There’s no rest for the wicked as the old saying goes, and that is certainly true for George McPhee and the Vegas Golden Knights right now.
Although the dust has barely just settled on 2018-19, the hard work has already begun for the Vegas Golden Knights General Manager when it comes to preparing for next year.
We at Vegas Hockey Knight have already started looking at the major offseason decisions facing this franchise, and that will continue over the coming weeks.
But one thing is for sure and that’s the fact that McPhee will have to conjure up some more of his magic tricks this summer.
Already pressing up against the NHL’s projected salary cap of $83 million for 2019-20 (Vegas currently has $82.375 million committed to next year’s roster), McPhee faces some major decisions as he plots once again to forge this team into a genuine Stanley Cup contender.
William Karlsson’s new deal will be the highest priority and both parties are said to be keen to thrash out an agreement sooner rather than later.
Although the top-line center endured a dip in production in 2018-19 compared to his dream debut season in Sin City, he still put up 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 82 games, in addition to five points (two goals, three assists) in seven playoff games.
Karlsson’s production for Vegas over the last two years deserves a new long-term contract, but how the finer details of that deal and the overall value of it will look will require some thinking.
Keeping Karlsson will mean that others will have to head through the exit door in order to free up cap room, and that can be achieved through trades and free agency.
Vegas have four pending unrestricted free agents this summer and it could be a case of letting the likes of Deryk Engelland and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare walk at the end of their contracts.
Not easy decisions to make but lift isn’t easy at the top.
Cody Eakin ($3.85 million) and Nick Holden ($2.2 million) are both entering the final year of their contracts and could be viable options to move in a trade.
McPhee will also have the attractive option to recoup a much-needed $5.25 million by moving David Clarkson’s albatross of a contract to the long-term injured reserve list or working out a way to trade the dead money.
Put it simply, you don’t envy the task at hand for McPhee this offseason.
The slog doesn’t stop there, either.
Vegas will enter the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver on June, 21 with a first and second round pick, three third round picks and four other selections.
That will present the franchise with a golden opportunity to bolster their already deep, talented farm system and set this team up to succeed not only now but long in the future too.
You would also think, salary cap allowing, that McPhee will look to add one or two pieces via either free agency or a trade to a team that is standing on the precipice of greatness.
McPhee has constructed a roster containing the perfect balance of youth and experience, skill and grit, toughness and finesse.
This team is now battle-hardened as well which will only stand them in good stead and they have all the tools at their disposal and all the firepower in their armoury required to win a championship sooner rather than later.
McPhee’s copybook remains without a blemish during his tenure as General Manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, and his exemplary work with this franchise so far speaks for itself.
But this summer will present the 60-year-old with a new set of challenges and he will have to work more of his magic in order to navigate those choppy waters successfully and keep this franchise on the right path for a Stanley Cup.