Unpacking VGK’s Odd Decision To Use Kaedan Korczak And Ben Hutton As Forwards

The Golden Knights have stepped outside the box with their lineup decisions in the last two games. Both in Utah against the Hockey Club and in Vegas against the Capitals, VGK opted to dress seven defensemen instead of bringing up a 12th forward from Henderson.

Fielding a lineup with 11 forwards and seven defensemen is not all that uncommon in the NHL, what is unusual is asking one of those seven defensemen to step onto the 4th line and play forward for the entire 1st period.

On Friday in Salt Lake City, Kaedan Korczak played six shifts in the opening frame as a forward alongside Tanner Pearson and Cole Schwindt. Then last night, Ben Hutton took the reins, forcing Pearson to his off-side, playing four shifts as a forward before having to leave the game due to an injury.

A little bit on Friday was that it was the Father’s Trip so getting Korczak and Hutton both in was very important for us. We wanted to keep our guys involved. Sometimes it can work out for you, sometimes it doesn’t. It gives forwards more ice time. -Bruce Cassidy

In Cassidy’s 211 games behind the Vegas bench, Friday and Sunday were the 2nd and 3rd times he’s ever deployed a lineup with an extra defenseman. The only other time was a road game against the Colorado Avalanche in which VGK’s roster was without William Karlsson, William Carrier, Shea Theodore, and Ben Hutton, and Michael Amadio was ruled out late due to an illness. They had recently claimed Tobias Bjornfot off waivers, Whitecloud was returning to the ice after an injury, and Lukas Cormier had just been called up to replace Korczak.

That time felt like it happened out of necessity, there wasn’t a better option, so for one night they went with the unconventional lineup. It didn’t work, they got smoked 3-0, but without five regular starters and both goalies (Jiri Patera started), it’s hard to blame the extra defenseman. Also, all seven defensemen exclusively played as defensemen in that game, unlike these last two.

That’s what makes these last two games so peculiar. Playing as a defenseman, Korczak eventually assisted on the game-winning goal in the 3rd period in Utah, but his 1st period was an experience unlike any he’s had in his pro hockey career.

Different for sure. I honestly don’t remember the last time I was up front. There’s a reason I’m on the back end for sure. It’s a lot different going up there, kind of a mind-boggle a little bit. -Korczak

Cassidy has been steadfast in his explanations of lineup decisions that he’s always looking to put players in positions to succeed. Instead of playing a young defenseman in a place he’s certainly uncomfortable with, why not call up another forward from the AHL? Vegas did for the game in Anaheim, bringing Grigori Denisenko. He was eventually benched after a penalty in the 2nd period and Cassidy later said he “didn’t think Denisenko was ready.” Maybe the timing wasn’t right to make something else happen for Friday’s game, but there’s no excuse for Sunday at home.

One of the theories floating around is that Vegas is trying to save salary cap by keeping the roster thin. For much of the season (save for a few games while Victor Olofsson was on LTIR), they have been accruing cap space which will allow them a bit more flexibility at the trade deadline. However, using Hutton and Korczak as forwards in the last two games as opposed to calling up a player like Tanner Laczynski or Jonas Rondbjerg saved Vegas about $4,000 per night. That’s worth a bit more at the trade deadline, but almost certainly not enough to alter VGK’s plans.

The father’s trip line of reasoning is peculiar as well. With Nic Hague sidelined, either Hutton or Korczak was in line to get the call for the first game of the trip in Anaheim, which ended up being Hutton. Then, in the second game, they could have easily put Korczak in the lineup allowing both guys a chance to play in front of their father.

Nonetheless, the odd experiment appears to be over as the Golden Knights head East for a five-game road trip.

We’re going to travel with 12, maybe 13 forwards. We leave Tuesday, so let’s see where the health with the other guys are. I can’t tell you when we’re going to get a forward back from our roster. They are skating but I don’t know how close they are. We’ll look at guys in Henderson and see who is the best fit for us. We have some centermen that can move to the wing. We will certainly be more conventional typically. This was a little bit the exception to the rule the last couple of games. I would anticipate we’ll be 12 and six in Toronto. -Cassidy

Mark Stone’s status will be a driving force in the lineup decisions on this road trip, but even if he’s not ready to go for Wednesday’s game, the weird saga of 11 forwards and one defenseman playing up front is history, and that’s probably for the best.