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.