Vegas Golden Knights 2017-18 Christmas Wish List
The Vegas Golden Knights are asking a lot from Santa in their first year of existence.
You couldn’t ask for a better start to a year if you’re a Vegas Golden Knights fan. The team currently stands in a five-way tie for first place in the Western Conference at 22-9-2 with 46 points. And thankfully the top two goalies on the depth chart are finally healthy.
The Golden Knights have been the biggest surprise in the NHL this season. Vegas is four lines deep, play all six defensemen and used five goaltenders in less than 40 games. If you’re a Knights fan, you have to be living on cloud nine right about now.
But there’s always room for improvement especially on a roster like this one. Whether it’s a player that needs to step up, acquiring a player to improve the team or selling a player for future assets. Here’s five gifts the Knights should ask from Santa this year:
1. Keep Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban healthy
This one is simple, straight and to the point. Maxime Lagace was decent, and the team managed to find ways to win with him in net. However, the Golden Knights don’t want another situation where they have to carry their fourth and fifth string goalies.
Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban have been one of the best duos in hockey when healthy. Fleury is 5-1-1 with a GAA of 2.25 and carries a robust .932 SV%. Ironically, Subban’s stats are very similar to Fleury’s numbers. The Toronto, Ontario native is 8-2-0, holds a 2.30 GAA and possesses a .922 SV%.
Oscar Dansk also showed he could step up to the plate when he comes back from injury. In a small sample size, Dansk went 3-0-0 with a 1.78 GAA, maintains a 9.46 SV% and has the teams only shutout in franchise history.
Lagace earned the bulk of the starts with the top three goaltenders on the depth chart out due to injury. Before going back to the Chicago Wolves, Lagace finished 6-6-1, provided a 3.79 GAA and a mediocre save percentage of .872%.
All the goaltenders deserve a significant amount of credit and exceeding expectations. But we all know if the Golden Knights want to win and compete now, Fleury and Subban have to stay healthy.
2. Extend Jonathan Marchessault
Jonathan Marchessault is an incredible talent that really came out of nowhere. The Cap-Rouge, Quebec native flew way under the radar in Columbus and Tampa Bay. He was regarded as a bottom-six forward with no high ceiling. But when he joined the Panthers organization, his role changed.
In 2016-17, Marchessault scored 30 goals and was one of the best players on the team that season. However, in a shocking turn of events, Florida couldn’t find a trade partner and the team left him exposed to Vegas in the expansion draft. And to the Golden Knights delight, they picked him, and it’s worked out big time.
In 30 games played, Marchessault is averaging more than a point per game and is on track to score 30 goals again. He’s on a line that consists of Reilly Smith and William Karlsson. Both players are very responsible and fantastic playmakers which makes Marchessault the top offensive player of the trio.
The 26-year old is due for a significant raise from the $750,000 deal he’s currently working on. I do expect Vegas to sign him to a long-term deal. I suspect he’ll earn at least a five-year contract with a 5.5-5.8 million dollar cap hit. But the longer they wait, the price may keep going up if Marchessault goes on another tear.
3. Keep playing Shea Theodore regularly
I understand why Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant decides to rotate defensemen in and out of the lineup. He carries eight defensemen with him which is a little above the norm. Right now, Luca Sbisa is injured which opened the door for Jon Merrill to play every day.
However, the player that doesn’t need to sit or a trip to the minors anymore is Shea Theodore. This kid is starting to understand how to respect the game. The Langley, British Columbia native had a four-point night against the league’s best team and scored the game-winner with 2.3 seconds left on the clock.
Theodore has made strides in his defensive game since switching to play with Deryk Engelland. Having a veteran presence such as Engelland teaching a 22-year old makes too much sense, and Gallant realized that quickly. Those two are an effective pairing whenever they’re out on the ice.
All in all, I see Theodore logging 17-21 minutes a night for the rest of the season. When he plays with confidence, he’s one of the most dangerous players. The future is bright on the Vegas Golden Knights blue line.
4. Brendan Leipsic busting out of his goal drought
Brendan Leipsic is the only forward on the Golden Knights roster to not yet register a goal this season. I find it hard to believe that a player that works his tail off such as Leipsic, still doesn’t have a single goal. As a matter of fact, Leipsic and Brad Hunt are the only players that have yet to score.
You can feel its coming soon, but I think like I’ve been saying that since the beginning of November. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native has had his fair chance of scoring chances especially when he’s on the line with energy guys such as Alex Tuch and Cody Eakin. The finish hasn’t been there for Leipsic, but he’s worked on improving other aspects of his game in the meantime.
He’s become a much better passer since coming over from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Check out this sweet feed to Oscar Lindberg for a beautiful goal:
I’m not sure when Leipsic will score his first goal as a Golden Knight, but when he does, he will pour it on. William Carrier is working his way back from injury, and he’s looking to get back in the lineup soon. I wouldn’t be opposed to sitting Leipsic for a few games to clear his head and recharge. But the only way to get out of this drought is to play him, and he’s playing way too well to sit in the press box.
5. Standing pat at the trade deadline
If the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves near the top of the Western Conference standings by the trade deadline, there’s no reason to do anything. I would not mess with the team chemistry and wreck the morale of a unique team like this one.
This team had a bunch of emotional games early in the season. The Knights have provided us with some of the most exciting finishes during the first half of the year. The way this team is winning only brings a club closer together.
Naturally, things change if an injury or two occurs and they go on a downward spiral. Then I would be okay with trading players on this team for future assets down the road. There’s plenty of time for plans to change especially if an unrestricted free agent expresses they wouldn’t like to come back to Vegas next season.
If McPhee does decide to trade a player on this roster, he’s only doing it for the future of the organization. Otherwise, I don’t see how McPhee could shop anyone at this point.
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If the Vegas Golden Knights decide to make a trade, keep an eye on these players that could potentially be on the move: Luca Sbisa, Brad Hunt, Oscar Lindberg and James Neal.