that point,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.

Translation: They wanted Malcolm Subban gone.

Trades can be evaluated countless ways, but the one that brought goalie Robin Lehner to the Knights owns zero downside. No matter if he proves a rental or is here beyond this season, it’s a win on paper and ice.

Whether you’re on the side that believes Subban as a backup is better than his below-average numbers or that they are a true representation of his worth, you can’t pass on acquiring one of the more solid goalies in hockey with 18 games remaining in a playoff push.

Not at this price.

cotninued