Penguins acquire Kaedan Korczak from Vegas for Parker Wotherspoon
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Kaedan Korczak from the Vegas Golden Knights on June 30, 2026, sending Parker Wotherspoon the other way in a one-for-one swap. Pittsburgh is retaining 50 percent of Wotherspoon's salary, giving Vegas cap relief while the Penguins add Kaedan Korczak, a younger blueliner signed through the 2029-30 season.
President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced the trade on June 30, completing a straight exchange of defensemen between two clubs reshaping their blue lines ahead of the 2026-27 season. For Pittsburgh, the move swaps a veteran coming off a breakout year for a 25-year-old who reached the Stanley Cup Final with Vegas.
Key Takeaways
- Kaedan Korczak heads to Pittsburgh; Parker Wotherspoon goes to Vegas in a one-for-one deal announced June 30, 2026.
- The Penguins retain 50% of Wotherspoon's remaining salary, giving the Golden Knights immediate cap relief.
- Korczak is signed through 2029-30 at a $3.25 million average annual value after five-plus seasons in the Vegas organization.
- Wotherspoon posted career highs of 80 games and 30 points for Pittsburgh in 2025-26 before the trade.
- Both clubs announced the swap without adding draft picks or additional players to the transaction.
Why did the Penguins trade Parker Wotherspoon for Kaedan Korczak?
Wotherspoon delivered a breakout 2025-26 campaign in Pittsburgh, playing 80 games and recording 30 points with a plus-17 rating that ranked second on the team. He also led the Penguins with 112 blocked shots and averaged 2:22 of shorthanded ice time per game.
Despite that production, Dubas opted to move the 28-year-old for Korczak, betting on a younger defender with a longer contract runway. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted the trade came after Wotherspoon's breakout season, underscoring how quickly roster priorities can shift in the NHL offseason.
The trade fits a broader offseason pattern for Pittsburgh as the front office balances veteran leadership with players signed into the late 2020s. Readers tracking major roster and contract moves can follow updates in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
What does Kaedan Korczak bring to Pittsburgh?
Korczak, listed at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, has spent more than five seasons in the Golden Knights organization since Vegas drafted him in the second round, 41st overall, in 2019. In 2025-26 he set a career high with 78 regular-season games, posting three goals, 13 assists and 16 points.
He added three assists in 13 playoff games as Vegas advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Across 155 NHL games, Korczak has 37 career points and a plus-31 rating, offering Pittsburgh a defensively oriented option on the back end.
He is signed through the 2029-30 season with a $3.25 million average annual value, giving the Penguins cost certainty at a position where long-term planning matters.
How does salary retention shape this deal for Vegas?
Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon confirmed Pittsburgh will retain half of Wotherspoon's salary, reducing Vegas's cap burden on the incoming blueliner. Korczak was entering the first season of his extension carrying a $3.25 million average annual value.
By swapping Korczak for Wotherspoon with salary retained, Vegas sheds longer-term money tied to the outgoing defender while adding a proven NHL blueliner. Wotherspoon has 188 career NHL games and 46 points across stints with Pittsburgh, Boston and the New York Islanders, plus 16 postseason appearances.
Official details from both clubs are available via NHL.com, which published matching announcements from Pittsburgh and Vegas on the swap.