LAS VEGAS — The Zambonis have been working additional time this week on the Golden Knights apply facility, Metropolis Nationwide Area.
The membership held six apply classes per day through the first three days of coaching camp, with the 63 gamers break up into three separate teams, as coach Bruce Cassidy and his employees started to whittle down the roster.
The staff received its preseason debut, 4-2, Sunday night time in San Jose. There’s nonetheless loads of time for the lineup to alter based mostly on how the gamers carry out within the 5 remaining preseason video games, however Cassidy has already given us hints as to what the ahead strains and defensive pairs may appear like on the opening night time of the common season. Right here’s how we challenge Vegas to look when it takes the ice versus Colorado on October 9.
These strains and pairs are based mostly on how the gamers have been deployed in camp practices up to now. Let’s dig into Cassidy’s thought course of on every, and what modifications may occur between now and the opener.
“I’ve at all times mentioned I wish to work in pairs,” Cassidy mentioned. “Discover pairs that complement each other and work rather well collectively, after which discover the complementary piece on the finish of the day.”
Cassidy’s general philosophy on setting up ahead strains is to first discover two forwards who match collectively, whether or not that be by means of previous expertise taking part in collectively or a stylistic slot in his eyes. From there, he finds a 3rd ahead who can add one thing to the road that the preliminary pair lacks. Within the case of this coaching camp, lots of the third forwards can be newcomers, as that’s the place Vegas had probably the most roster turnover this summer season.
Line 1 (Barbashev-Eichel-Olofsson)
The apparent pair that ought to anchor the Golden Knights’ prime line is Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev. The 2 have performed collectively virtually solely since Barbashev was acquired on the 2023 commerce deadline. Together with the playoffs, they’ve performed 1,184 minutes of even-strength ice time collectively, outscoring the opposition by a formidable 72-40 throughout that span.
The largest gap within the lineup is on the fitting wing of that line, left by the franchise’s all-time main scorer, Jonathan Marchessault. We are going to doubtless see a number of gamers get an opportunity to play there by the top of the preseason, however the winger getting the primary crack is Eichel’s former linemate in Buffalo: Victor Olofsson.
“Olofsson has performed with Jack, so there’s a relationship,” Cassidy mentioned. “Let’s see how that works. … He’s received an incredible launch and an incredible shot. The puck appears to search out him. We’ll see the way it performs out, however that’s the place he’s now.”
Eichel and Olofsson shared the ice in Buffalo for almost 900 minutes over three seasons with the Sabres (2018-21).
“He’s a really expert participant with an incredible shot, thinks the sport nicely, and he’s simple to learn off of, too,” Eichel mentioned of Olofsson. “Clearly, Victor and I’ve performed collectively for a bit, and it’s been a couple of years, however I don’t suppose tendencies change a ton, so it ought to be simple to select up fairly simply.”
“I felt nice chemistry immediately,” Oloffsson mentioned following Thursday’s apply. “It’s good to get that first apply out of the way in which, however we had some good performs, and I felt some chemistry with Barbashev as nicely.”
Line 2 (Dorofeyev-Karlsson-Stone)
Certainly one of Cassidy’s go-to pairs during the last two seasons has been captain Mark Stone alongside Chandler Stephenson. With Stephenson leaving for Seattle in free company, one of the vital items of the lineup puzzle is discovering the fitting middle to play with Stone.
Karlsson makes loads of sense for a number of causes. Maybe the largest cause Stephenson labored so nicely with Stone is that his pace by means of the center of the ice backed defenders off and opened area for Stone to search out passing lanes. Karlsson is likely one of the quickest gamers on the staff, not simply in skating pace however how he processes the sport.
“I believe I do nicely when I’ve massive time pace within the center and he has big-time pace,” Stone mentioned of Karlsson. “(He’s a) actual accountable man, is aware of learn how to play the sport. I believe coaches love the way in which he performs, his linemates love the way in which he performs and particularly the defensemen love the way in which he performs as a result of he doesn’t cheat for offense, however is rattling good when he will get his probabilities.”
Karlsson and Stone are in all probability the 2 finest defensive forwards on the staff, so pairing them collectively would create a superb shutdown line to match up with the opponent’s prime scoring line. One other one in every of Karlsson’s largest strengths is transitioning to offense shortly following a turnover. It’s why he has the fifth-most short-handed factors within the NHL during the last seven seasons. With Stone’s pickpocketing skill, he may spring Karlsson for transition alternatives with regularity.
