NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of the League’s 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Vegas Golden Knights are facing uncharted territory coming off a season when they did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in their five-year history.
“I think, you ask anybody in the room, I don’t think any of us ever imagined we would miss the playoffs and have our season end early,” forward Jack Eichel said. “But I think as a group, I’m sure everybody would agree that we … probably underachieved.”
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The Golden Knights (43-31-8) finished three points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference last season. They were plagued by injuries and inconsistency, and coach Peter DeBoer was fired on May 16. Bruce Cassidy was hired to replace him on June 14, eight days after he was fired as coach of the Boston Bruins.
“We’re going to build our game from Day One of training camp and through the course of the year, that’s what we’re going to do,” said Cassidy, who led the Bruins to the playoffs in each of his six seasons with them. “Build our game so that we’re back to where the Vegas Golden Knights are used to being, that’s competing for the Stanley Cup.”
Vegas made a handful of changes to its roster. Forwards Evgenii Dadonov and Max Pacioretty and defenseman Dylan Coghlan were traded to create room under the NHL salary cap ($82.5 million). Two-time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel signed a one-year contract Aug. 24 and goalie Adin Hill was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in a trade the next day. Defenseman Nicolas Haguea restricted free agent, remains unsigned.
With a new coach and some new players, the Golden Knights are hopeful they will return to the postseason. However, after having more than 500 man-games lost due to injury in 2021-22, health issues are already impacting them.
Forward Mark Stone, while trending to be ready for opening night, is questionable to start training camp after having back surgery. On Aug. 11, the Golden Knights announced that No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner would have hip surgery and likely miss the season. His backup, Laurent Brossoithad a medical procedure for an undisclosed injury after the season, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said he wasn’t sure if the goalie would be ready for the start of the season (Oct. 11).
Logan Thompson, who played 19 games (17 starts) as a rookie last season (10-5-3, 2.68 goals-against average, .914 save percentage) — including six of the final seven as Vegas fought for a playoff spot — could be the No. 1 goalie. Hill, who was 10-11-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .906 save percentage in 25 games (22 starts) last season, has more NHL experience and will get a long look in training camp.
“It’s his job to lose, obviously, because he’s been here the most, especially if Brossoit isn’t ready,” Cassidy said about Thompson before the trade for Hill.
Video: Jackie Spiegel Talks Vegas Golden Knights
One player who is finally healthy and ready to play a big role is Eichel. Ten months removed from having artificial disk replacement (ADR) surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck, the 25-year-old said he is feeling well. Last season, he had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 34 games and played the final six weeks with a broken thumb.
“I just want to get back to feeling like myself,” he said. “I think just being confident every night and trying to help our team win hockey games, whether that’s producing or winning face-offs and being [strong] … in our defensive zone … but you know, I just want to get back to being that dynamic force that I was before I got hurt and I know I’ll be there.”
Now, the question is if the Golden Knights can return to being a force in the NHL and get back to the playoffs.
“I think every year you have something to prove to yourself and, for us, I think we have a lot to prove to ourselves that last year was a fluke and we have a really good hockey team,” Eichel said. “There’s a lot of belief in that locker room, and we’re a team that wants to compete for a Stanley Cup, so that should be our mindset going into the year.
“I’m sure that guys have a chip on their shoulder, and we want to right our wrongs for last season and get back to where we feel we need to be.”
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