Why the oddsmakers are right to expect big things from Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are well and truly in the lull of the offseason now with hockey news of any note having completely fizzled out.

This is the time of year where complaints about heatwaves dominate social media and hockey fans, whether you root for the Vegas Golden Knights or another team, huddle in a cold, dark corner praying for October to arrive already.

Maybe that’s just us but the point remains the same; it is extremely boring without hockey and there isn’t a lot going on at the moment to satisfy those cravings. So, we’re here to create news and give you all something to talk about.

Scrolling through Twitter on Sunday I came across The Westgate Sportsbook, who have already posted the 2019-20 NHL regular season point totals, playoff odds and division odds. It makes interesting reading for Vegas fans because the Golden Knights are highly fancied by the oddsmakers.

They are second in points, at 103 and a half, behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning (108 and a half) who are projected to be the best team in the NHL in 2019-20. You can see why the oddsmakers would think that given the fact the Lightning absolutely dominated the regular season last year, only to fall dramatically short in the playoffs.

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Vegas is also the even-money favorite to win the Pacific Division next year and, again, you have to agree with the oddsmakers here. The San Jose Sharks will be a threat again although they have been weakened by the loss of Joe Pavelski, the Calgary Flames have talent and both the Arizona Coyotes and the Vancouver Canucks look better on paper.

However, the Golden Knights are absolutely stacked and they boast an abundance of riches throughout their depth chart. Starting in the crease, they boast a future Hall of Fame goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury who is still at the peak of his powers. Malcolm Subban, although he has some obvious kinks in his game he still needs to iron out, is a solid backup netminder in the NHL and the duo give Vegas a quality goaltending tandem.

Then you have the blueline and, although the Knights don’t possess a stand-out defensive star, they have a solid unit led by Shea Theodore who is rapidly evolving into an elite top-four blueliner. Nate Schmidt has been a crucial figure for this franchise throughout the last two years, while Brayden McNabb and Jon Merrill have both improved dramatically.

And, with both Deryk Engelland and Jimmy Schuldt expected to sign new contracts before training camp, plus a roster spot set to be handed to a high-end rookie, it should be another year of progress for a blueline corps that ranked 10th in goals against last year (228).

Last but not least you have a forward unit that not only boasts depth, but it can roll out a vast array of potent weapons. Let’s start with the deadly top-six that packs enough firepower to sink a small fleet of battleships. Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny and Mark Stone make up one of the most formidable and productive top six units in the NHL, and they will be key to ensuring that the Knights once again compete for a Stanley Cup.

There is also depth littered throughout the depth chart when it comes to the offensive zone. Consider Alex Tuch, who as a third-line wing, posted 20 goals and 32 assists for 52 points in 74 games in 2018-19. That sort of return is outstanding to say the least and, if the Golden Knights are able to thrash out a new deal with Nikita Gusev, they could well role out a third-line consisting of Gusev-Cody Eakin or Cody Glass-Tuch, which would add even more depth and secondary scoring to an already loaded roster.

Vegas have done a good job of keeping the majority of their roster intact and they should be among the frontrunners to win the Pacific Division. They should also be considered frontrunners for the Western Conference and they have all the tools in their armoury required to go on a long postseason run.

All in all, the oddsmakers are right to have given the Vegas Golden Knights good odds for 2019-20 and, while it’s what happens on the ice that truly counts, Knights fans can spend the rest of the offseason safe in the knowledge that they have plenty of reasons to get excited for when October does finally arrive.