The Vegas Golden Knights sign the second line center they desperately needed.
Some unrestricted free agents on the Vegas Golden Knights are staying, and some are heading elsewhere. Ryan Reaves is back with Vegas, and David Perron goes back to the team he started with in St. Louis. The status of James Neal is one of the biggest question marks for the Vegas Golden Knights.
However, the Golden Knights have brought in a new face to the locker room. Reports have surfaced that the Vegas Golden Knights have signed Paul Stastny to a three-year contract. The deal is worth 6.5 per season against the cap. Once again, general manager George McPhee looks like a genius.
McPhee locked up a second line center for a low term at three years and boosted his chances to win the 2019 Stanley Cup. The Golden Knights needed a second line center after getting killed on the faceoff dot during the Stanley Cup Final. Stastny certainly helps in that department for the Golden Knights.
Stastny split time between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets during the 2017-18 campaign. In 82 games played between both squads, he notched 16 goals, 37 assists, and 53 points. Perhaps the most glaring stat is the faceoff percentage at a robust 54.9%.
The Golden Knights will likely slide Erik Haula back to the wing which is his natural position. If Neal decides to leave Vegas, Stastny will center the second line with Haula and Alex Tuch on his wings. That’s a fantastic looking second line if I do say so myself.
The newest Golden Knight has that “big game” ability as he turns into an even better version of himself in the playoffs. In the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Winnipeg Jets, Stastny totaled six goals, nine assists and 15 points in 17 games played. Now that’s the kind of production the Golden Knights need out of their second line.
In the Stanley Cup Final, the Golden Knights second line was manhandled by Washington. Improving the second line was always the plan for Vegas. And it also makes Vegas a deeper team down the middle.
The Quebec City, Quebec native, is one of the leagues most consistent players and having him on the Golden Knights is a huge plus. He’s also an active leader in the dressing room, and he should become a fan favorite in Vegas. Stu Grimson of NHL Network called him “the best professional on the free agency market.”
Next: Vegas Golden Knights Reportedly Resign Ryan Reaves
All in all, this is a fantastic signing by the Vegas Golden Knights. There’s still big-time free agents out there, and the Golden Knights still have more cap space to play with in the offseason. What’s next for George McPhee and the Golden Knights?