It is perhaps fair to suggest that 27 of the NHL’s 31 franchises will already be plotting how they can be better in 2018-19, including the Vegas Golden Knights who will be looking to mount a deep playoff run for the second time in three years.
While the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes slug it out for two spots in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Vegas Golden Knights and the rest of the NHL have turned the page on 2018-19 and are instead looking ahead to next year.
For the Golden Knights the outlook looks more than kind with a shot at lifting a Stanley Cup seemingly on the horizon in the not too distant future.
With a loaded roster, a deep and talented farm system and a forward-thinking front office who have made all the right moves so far, Vegas are on an upward trend and are very much riding the crest of a wave following a hugely successful first two years as an NHL franchise both on and off the ice.
After defying expectations and shocking the hockey world in their inaugural season by steamrolling their way through to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Knights bolstered their roster this year with some big hitters in Paul Stastny, Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.
And, although they ultimately fell short after suffering a crushing Game 7 defeat to the San Jose Sharks in the most heartbreaking of fashions, all the pieces are in place for the Vegas Golden Knights to remain a genuine Stanley Cup contender heading into 2019-20.
They will have a different look to them once training camp starts, however. Already pressing right up against the NHL’s projected salary cap of $83 million for next year, the Knights are going to have to shed some fat in order to trim up and add some muscle.
That could mean bidding a fond farewell to the likes of fans’ favorites and locker room leaders Deryk Engelland and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare who are two of four players set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
William Karlsson headlines the five restricted free agents Vegas have on their books, and thrashing out a new deal with one of their biggest assets will without doubt be the main priority for the franchise.
Although loaded in talent and depth, the Golden Knights will also need to add to their ranks if they are to keep pace in an already ultra competitive Western Conference.
Their biggest need is arguably on the blueline with there being an alarming drop off in quality behind Shea Theodore and Nate Schmidt, the franchise’s best two defensemen. If Engelland is allowed to walk and Colin Miller is traded as is a possibility according to reports, then the Golden Knights are going to need reinforcements.
We’ve picked out three possible blueliners Vegas could turn to in free agency this offseason, taking into account the team’s needs and their salary cap issues.