Cassidy opened camp with Pavel Dorofeyev on the left wing, offering that line with a net-front presence. Dorofeyev has expertise taking part in with each Karlsson and Stone on separate strains, however by no means as a trio. In 384 minutes of ice time with Dorofeyev and Karlsson collectively, Vegas has outscored opponents 24-14. In 110 minutes with Dorofeyev and Stone Vegas holds a 7-2 scoring edge.
“He’s actually near type of changing into that on a regular basis purpose scorer,” Stone mentioned of Dorofeyev. “He’s clearly an on a regular basis NHLer now. Now, I believe he’s gonna take that subsequent step to change into an every-day producer. He’s not afraid to take pucks to the web. He’s not afraid to get into areas which can be uncomfortable to get to, to attain objectives. Yeah, he has an incredible shot when he will get an opportunity within the slot, he’s gonna most of the time rating, however he is also keen to get to the areas the place the objectives aren’t the best to get, to search out these little further objectives. For him I believe it could possibly be the distinction (between) being a 15-goal scorer or a 30-goal scorer.”
Line 3 (Holtz-Hertl-Roy)
This is likely one of the few line mixtures with no prior expertise, so Cassidy is searching for a stylistic matchup. On paper, the trio of Tomas Hertl, Nicolas Roy and Alexander Holtz is smart, however seeing it work on the ice in preseason can be key.
“Hertl is a horse with the puck down low, so that you need guys who can complement after which somebody who’s a shooter,” Cassidy mentioned. “That’s what you’re pondering in your thoughts.”
Roy has thrived taking part in beneath the faceoff dots within the offensive zone as a result of he’s massive, rangy and hard to maneuver off the puck. The distinction is, he was beforehand taking part in that type of offense with linemate William Service, who doesn’t have the high-end offensive abilities that Hertl possesses.
Previously, Roy has struggled when moved out to the wing, in order that’s nonetheless a significant query mark, however he’s additionally by no means had a linemate of Hertl’s type, so there’s cause to consider the 2 can have success collectively.
With two massive, robust puck possession forwards on that line, the lacking ingredient is somebody to place the puck within the web to capitalize on that possession. That’s what Cassidy is hoping Holtz – who was acquired in a commerce from New Jersey this summer season – could be.
Holtz was the No. 7 general choose within the 2020 draft largely due to his spectacular shot. He’s already proven that fast launch off within the first few days of camp, recurrently sniping goalies when he will get appears to be like from harmful areas of the ice. The remainder of his recreation wasn’t adequate over his first full 12 months in New Jersey, however with a contemporary begin, Vegas is hoping to unlock that scoring potential that made him a excessive draft choose.
“I hope I can fill an offensive position right here and discover my recreation just a little bit,” Holtz mentioned. “I’m very excited for this chance.”
Line 4 (Kolesar-Howden-Aston-Reese)
One of many largest constants for Vegas during the last seven years has been Service’s bruising presence on the fourth line. Now that he’s gone, Cassidy hopes that line can keep its identification, even with a slight change in personnel.
“I’m searching for somebody who can put on groups down,” Cassidy mentioned. “That kind of mentality. We’re going to play behind (groups), we’re going to puck-possess, we’re going to make it onerous on their D. We’re going to be actually good defensively, and accountable to allow them to begin in their very own finish. (Brett) Howden has at all times carried out job at that, he’s only a completely different participant than Will (Service).”
One offseason addition who matches all of these wants is veteran Zach Aston-Reese. He spent most of final season within the AHL, however was a defensive stalwart for the Penguins from 2017 to 2022. Aston-Reese has by no means had an offensive-zone begin share larger than 37.3 p.c in his profession, and could be very snug taking part in robust, defensive minutes in his personal finish. The truth that he signed a two-way contract this summer season suggests he could possibly be destined for the AHL as soon as once more, but when he can discover his recreation, he’s precisely what Cassidy is searching for on the fourth line.
The opposite possibility is veteran winger Tanner Pearson, who’s attending camp on an expert tryout contract (PTO). Pearson has struggled with accidents recently, however has 644 NHL video games beneath his belt over 11 seasons.
