Pressure is definitely building under Ottawa to resolve EK status BEFORE training camp starts. Retaining his services will just mean a **** load of media attention and questions on that subject at every NHL stop. In addition, there's a lot of dysfunction with the team regarding (alleged) cyber bullying of EK's wife after death of child (stillborn? I don't know that I ever heard any specifics, but child did not survive more than a day after birth if it were a live birth).
And the value of EK to the acquiring team decreases daily.
Realistically, any such trade needs to be consummated by the first week of September (to allow for immigration, etc.) so new guys will be in place by the start of training camp (9/13).
Yes, the VGK do not have a deep pool of prospects, BUT they still have a bunch of future assets (draft picks) beyond their nominal set of 7/year.
(Unlike, say the Sharks, VGK signed one undrafted prospect in the spring: Whitecloud. Also signed Quinney, and two to AHL deals. Sharks signed 3 NHL and 5 AHL prospects. Definitely an area the team could press more on.)
That said, having a known quality in EK and adding to VGK should/will improve the blue line. Even if you had to include Schmidt going the other direction.
All depends on what Ottawa wants in return. My guess is that it'll end up being ~ four pieces: 1st round pick, top prospect, NHL ready/vet D man, and something else.