Anytime a media outlet puts together the entire add/loss list for the Golden Knights this offseason, it looks rough. Multiple Stanley Cup winners, a Conn Smythe, nearly 100 goals, and the Game 1 playoff starting goalie, and all they brought back were a few high-upside question mark wingers.
It’s understandable for any analyst to look at the changes and project Vegas to be worse, and maybe much worse, than they were a year ago.
However, a recent segment on NHL Network took a slightly different approach. Former NHL enforcer and excellent TV personality Stu Grimson touched on the massive loss that is Jonathan Marchessault, then reminded fans that VGK’s offseason doesn’t include the addition of Tomas Hertl from last year’s deadline. But it was his last comment that should perk up ears everywhere.
If this team has proven anything over the course of its existence, it’s that they can surprise you, they can make a roster transaction at just about any given moment to really improve their roster in a meaningful way. Never count Vegas out. –Stu Grimson on NHL Network
It’s hard to tell if Grimson has heard anything suggesting an imminent move or if he’s simply using history to project a possible future, but when an NHL employee’s first thought after looking at the offseason is “they probably aren’t done” it says something.
Looking at the roster there’s a clear surplus on the defensive end and a massive hole at top-six wing. VGK’s draft cupboard is running dry and they don’t have a ton of additional cap space to work with, but neither of those have ever stopped the Golden Knights before.
The season is 68 days away, so there’s plenty of time to make another massive move to flip the script on this offseason one more time. Whether or not they need it is in the eye of the beholder.
Richie-Rich
The fan faithful are all waiting for the next big BLOCKBUSTER move by McCrimmon. Come on! Trade Karlsson? Theodore? Maybe even Eichel himself.
You can never second guess the Mc!
NAM
I am hopeful that Hertl will be the player we all want him to be. I hope he gains a step this off season and I hope Cassidy can figure out how to best fit him into the lineup or maybe build a line around him. What I saw in the short time he has been here doesn’t have me feeling confident. It’s a weird fit on this team. Mixing him with Stone’s slowness doesn’t work out. So he can’t be a replacement for Stephenson who complimented Stone’s slowness. I think Karlsson not having a good partner hurt this team last year. So maybe Stone there and Karlsson has good speed. I guess regardless, my take looking at the roster and lines is that this team is not going to do well this year without some trade help. I don’t see the point having a loaded D-line if your forwards are severely lacking and you have no depth. I kind of feel like this is the 12Mil in goalie situation all over again. There is no point to it. Get what you need to be successful.
Ailed
What a lack of faith. We have epic management and coaching, and the new adds will be just fine.
They won’t be clipping ears, just lots of shots hitting the target, the back of the net.
hdbiker7851
Ailed – are you related to the optimist PP by any change. The additions and subtractions are going to have a tuff time making up the 92 goals lost. As far as a blockbuster trade in the wings, that should be considered wishful thinking and adding that individual will make for a winning team is even more wishful. This is reality not a lack of faith incidentally.
Ailed
I have no relation to anyone on this funny ass comment board. I just like riling up the maga troops. IMO we have plenty of shooters and will score aplenty. This is what I predict….
Jack will have 35+-
Hertl will have 25+
Stone will have 20+
Barby will have 20+
Pavs will have 20+
Holtz will have 20+
Olofsson will have 20+-
Bris will have 15+-
The TEAM will score enough. We will be in the top 3 with 20+ goal scorers.
The fanbase cries about 81s departure too much. He was one dimensional and just peaked. He’s definitely regressing outside of vegas. If he cracks 40 again, I’ll eat crow. Basically Hertl replaces Marchy. A bigger bodied full 200 foot player, will dish, score, play on the PP and kill penalties. Again, we will be fine.
NAM
It’s not about scoring or whether Holtz has 20 goals and it isn’t even about 81. If this team can’t play Cassidy’s team defensive system they are going to lose. Last year when they lost to a bunch of cellar dwellers it was to massive scores like 4-7 or 3-6 etc. This team isn’t EDM and will not score 5 goals a game. A good win might look like 2-1 with a great defensive effort. That is Cassidy’s system. When you get pack this team with a bunch of young new guys that aren’t even 200 ft players it is not going to be pretty. You basically become every other not good team that tries to outscore opponents from behind. We won the SC behind great team defense and depth of 4 lines. We now have exactly neither of those things, but hey Pav is going to score 20+. It just doesn’t matter.
Ailed
Eichel 200 ft player
Barbeshev 200 ft player
Hertl 200 ft player
Stone 200 ft player
Karlsson 200 ft player
Roy 200 ft player
Howden 200 ft player
Kolesar 200 ft player
Veteran room with 3 captains (Stone, Petro, Eichel). These guys won’t let the new guys slack on the D side of the puck.
Same D with Korzak who was solid in games played. Our record with him was one of the best stretches we had last year.
Not sure what all you are tripping on.
I believe our management knows a bit about the game, more so than anyone here. I trust what they’ve put together. We have the second best results in the entire league since our inception. We are going to be one of the best teams, offensively and defensively, period.
Lots of shots will be bullseyes.
Ailed
We lost a one dimensional player who just peaked, 81. We lost one 200 ft player in #20 and replaced him with a better 200 ft player, Hertl. We lost an aging shot blocker am replaced him with a young stud, Hannifin. We lost an injury plagued bowling ball that missed too many games since year 1, 28. LT was our biggest loss, but Sean Burke has done wonders with all our goalies, look at Hill. He was marginal at best before VGK add now he’s looking at being on Canadas roster for 4 nations. We are younger and just as good as we’ve been in the past.