On June 30, 2026, the Vegas Golden Knights acquired defenseman Parker Wotherspoon from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Kaedan Korczak, with Pittsburgh retaining 50% of Wotherspoon’s salary. The move pairs Vegas with a physical, production-capable bluel
For a Golden Knights defense, the change came with a clean swap: by June 30, 2026, Parker Wotherspoon was no longer a Penguin.
Vegas General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the acquisition that day, saying the team took Wotherspoon from Pittsburgh in exchange for defenseman Kaedan Korczak. The financial detail is part of the deal’s shape, too—Pittsburgh will retain 50% of Wotherspoon’s salary as part of the trade.
Wotherspoon arrives at 28 with numbers that explain why Vegas would move for him. Last season with Pittsburgh, he played 80 games and recorded 30 points, including 3 goals and 27 assists. His +17 rating ranked second for the Penguins. and his impact wasn’t just on the scoreboard: he logged 112 blocked shots and averaged 2:22 of shorthanded time on ice.
Across his NHL career. the left-shooting defender has appeared in 188 games with 46 career points—4 goals and 42 assists—while posting a +18 rating with Pittsburgh. the Boston Bruins. and the New York Islanders. He’s also added postseason experience, playing 16 playoff contests with the Penguins and Bruins.
International work fits the same profile. Wotherspoon, a native of Surrey, British Columbia, represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in May. In 10 games, he recorded four points—1 goal and 3 assists—while finishing with a +13 rating. That +13 mark was the second best among Canadian defensemen during the tournament.
Before reaching the NHL, he spent nine years in the AHL, appearing in 312 games and recording 113 points—23 goals and 90 assists. His route to the league was set early as well: Wotherspoon was drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Islanders.
Korczak, 25, heads the other way. Over the last five seasons, he appeared in 155 games for Vegas, recording 37 points—4 goals and 33 assists. During the 2025-26 campaign, Korczak played a career-high 78 contests and recorded 16 points, with 3 goals and 13 assists. Vegas selected him in the second round (41st overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
One way to read the trade is through what each team seems to be emphasizing: Vegas is paying for a defenseman who has shown he can produce at both even strength and on the penalty kill. with shot-blocking and a track record of +17 production alongside work in high-pressure settings. Pittsburgh. meanwhile. takes back a familiar piece from within the same division and conference ecosystem. Korczak—someone who has already logged seasons in Vegas’s lineup and system.
Vegas Golden Knights Parker Wotherspoon Kaedan Korczak Pittsburgh Penguins Kelly McCrimmon NHL trade defenseman 2026 IIHF World Championship