Vegas Golden Knights 2017-18 Regular Season Predictions
The Vegas Golden Knights open up their preseason schedule tonight, which means it’s time for some predictions.
Here we are Vegas Golden Knights fans; it’s game day. The Golden Knights play their first preseason game tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. Sure, the games may not count yet but its crucial for a lot of players trying to fight for a roster spot. So needless to say, a lot is riding on these preseason games for a bunch of the players that are on the bubble of making the team.
But let’s put preseason to the side for now. Before you know it, the regular season will be here in a blink of an eye, and the games will start to count. It’s important for Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee and Head Coach Gerard Gallant to be on the same page when making critical decisions to the lineup.
Even when the preseason ends, the Vegas Golden Knights aren’t going to have a set roster like most teams in the NHL. Players will be going in and out of the lineup constantly because there’s that much competition. McPhee and Gallant will have their hands full all year long.
Before I begin predictions, I have to say that ANYTHING can happen with this team. Not saying they’re going to finish last in the west or win the cup, but this team has a ton of potential to turn some heads if all goes right. So without further ado, here are three predictions for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18.
1. Alex Tuch will make the opening night roster.
Tuch was acquired via trade by the Vegas Golden Knights at the expansion draft from the Minnesota Wild. The 6’4 222 lb right wing brings a strong shot and can play any role on any line. Tuch may get some flack however of not being the fastest skater on the ice. He’ll also need to find his niche at the NHL level.
The Syracuse, New York native only played six NHL games with the Wild, so he’s going to need time to develop and find his game. But with many spots available on the roster, this could be Alex Tuchs time to shine. Even though he’s battling against much more experienced players in camp, I think his offensive potential and talent level will stand out the most.
2. Jonathan Marchessault will lead the team in goals.
Okay I know, this one isn’t that bold of a prediction. But you can’t deny Jonathan Marchessault’s 2016-17 campaign when he scored 30 goals 21 assists and 51 points for a weak Panthers team. He’ll be regarded as the top scorer especially if James Neal is not ready to go by opening night.
Yes, He’ll have the top defensive pairings in the league trying to shut him down. Yes, he doesn’t have the linemates he had in Florida. But what makes Marchessault standout from the rest of the roster is his ability to work in the dirty areas and create havoc around the net.
All in all, Marchessault should easily lead the team in goals. He lacks size and strength so he always must rely on putting up points with his slick stickhandling and his wicked shot. The Cap-Rouge, Quebec native plays all three forward positions, but if Coach Gallant wants to maximize his full ability, he’ll be on the top line with center Vadim Shipachyov.
3. The Vegas Golden Knights will finish 12th in the Western Conference.
Sorry Golden Knights fans, your team will not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017-18. But that’s okay because no expansion team has accomplished that goal in their first year of existence. So let’s start being realistic here.
The offense is going to struggle on a nightly basis unless someone comes out of nowhere similar to Marchessault last year and exceeds way beyond their expectations. Oscar Lindberg, William Karlsson, Erik Haula, Alex Tuch and Reilly Smith are the players to keep an eye on that could have breakout campaigns.
On the blue line, there is a glut of defensemen trying to make the opening night roster. Not one defenseman on the roster is deemed as a “number one defenseman.” It’ll be essential for Coach Gallant to balance his defensemen’s ice time. A few players I see seizing a number one/two defenseman role have to be Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore. They are the best bets on this roster to emerge and develop into better players.
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The goaltending shouldn’t be an issue with Marc-Andre Fleury and Calvin Pickard handling the crease. This duo is better than a lot of the goaltending tandems around the league. Fleury and Pickard may get unlucky some nights with no offensive support, but they should produce substantial numbers as long as they play to their expectations.
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In conclusion, when you add all that up together, I see a below average group of players that will falter most nights playing against that tough Pacific division. I don’t think the Golden Knights will finish dead last in the NHL because they do have some intriguing pieces. I just think the competition around them is too much for the NHL’s newest team to handle.