Vegas acquires Tkachuk, Roy

Zach Werenski sent to Boston in blockbuster trade

LAS VEGAS — Two weeks after trading away their top winger, the Golden Knights continued to reshape their roster for the future by dealing away their No. 1 defenseman.

Vegas acquired rugged winger Matthew Tkachuk and bottom-six center Nicolas Roy from Boston in exchange for defenseman Zach Werenski on Wednesday. The move came just over two weeks after the Golden Knights dealt away Artemi Panarin for a package that included the younger William Nylander and a first-round pick.

"These two recent trades make sense for us because they don't hurt us in the present and also help us in the future," Vegas co-GMs Adam Bearman and Cory Lavalette said in a statement. "Zach is a great player, but adding Matthew gives us more cost certainty over the long haul and another winger who can play with our young centers."

The Golden Knights also get Roy in the deal, giving them another young center.

"Nicolas is still coming into his own as a DCHL player, but his size and smarts can't be taught," the Knights said. "Plus, when he says his name with his French accent, it sounds like Cornholio saying, 'Nicaragua.'"

Werenski was originally acquired by Vegas in November 2018 along with Nail Yakupov from San Jose for Elias Lindholm. Werenski had 36 goals and 107 assists for 143 points in 246 regular season games and 10 points in 20 playoff games with the Golden Knights.

Tkachuk, 24, has played his entire career in San Jose, scoring 65 goals and 152 points in 328 career regular season games. He was traded to the Bruins along with his brother, Brady, by the Shakes in exchange for David Pastrnak last month, but Matthew never played a game with Boston.

Roy, 24, had five points in 47 games as a rookie with Boston last season.