(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
With eyes set on 23, the Golden Knights training camp roster of 66 has been cut all the way down to 26. The VGK front office have just a few more decisions to make. But, these final ones are always the toughest.
The 26-man roster included 15 forwards, nine defensemen, and two goalies. Three more players will have to find their way off this group before Vegas can drop the banner celebrating the Stanley Cup and begin their quest to repeat.
Obviously, the two goalies, Adin Hill and Logan Thompson are expected to suit up on October 10th, with the playoff hero Hill expected to start between the pipes against the Kraken. Down to 24.
Forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Chandler Stephenson, Ivan Barbashev, Nic Roy, William Carrier, and Keegan Kolesar are all guaranteed, if healthy, to be on the roster as well. That puts us at 15.
On the back end, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, Alec Martinez, and Nic Hague are all locks. So, we’re down to ten.
Ten players. Seven will be on the roster, three will be not.
They are Michael Amadio, Brett Howden, Paul Cotter, Pavel Dorofeyev, Max Comtois, Brendan Brisson, Zach Whitecloud, Ben Hutton, Brayden Pachal, and Kaedan Korczak.
The first variable is always health. Right now, one of those ten players, Zach Whitecloud, is not healthy, and has already been ruled out for the rest of the preseason. If he’s not available to go to start the season, he’ll be placed on injured reserve (IR) and would represent one of the three that would not be on the official 23-man opening night roster. That being said, if Whitecloud can play, his name would have been up there next to Pietrangelo and Theodore as a lock.
Amadio, Howden, and Hutton are all as close to locks as you can be as well. The Golden Knights are not immune to throwing a surprise at us every once in a while, but in this case, it would be a bit of a stunner if the 23-man roster drops without all three of their names.
So, we’re down to six players for two or three spots (depending on Whitecloud). In order, here’s who is most likely to make the final 23.
Projected to make roster
Paul Cotter
Cotter played 55 games last year and scored 13 goals and 18 points. He’s clearly shown he can play and succeed at the NHL level. Not only is he the most likely of the final group to make the roster, he’s also the most likely to be in the starting lineup on William Karlsson’s right wing as well.
Max Comtois
This may come as a bit of a surprise that Comtois is ahead of the next player on the list, but the situation surrounding Max gives him a leg up. The decision on Comtois is not only whether or not he makes the roster for October 10th, but if he’s even a part of the organization at all eight days from now. Comtois’ pedigree, the way Bruce Cassidy has spoken about him, and the fact he’s still here at this point, all heavily indicate he’s going to be offered an NHL contract soon.
Pavel Dorofeyev
Of the players on the bubble (which is a strong term for even a player like Pavel who is likely to make the roster) he’s been the most impressive in the preseason. Couple that with the fact that he proved his ability to put the puck in the net in the NHL last year and he has a high probability of making the roster out of camp. In addition, Dorofeyev is not waiver exempt. Thus, if the Golden Knights choose to go a different direction, all 31 other NHL teams would be free to steal Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights. Someone probably would, which is why it’s pretty unlikely Vegas gives them a chance.
Projected to make roster (if Whitecloud is out)
Brayden Pachal
Despite being a limited figure on the ice for the Golden Knights last year (1 playoff game and 10 regular season games), Pachal’s name is engraved on the Stanley Cup, which shows just how much the organization felt he did with the team. He’s not waiver exempt, so like Dorofeyev, he could be lost for nothing if he doesn’t make the final 23. The difference with Pachal though is that he has cleared waivers before, whereas Pavel has not.
Projected to miss roster
Kaedan Korczak
Recently, Bruce Cassidy compared Korczak’s game to that of Zach Whitecloud. The 2019 2nd round draft pick’s strongest upside in this battle for the final spot is upside. We know what we’re getting out of Hutton, and even Pachal for that matter, we really don’t with Korczak. The challenge for Kaedan is that due to his age and experience, he remains waiver exempt. The Golden Knights are free to ship him back and forth from the NHL to the AHL as they wish. If he had to clear waivers, he’s definitely above Pachal and might even be above Ben Hutton, but he doesn’t, and thus, he probably will head to Henderson before the week is out.
