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Vegas Golden Knights: Projected Twenty-Three Man Roster

By Michael Joubran

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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The Vegas Golden Knights will begin play on October 6th, against the Dallas Stars.

After going 3-3-1 in their preseason, the Vegas Golden Knights will have to make a few roster cuts before the 5:00 pm ET deadline on Tuesday. Most of the roster is already set in stone, but there is still a couple of cuts that need to be made. With Teemu Pulkkinen being placed on waivers earlier today, the Knights will need to cut six players, maybe five if James Neal is placed on the IR.

Predicted Opening Night Lineup

Offence

Reilly Smith – Vadim Shipachyov – Jonathan Marchessault

James Neal – Cody Eakin – David Perron

Erik Haula – William Karlsson – Tomas Hyka

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Oscar Lindberg – Alex Tuch

Extras: Brendan Leipsic

Defence

Jason Garrison – Deryk Engelland

Shea Theodore – Brad Hunt

Clayton Stoner – Colin Miller

Extra: Brayden McNabb, Nate Schmidt

Goalies

Marc-Andre Fleury

Calvin Pickard

The top line has been set in stone by coach Gerard Gallant. If Neal can return before the season opener then he will be on the second line. His opposite winger could be Perron or possible Hyka, with Eakin in the middle. If Neal does not return then Haula could move up to the second line, with Leipsic replacing him. The third line is a scoring line, who can play a bit of defence. The fourth line is the complete opposite, a defensive line, who can play a bit of offence.

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Garrison and Engelland are most likely going to be the top pair. Gallant will most likely want them to lead the defensive core. After their performance in the preseason, Theodore and Hunt have earned a spot in the top four. They may put Theodore on the bottom pairing in favour of Stoner’s experience. Either way, I believe he will make their opening night roster. The bottom pairing of Stoner and Miller could be very complementary. With Stoner as a defensive defenceman and Miller as an offensive defenceman, they could work very well together.

Fleury was the starter as soon as he was claimed in the expansion draft. With Pickard backing him up, the Golden Knights have a good goaltending tandem.

Who Gets Put On Waivers/Sent Down?

The remaining players are Tomas Nosek, Stefan Matteau, William Carrier, Jon Merrill, Griffin Reinhart and Luca Sbisa. If Neal is put onto the IR, then Nosek would be the one to stay in the NHL. While Sbisa could be a good player to keep up, there are eight better defenceman. If Theodore does not work out then they could send him to the minors and bring Sbisa up.

Merrill and Reinhart are both looking like busts and I do not expect them to make the opening night roster. If there are injuries then they could be called up. Nosek and Matteau both had a great preseason, but with Vegas’ depth, there is not enough space for them. Carrier did not have a good preseason and thus, he is sent down.

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Overall, the Knights have a lot of depth and this will be a tough decision for GM George McPhee.

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