Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2022-23 season! As the regular season approaches, Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team over the course of the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights.
2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights
2021-22 Season
The season was met with unfamiliar territory. For the first time in its young history, the Vegas Golden Knights hit the golf courses early. After finishing with 94 points, they fell short of a playoff spot. A year filled with numerous injuries doomed the team in the long run. The team finished fourth in the Pacific Division and 9th in the Western Conference.
Upon the season concluding, the team opted to let go of head coach Pete DeBoer (now with the Dallas Stars) and bring in a new voice. Still a very good hockey team, just could not overcome the injury woes.
2022 Off-Season
As they let go of one coach, another was brought in. After being fired by the Boston Bruins, Bruce Cassidy was named the new head coach. A guy known for his defensive structure should improve the Golden Knights in that regard. The team averaged 2.98 goals per game (14th) and had the 21st-ranked penalty kill. The Bruins finished 4th and 9th in those categories.
The team also continued to add. Given the cap space, it was not much, but the group came to terms with Phil Kessel. Granted, he is an aging forward, but he hit the 50-point mark on a weak Coyotes team. After being informed that Robin Lehner would miss the entire season, the team acquired Adin Hill from the San Jose Sharks.
The biggest thing was re-signing Reilly Smith to a long-term extension. But with all addition comes subtraction. Top six winger Max Pacioretty and defencemen Dylan Coghlan were traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations.
Lineup Projections
Forwards
Phil Kessel-Jack Eichel–Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault–Chandler Stephenson-Reilly Smith
Brett Howden–William Karlsson-Mike Amadio
Will Carrier-Nicolas Roy–Keegan Kolesar
Top Six
This is a very solid top-six group. Eichel at full strength is one of the best centres in the league. Kessel may not have the same scoring ability he once did, but is coming off a productive season and playing alongside Eichel will do well for him. Stone is an excellent two-way winger and a great power-forward winger. When healthy, he is a lock for 20-30 goals. The top line is good and obviously would’ve been better if Pacioretty was with those two.
Stephenson is underrated. He has cemented himself as a top-six centre and is coming off his best season. Stephenson finished second in points (64) and goals (21). Marchessault has been consistent in his time in Vegas and led the team with 30 goals. Smith is just as solid as Marchessault is and has finished with 50 points twice and 60 points once. He hasn’t played a full season the last two years, but he’s a core piece to the Golden Knights.
Bottom Six
The bottom six is a nice group. Vegas is built very well down the middle. On the wings though, is a completely different story. Karlsson hasn’t matched his breakout season of 78 points in 2017-18, but he is still a good player. His blend of skill and speed and production do well for the bottom six. Howden and Amadio are serviceable and could see their production rise next to Karlsson. Roy is a very good centre. He finished fifth in points (39) and could end up being moved around the lineup. Carrier and Kolesar are on the same level as Howden and Amadio.
Overall this is not a bad bottom six, but the centre position will carry the heavyweight in generating offence.
Defence
Alec Martinez–Alex Pietrangelo
Top Pair/ Bottom Four
The Golden Knights back end boasts some serious talent. Pietrangelo is the number one defenseman on this team and certainly played like it. The leader and the anchor finished second in points (44) behind Theodore. Theodore has emerged as a serious offensive threat on the blue line.
McNabb and Theodore spent the most time together. The pair had a 52% for goals percentage and averaged 2.89 goals for per 60 minutes. They were good defensively averaging 2.54 goals per 60 minutes. The top four are well-rounded, but the bottom pair is not to be slept on.
Hague is a very good defenseman. He is by no means a liability in his own end and is good in transition. Whitecloud finished third in points (19), and third with blocked shots. He played well with Theodore as well and showed he can handle big minutes. Vegas has a nice bottom pair that can be counted on and take the pressure off the top pair.
Goalies
Adin Hill
For the first time in the team’s existence, a veteran goaltender will not be the starter. Robin Lehner who finished the year on the IR is out for the season. The fountain of youth has emerged and Vegas will be riding two young goalies to begin the year. Thompson is the number one but will share the crease. He picked up the slack when Lehner got hurt and showed promise in his game. The team is built strong in front of him, but his underlying numbers were good.
As the team searched for a backup, they acquired Hill from their division rival San Jose Sharks. Hill had the two best seasons of his career with the Arizona Coyotes where he posted save percentages of .918, and .913. His career-best goals against average came in 2019-20 (2.62). Hill has shown glimpses in his game, and being the backup to Thompson is not the end of the world. Laurent Brossoit could see game action if the two above are struggling.
Players To Watch
Logan Thompson
With Lehner set to miss the entire season, the attention shifts to Thompson. Last season was his first true NHL season. He went on to suit up in 19 games and posted a record of 10-5-2. Not bad considering the sample size and he finished with a 2.68 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Not bad for the young kid, who was thrust into the starting role last year. It was a baptism by fire for sure last year to be sure, but Thompson did show he can play.
With every intention on returning to the playoffs, getting good goaltending will be crucial. It all starts with Thompson as he is thrust into the spotlight.
Jack Eichel
Eichel was the Golden Knights prized acquisition last year. Granted, the Golden Knights seem to land every big-name player, but this is their guy present and future. Prior to having his neck survey, he was coming off his two best seasons in Buffalo. He set a career-high in goals with 36 and was coming off point totals of 82 and 78.
Now the Eichel Era is underway in Vegas. Eichel suited up in 34 games and posted 25 points. He is now the franchise centre and with him being at full strength, all eyes are on him to perform like one. He will be flanked by great wingers and tasked with propelling the Golden Knights to success offensively.
Prediction For The 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights
Last season was the first time the Golden Knights missed the playoffs in their young history. But fortunes take a different turn for the 2022-23 Vegas Golden Knights. Under head coach Bruce Cassidy and a healthy lineup, this team returns to playoff hockey.
The Vegas Golden Knights have one of the more rounded-out rosters and should challenge for the Pacific Division crown in a relatively weak division.
The new centre ice design for the Vegas Golden Knights, they’re really playing up the team’s switch to wearing gold as their primary home uniforms this season. pic.twitter.com/duUQ0fN8F8
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) September 20, 2022
