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3 budget free agents the Vegas Golden Knights should sign this offseason

By Andrew Steele-Davis

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 23: Alex Chiasson #39 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring a goal during the game against the Ottawa Senators on March 23, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 23: Alex Chiasson #39 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring a goal during the game against the Ottawa Senators on March 23, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – MARCH 16: Mark Scheifele #55 and Ben Chiarot #7 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a first period goal against the Calgary Flames at the Bell MTS Place on March 16, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – MARCH 16: Mark Scheifele #55 and Ben Chiarot #7 of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a first period goal against the Calgary Flames at the Bell MTS Place on March 16, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Ben Chiarot, D, 27

It is perhaps fair to suggest that the Golden Knights could do with a couple of fresh faces on the blueline this offseason, although they have a wealth of talent within their farm system that they can call upon.

However, to be successful in the NHL you need a couple of grizzled, hard-nosed stay-at-home defensemen and with Deryk Engelland an unrestricted free agent this offseason, the Golden Knights could do worse than explore the possibility of handing Ben Chiarot a deal should he be allowed to walk away from the Winnipeg Jets, who have salary cap issues of their own to contend with.

For starters, at 27-years-old Chiarot is a much younger upgrade on Engelland who is exactly ten years his senior. He also comes out on top in the size stakes, standing at 6’3″ and weighing in at 219 lb.

Chiarot relishes in the nitty gritty aspect of the game as the stats firmly back up. He hits like a train and laid on 171 hits in 2018-19 (a career high), he blocked 139 shots (also a career high) and he had 20 takeaways.

ST. LOUIS, MO – APRIL 16: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot (7) gets ready to take a face off during a first round Stanley Cup Playoffs game between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues, on April 16, 2019, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – APRIL 16: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot (7) gets ready to take a face off during a first round Stanley Cup Playoffs game between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues, on April 16, 2019, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

He did concede 65 giveaways and he also earned yet another career high, this time in penalty minutes with 62. However, he did put up a plus / minus rating of +2 in six postseason appearances for the Jets.

Chiarot was also impressive from a production point of view in 18-19, achieving career highs in goals (5), assists (15) and points (20). The fact that the left-shot is coming off one of the best years of his career and is reaching his peak should make him even more of a valuable commodity in free agency.

He is a huge upgrade on both Engelland and Nick Holden and his current yearly salary of $1,400,000 shouldn’t jump up too much. If you can sign Chiarot to a contract in the region of $2.5-3 million then you would be getting a solid NHL blueliner who can log big minutes and be a reliable performer night in and night out.

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