The reigning Stanley Cup champions, and the team that defeated the Edmonton Oilers last playoffs, the Vegas Golden Knights have leaned further into their brand this season. Hampered by injuries, the Knights bet on themselves aggressively at the deadline, adding all star calibre players to their team. Enjoying their well earned respect, the Knights will be thought of as a formidable Stanley Cup contender.
There are, however, some meaningful doubts that come with this aggressive approach and the team’s injury issues. The Knights are precariously close to the playoff bubble, and will likely be without a pair of all star forwards in Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl for the remainder of the regular season. The Knights health aligned last season in their Cup win, the season prior the Knights missed the playoffs altogether due to equally opposite bad health.
Although it appears the Knights health is somewhere in the middle of those extremes this season, the Knights carry with them boom or bust potential. Even if the Knights limp into a playoff spot the potential of their fully healthy lineup is frightening to opposing fan bases. The Knights have skill, but their strength lies in their depth, physicality, and defensive prowess.
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A talented forward group
Projected lines
Barbashev — Eichel — Marchessault
Stephenson — Hertl — Stone
Mantha — Karlsson — Amadio
Carrier — Roy — Kolesar
Extras: Cotter, Howden, Dorofeyev, Brisson
Like last season, among the first things to note about the Knights forward group is that the fourth line is impossible to identify. Normally, the trio of Nic Roy, Keegan Kolesar, and William Carrier is listed as the fourth line, but this is a quality line with years of experience together as a unit. Their physical prowess is undeniable, their forechecking fierce, and adorned by a capable defensive centre in Roy.
The talent is spread across the other three lines. The top line of Jack Eichel between Jonathan Marchessault and Ivan Barbashev will look to reprise their playoff magic, likely the top scoring line. Mark Stone, if healthy, would be a defensive force, as his game translates well into the tighter confines of the playoffs. The final staple is William Karlsson at 3rd line centre.
The injuries make it difficult to predict how a fully healthy lineup might look. This means there will be pressure on the Knights deadline additions to find chemistry in the lineup quickly as well. Anthony Mantha is a good middle-six winger and has been playing in Stone’s regular spot. Hertl won’t be afforded time to settle into a spot in the lineup, or time to shake off any rust from a long injury layoff. Hertl has positional flexibility, perhaps giving the Knights a formidable one-two punch down the middle behind Eichel.
Chandler Stephenson has been exceptional during his time as a Knight, quite frankly overachieving what many thought possible from the expansion draftee. While still an effective, and likely underrated contributor, Stephenson has not been as good this season, enough to concede his spot as Stone’s centre.
Michael Amadio, Paul Cotter, and Brett Howden are all reliable forwards who have often stepped up into spots vacated by injury, holding up quite well in filling in for more established players. Beyond them, the Knights have gotten a look at a few higher upside young scorers in Pavel Dorofeyev and Brendan Brisson. Often Cup winning teams have some young legs in the mix, and the forwards might be able to provide a jolt of skill to the lineup in a pinch.
An improved blueline
Projected pairings
Hanifin — Pietrangelo
McNabb — Theodore
Hague — Whitecloud
Extras: Martinez, Hutton, Korczak
Once again the theme of depth, size, and defensive ability is clear. The pairing of Nick Hague and Zach Whitecloud is beyond what many would expect from a third pair, as the duo can be just as effective as any of the Knights other pairings. Unfortunately for their opponents, the Knights blueline is improved over last season’s thanks to the addition of Noah Hanifin. Hanifin joins Shea Theodore in bringing a flare of mobility and offence to a stout group.
Most daunting of all is Alex Pietrangelo, another player worthy of playoff MVP honours last season. Brayden McNabb joins Pietrangelo, Hague, and Whitecloud as great defenders with a lot of lot of length and strength between them. We have not seen the Knights blueline at full strength, and there’s is no guarantee that it is Alec Martinez on the outside looking in. Ben Hutton has been a solid fill-in, and Kaeden Korczak has shown a lot of promise as a defensive right shot.
In all, the Knights have a fantastic blueline. Though it may lack the explosive scoring of some other contenders, in terms of functionality the Knights blueline is among the best the league has to offer.
Power play inconsistencies
The Knights power play has not been an area of strength, sitting at just under 19% or roughly 22nd in the league. The four staples of the first unit have been Eichel, Marchessault, Stone, and Theodore, but the team has struggled to find a consistent fifth option. With Eichel and Marchessault typically on the flanks, it might be at the bumper or the net front that the Knights try to find an answer. From this sense, Tomas Hertl might fit in nicely, with a combination of size and puck skills that might find a niche within the Knights current structure.
Hanifin and Mantha have seen some power play time, but have yet to seize the opportunity to upgrade the unit so far. Both are options that might bring a spark to the Knights power play at some point in the playoffs. As is the case at even strength, the Knights offence will take most of its shots from the left side. This might have something to do with their personnel, as both of the Knights offensive threats from the blueline are left shots.
Penalty kill is promising
Of the special teams the Knights are stronger on the penalty kill. Sitting just above 80%, slightly ahead of the Oilers at roughly 13th in the league. Hanifin has taken a large role here since being acquired, joining Pietrangelo as the top penalty killing defence pairing. The Knights blueline has a lot of options with McNabb, Haugue, Whitecloud, and Martinez all seeing significant usage.
The Knights are not shy to use their top forwards on the penalty kill. Eichel, Karlsson, and Stone all see leading roles, while Stephenson, Roy, and Howden have seen regular time as well. Ultimately, the Knights usage here underscores how comfortable they are rolling any of their four lines out. With elite players like Eichel and Stone seeing top minutes on both special teams, it means more even strength minutes up for grabs.
Goaltending has been strong
After having used a number of goalies last season, the Knights situation in net has been much clearer this season. Adin Hill is the starter, despite likely being the Knights third option behind Jonathan Quick and Laurent Broissoit at least season’s trade deadline. Of course, Hill had an outstanding playoff and earned a healthy contract to go along with his Stanley Cup ring. No matter how hot or cold Hill is as the postseason begins, he has proven himself capable before. That said Hill is currently injured, and remains without a public timetable.
Logan Thompson set a career high with 37 games last season, but did not get a chance in the playoffs. Thompson has surpassed his games played this season, and appears to have solidified his position as the backup. Two years younger is Jiri Patera, now 25, who has filled in for seven games with the Knights over the past two seasons. Patera is firmly the Knights third option, but is one that the Knights are hoping is not necessary this time around.
History versus the Oilers
Last season’s playoff series between the Knights and Oilers offered a number of unhinged games resulting in blowouts for either side. Both teams had moments in which they lacked composure. Ultimately, the Knights identity was more steadfast, and the Oilers lapses more frequent. The Oilers improved their defensive game last season, and have done so again since. Undoubtedly their defensive performance must be even more complete in a hypothetical matchup this season.
By most raw metrics the Knights have not been as strong this season, yet their experience and potential return to health is a worrying combination for Western Conference rivals. With the Oilers likely to finish second or third in the division, the Knights are a possible first round opponent. If not the Oilers, the Knights will begin their championship defence with one of the West’s division leaders, hardly a just prize for a season of hard fought success.
It might be difficult to predict which team would be the favourite should the Knights and Oilers meet in the opening round. If Hertl and Stone return, as many are expecting, the Knights become more menacing. In truth the Knights will have to elevate and play better than they have to this point to duplicate last season’s triumph.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