Brendan Brisson
The Golden Knights have given their oldest remaining 1st round pick plenty of looks this preseason, and he’s done fairly well with them. He’s looked pretty good next to Jack Eichel and he remains a weapon on the power play. That being said, it’s just not time yet as he still has some room for development, especially when it comes to board battles. Add in the fact that he too is waiver exempt, and it’s highly unlikely he beats out any of the remaining forwards.
Richie-Rich
Well, it’s pretty much a lock then, right? I think the biggest decision that the front office has to make is whether or not they subject Pachal to waivers or give him a spot on the roster. If they give him a spot then someone else is going to be exposed. I don’t think they will expose either Dorofeyev or Cotter to waivers.
The question you have to ask is whether or not Pachal is a huge piece of the future considering Martinez and Petro’s age. If that’s the case then maybe someone has to go. Could that be Cotter? I doubt it, but he didn’t get much playoff time last year. It’s a very tough spot to be in for the FO and Pachal.
1-Hill
2-Thompson
3-Eichel
4-Stone
5-Marchy
6-Karlsson
7-Stephenson
8-Barbashev
9-Roy
10-Carrier
11-Kolesar
12-Pietrangelo
13-Theodore
14-McNabb
15-Martinez
16-Hague
17-Amadio
18-Howden
19-Hutton
20-Cotter
21-Comtois
22-Dorofeyev
23-Whitecloud
These two are waiver exempt and can be called up in case of injury, right?
Brisson
Korczak
The only one at risk is Pachal.
Pachal
Emmanuel
Theyre going to maybe lose a prospect with upside to protect Howden & Hutton who have NEVER been good and are as good as theyll ever be which is not good at all? Guys like Doro and Cotter are better NOW than Howden and Hutton will ever be, thats just nuts and if its happnes in two years when the core players are declining there will be no one to balance out the roster. HUGE mistake and its sowing the seeds of years of rebuilding.
DocDG
Keeping Pachal on the roster and giving Comtois an NHL contract with the understanding that he will be sent to Henderson is not a bad way to protect Pachal while probably keeping Comtois as a potential fill in if needed.
1. Comtois was not a hot commodity in the free market which is why he is on the PTO.
2. Players selected on waivers cannot be sent down to the minors by the selecting team for the rest of the season.
These two facts make it unlikley anyone will take him if he is waived.
If he is taken we we would be in the same position as if we declined to sign him off of the PTO.
Pistol Pete
The article appears to predict Comtois-Karlsson-Cotter on opening night. That would mean scratching Amadio and Dorofeyev (assuming each makes the roster which seems a foregone conclusion). Could be, however I would not be surprised if it is Dorofeyev-Karlsson-Amadio. Dorofeyev is showing well in the preseason (stronger than either Cotter or Comtois imo) consistent with how he did skating with Smith and Karlsson last spring amassing 7 G/2 A in just 10 games. It is true his 20 NHL are fewer games than Cotter’s 62 which in turn is fewer than Comtois’ 210. Experience notwithstanding Dorofeyev just looks the most talented of the three (to me anyways and my optimism to some degree flows from Cassidy’s positive comments on him going back to last season and this preseason). Amadio seems a lock given his career high regular season and his excellent showing in the playoffs.
Per Ken’s article:
Paul Cotter
Cotter played 55 games last year and scored 13 goals and 18 points. He’s clearly shown he can play and succeed at the NHL level. Not only is he the most likely of the final group to make the roster, he’s also the most likely to be in the starting lineup on William Karlsson’s right wing as well.
Max Comtois
This may come as a bit of a surprise that Comtois is ahead of the next player on the list, but the situation surrounding Max gives him a leg up. The decision on Comtois is not only whether or not he makes the roster for October 10th, but if he’s even a part of the organization at all eight days from now. Comtois’ pedigree, the way Bruce Cassidy has spoken about him, and the fact he’s still here at this point, all heavily indicate he’s going to be offered an NHL contract soon.
