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Vegas Golden Knights: Five Potential Goaltender Options

By Richard Cardinale

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: Goalie Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Washington Capitals looks on after giving up a third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: Goalie Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Washington Capitals looks on after giving up a third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center on April 29, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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It all starts and ends in the crease for the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Vegas Golden Knights have a strong front office around them to build a respectable NHL club. They will take 30 players around the league, some of them decent, some of them bad. But in the end, it’s all about putting together the right group of players and accumulating as much draft picks as possible.

What Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee and his front office will find out in the expansion draft is the abundance of good goalies that are available. Teams have plenty to offer to Vegas, but overall, I see the goaltending position offering the most. It will definitely be a position of strength for the NHL’s newest franchise.

The only question that remains is who will the Vegas Golden Knights take at goaltender? I broke it down to five potential candidates I could see coming to Sin City. Let’s take a look at my list and see which young or experienced goaltender will be finding a new home in Nevada.

5. Marc-Andre Fleury

OTTAWA, ON – MAY 19: Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) leaves the ice after warmup before the start of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators on May 19, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, On.(Photo by Jason Kopinski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – MAY 19: Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) leaves the ice after warmup before the start of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators on May 19, 2017, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, On.(Photo by Jason Kopinski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Fleury would be an attractive option if he were made available to the Vegas Golden Knights.  The 32-year old had a sub-par regular season with a record of 18-10-7, a 3.02 GAA and a save percentage of .909%. But as soon as the script flipped to the postseason, everything changed for Fleury.

The Sorel Quebec native is one of the main reasons why his team is in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. Despite being pulled for Matt Murray in the Eastern Conference Finals, he went 9-6, with a GAA of 2.56 and a save percentage of .924%. But there is one problem with him becoming the newest member of the Golden Knights.

I just don’t see how the Penguins can let Marc-Andre Fleury go for free. You have to think a trade has to be in the works with another NHL team that’s starved for a goalie. However, if he isn’t traded by the expansion draft and if Vegas wants to take a shot at winning now, this is the guy. He does have a Stanley Cup ring, and he’s looking to make it two in just a few weeks.

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