“I’ve at all times felt extra snug in a extra Western-style of play, so I believe it matches higher than possibly once I was out within the East,” Pearson mentioned. “(I wish to) play my recreation, be robust on the partitions, be accountable within the defensive zone, and hopefully the offense can present up, too.”
Scratch (Jonas Røndbjerg)
Røndbjerg has been a constant call-up possibility for the Golden Knights over the previous few seasons, however is not waiver-exempt and will discover his approach into being an every-day NHL participant except Vegas is keen to danger dropping him to waivers. If Pearson finally ends up making the staff, Vegas must resolve between waiving Røndbjerg or Aston-Reece.
Defensive pair 1 (Theodore-Pietrangelo)
Regardless of being amongst Vegas’ leaders in ice time during the last 4 years, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore have solely shared the ice for 417 minutes at even power. They’ve usually anchored the primary and second defensive pairs, however Cassidy opened camp with the 2 skating collectively.
“They’re elite defensemen within the league,” Cassidy mentioned. “A few of it developed out of the Hague-Hanifin pair final 12 months that we actually favored. Nic performed lots on the fitting in juniors.”
Extra on that pair in a minute. With regards to the highest pairing, Cassidy has no hesitation taking part in two of his prime offensively-inclined defensemen collectively due to the unimaginable depth he has on the blue line.
“I believe having two drivers on the identical pair is just not a danger for us, as a result of our third pair is (Zach) Whitecloud and (Brayden) McNabb,” he mentioned. “That’s two good gamers within the league, so it’s not like we’re poor on our third pair.”
Greater than something, taking part in these two puck-moving defenders collectively ought to assist Vegas create offense. After dropping a number of key scorers this offseason, that can be one of many largest emphases early within the season.
Defensive pair 2 (Hanifin-Hague)
Final 12 months, Hague and Hanifin performed 14 video games collectively, and the outcomes have been good. They allowed solely 2.12 anticipated objectives and 9.79 excessive hazard probabilities per 60 minutes, each of which have been nicely beneath the staff’s averages.
It does pressure Hague to play on his off facet, however that’s one thing he did recurrently whereas taking part in junior hockey. An fascinating wrinkle to look at with this swap is whether or not or not it generates extra shot makes an attempt for Hague. He was an offensive powerhouse at Mississauga, and whereas Vegas definitely doesn’t count on that on the NHL stage, this swap may unlock some extra offense from the big-shot defenseman.
“We’d like to teach extra out of him, and assist him with that a part of his recreation,” Cassidy mentioned. “Shifting to the fitting could be a part of that. Hopefully it does come for him just a little simpler. We’d wish to get extra offense out of our again finish, and he’d be one of many guys. We’ll see the place it goes.”
Defensive pair 3 (McNabb-Whitecloud)
With Kaedan Korczak making the transfer to being a full-time NHL participant this season, the competitors for these backside pair spots is as robust because it’s been shortly for Vegas. Having mentioned that, Cassidy is giving the 2 incumbents, McNabb and Whitecloud, the primary shot.
“I believe Hutton and Korczak are taking a look at seven and eight proper now, however that’s what coaching camp is for,” Cassidy mentioned. “If they will push their approach up, I don’t wish to put a ceiling on them. If they will take a job, then we’ll cope with that, however the different guys have confirmed they’re the top-six guys right here.”
Defensive scratches (Hutton and Korczak)
After splitting his time between the NHL and AHL final season, Korczak is now waivers-exempt and can stay on the primary roster for the whole lot of the upcoming season. He’s excited to be part of the competitors for taking part in time that may final into the common season.
“I believe it brings out the perfect in everybody, so I’m wanting ahead to it,” he mentioned. “It’s just a little completely different, for certain. I’m just a little extra snug with the entire guys. Clearly, taking part in just a little extra video games final 12 months, and being across the guys extra. I believe the largest factor for me is just not being scared with the puck. Make performs. After I first began, I used to be fast to make performs, so now I can simply do my factor.”
Goalies (Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov)
For the entire competitors for spots up entrance and on the blue line, issues are pretty settled in web for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill is the clear starter and Ilya Samsonov is the clear No. 2.
Akira Schmid, whom Vegas acquired from New Jersey this summer season, would be the prime goalie for the Henderson Silver Knights, and has loads of NHL expertise. He’ll be a superb third possibility within the occasion Hill or Samsonov misses time.
(Photograph of Ivan Barbashev: Ethan Miller / Getty Photos)
