Golden Knights owner denies team is shopping Pacioretty

Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley poured cold water on a recent report indicating the club is looking to trade forward Max Pacioretty.

"We're not shopping Patches," Foley told KLAS TV. "We do have cap issues, and so some of those things have to be resolved as we go forward, we started getting into the season. But he definitely is not being shopped."

The Golden Knights' cap issues are front and center as the NHL inches closer to a potential return in mid-January. TSN's Frank Seravalli reported Tuesday that Pacioretty is on the block. Forward Jonathan Marchessault and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury were identified as other potential trade pieces by The Athletic's Jesse Granger on Wednesday.

Vegas is about $1 million over the $81.5-million salary cap, according to Cap Friendly. The Golden Knights' busy offseason saw them land prized free agent Alex Pietrangelo while also awarding goaltender Robin Lehner with a long-term extension.

Pacioretty counts for $7 million against the cap every year until 2023. He was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in 2018 and led the Golden Knights with 32 goals this past season.