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Vegas Golden Knights: Opening Night Roster Predictions

By Ryan Hoff

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 28: A general view of the ice as the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights warm up before a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Colorado won 4-2. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 28: A general view of the ice as the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights warm up before a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on September 28, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Colorado won 4-2. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With the Vegas Golden Knights inaugural season less than a week away, the final roster is starting to be put together. The questions that remain though are such as: Who plays first line center? Who plays on the first pairing defense? Let’s try and solve this.

According to CapFriendly.com, the Vegas Golden Knights have 13 forwards, 11 defensemen, and two goalies on their roster. That’s 24/23 allowed roster size. Vegas will probably cut some defensemen, because what teams carries 11 defensemen? They will probably go with 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies. They haven’t updated the roster fully yet, so I might miss a few players.

Forwards

First Line: Erik Haula – Vadim Shipachyov – James Neal

Second Line: Jonathan Marchessault – Cody Eakin – Reilly Smith

Third Line: Reid Duke – William Karlsson – David Perron

Fourth Line: Teemu Pulkkinen – Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Alex Tuch

Extras: Oscar Lindberg

The Golden Knights have way to many centers, so many players are going to have to play wing. I had a hard time trying to find the perfect third line center. Marchessault probably would be better over Karlsson, but Marchessault and Smith have chemistry. I fell like Leipsic is sent down for at least this year, because Duke and Tuch are ready to play. Another thing is I might also switch Karlsson and Lindberg, but for now I like it like this.

Defensemen

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First Defense Paring: Jason Garrison – Derek Engelland

Second Defense Paring: Nate Schmidt – Luca Sbisa

Third Defense Paring: Shea Theadore – Brayden McNabb

Extras: Colin Miller, Clayton Stoner

There is a ton of good defensemen on this roster. This was more difficult than the forwards. Garrison and Engelland self-explanatory considering they are the most experienced. Stoner is as well, but he isn’t good enough for first line. For second line Schmidt is obvious, but Sbisa might not be the best partner. I feel like he and Miller will switch at some point. Theadore is the future on the defense, but he will play third until he proves he can play first line.

Goalies

Starting Goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury

Backup Goalie: Calvin Pickard

Goal tending is always the easiest to figure out since there are only two players. Fleury is the face of the franchise and he will be until he retires. I believe Pickard is going to be a stud in the future. I already know that the Avalanche lost out big time on Pickard. They are going to regret not protecting him.

Next: Expansion Draft Winnipeg Jets (30/30)

Final Outlook

This is only my opinion on what the best roster would look like. Some predictions might be right, some might be wrong. I have done my homework on this and I believe this is the best team the Golden Knights can have on opening night.

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