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Three reasons why the Vegas Golden Knights will win in 2019-20

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 27: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after a goal by teammate Brayden McNabb #3 during the third period against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /

We are just a few days out from the regular season now and there is a tangible sense of excitement in the air surrounding the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of opening night.

With just one preseason game left against the San Jose Sharks later today (5:00 p.m. PT), the Vegas Golden Knights are inching ever closer to getting back down to business and launching another Stanley Cup contending mission.

There is no doubting just how stacked and talented this roster is, despite losing the likes of Nikita Gusev, Erik Haula and Colin Miller in the off-season. The Knights’ top six forward unit is arguably the most potent in the NHL, while they will be able to rely on secondary scoring from the likes of Alex Tuch and Cody Eakin.

Either one of Valentin Zykov or Brandon Pirri will have a chance to establish themselves as a key figure on the third line, while a bruising fourth line consisting of William Carrier, Tomas Nosek and Ryan Reaves will heap plenty of big hits on the opposition and make sure they set the tone for their teammates.

And then we have the blueline which will boast a solid unit headlined by Shea Theodore, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2018-19 with 12 goals, 25 assists, 37 points, nine power play points, 91 blocked shots, 27 hits and 82 takeaways. This year should see continued progress from Theodore and he’ll be supported by a more than capable cast consisting of Brayden McNabb, Jon Merrill, Nate Schmidt, Deryk Engelland and a rookie defenseman.

Let’s not forget Marc-Andre Fleury who will be a future Hall of Famer once he retires, and the goalie is still playing at an elite level and he’ll be critical to the Golden Knights’ chances of enjoying success in 2019-20.

There is an abundance of talent on this roster and there is some exciting young talent oozing through the farm system too. Everything is in place for the Vegas Golden Knights to be one of the best teams in the NHL this year and we’ve picked out three reasons why they can succeed in their ultimate goal of lifting the Stanley Cup…

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