Pavel Dorofeyev
Of the players on the bubble (which is a strong term for even a player like Pavel who is likely to make the roster) he’s been the most impressive in the preseason. Couple that with the fact that he proved his ability to put the puck in the net in the NHL last year and he has a high probability of making the roster out of camp. In addition, Dorofeyev is not waiver exempt. Thus, if the Golden Knights choose to go a different direction, all 31 other NHL teams would be free to steal Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights. Someone probably would, which is why it’s pretty unlikely Vegas gives them a chance.
Pistol Pete
I forgot to add we’ll be in a better prediction to predict Karlsson’s line the opening night after seeing these final three games. It’s going to be interesting. We don’t watch the replays with the same eyes as Cassidy and his staff!
Pistol Pete
in a better position (not prediction lol). With each passing year my proof reading ability declines! Watch the freakin spell check software too!
Pistol Pete
I would not be surprised if all three games see various combinations of Cotter, Comtois and Dorofeyev with Karlsson. I do think Cassidy may already have made his mind up what to the most likely opening night combo will be. Of the three of them Cassidy already has one he considers the least defensive liability, the one least likely to hurt him when the player’s offensive opportunities are not engaging in that shift. Karlsson is very defensively responsible and anyone attempting to replace Smith has to be as well.
Pistol Pete
Amadio is shaping up to be a Bruce Cassidy success story. How a good coach can take a guy claimed off waivers and make a good all zone player out of him. Last regular season he got 27 points in 67 games (.4 pts/game) crushing his 58 pts in 229 games (.25 pts/game) prior to last season. His 5 G/5 A (.63 pts/game) in 16 playoffs games was remarkable. I don’t see him getting scratched for Cotter. I do think Comtois is possible on Karlsson’s LW however. Dorofeyev is more gifted imo but has 20 NHL games to Comtois’ 210. Per above, we’ll see how these last three games go. Comtois has not shown much that I have seen. His decline from that rookie season remains an enigma.
THE hockey GOD
yes yes yes, the whittling down to last inch begins; let’s see how, I mean WHO, it pans out after next few pre season games. Still too early to project WHO final positions.
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
[Verse 1: Roger Daltrey]
I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said, “You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away”
I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwing punches around
And preaching from my chair
[Chorus: The Who]
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Because I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
youtube. watch?v=LYb_nqU_43w
THE hockey GOD
I took the tube back out of town
Back to the rollin’ pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of rin tin tin
I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there’s got to be another way
Well, who are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who?)
Come on and tell me, who are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who?)
Oh who the f*ck are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who?)
Who are you?
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
I really wanna know
(Who are you?)
(Who, who, who, who?)
Ah who the f*ck are you?
(Who are you?)
(Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you?
(Who are you?)
(Who, who, who, who?)
Oh tell me who are you?
(Who are you? uuu)
I really wanna know
Oh I really wanna know
Oh tell me who are you, you, you, ah you?
Pistol Pete
Not much drama to it. 26. 3 have to go. Brisson (obviously), Korczak, and Pachal = 23. Korzcak is waivers free, Pachal is not, meaning if Whitecloud is injured opening night, Pachal stays up. Only “drama” will be who among Amadio, Dorofeyev, Cotter and Comtois will be Karlsson’s linemates on opening night. It’s possible they don’t sign Comtois (doubtful imo) which would free up the spot for an 8th D, leaving just one scratched forward (not two).
Richie-Rich
So, it appears to me that PP that sooner or later Pachal or Comtois will be the odd man out when Whitecloud returns.
Pachal has a future in the NHL and both Petro and Martinez possibly have one more year here?
It would be nice to retain Comtois, but he hasn’t stood out. Maybe Cassidy sees something we don’t?
If Pachal is lost, and that isn’t for sure because he has cleared waivers in the past, then we will be likely looking at Korczak as the fill in on D this season?
JV
I speculated earlier if Comtois get signed, it will be Paschal that is waived, unless Glass Joe isn’t ready to start the season. Don’t need to carry 8 defenseman and Paschal was an undrafted signing.
Pistol Pete
R-R I have the feeling Comtois will be signed as the 14th forward. Consider: 23 often = 14 F (2 scratches)/7 D (1 scratch)/2 G. I would say they hope Pachal clears waivers but if not Korczak is viable. Some would say Korczak has a higher ceiling than Pachal anyways. I like Korczak. Think he can become a McNabb.