Top Vegas Golden Knights Fantasy Players you need in your team
Vegas Golden Knights hockey is back and we’re now on countdown until the first puck of 2019-20 is dropped.
After a lengthy off-season and an exhaustive preseason campaign, we can now finally look forward to getting back down to the business of regular season hockey with the Vegas Golden Knights opening up the new year against bitter rivals the San Jose Sharks tonight (7:30 p.m. PT).
It is set to be a hell of a fun year for the Golden Knights too, who enter 2019-20 with the ambition of going all the way and getting their hands on the greatest prize in all of sports come June 2020.
Of course, a big part of following any major sports now is Fantasy and it is fair to say that Fantasy Hockey is continuing to boom and get bigger and bigger.
It is taking the hockey world by storm and media giants like ESPN make sure they are fully on the bandwagon each and every year now.
And, with the 2019-20 NHL regular season starting tonight with a slate of four games, nhl.com recently revealed their Fantasy Top 250 Player Rankings, which featured no less than 10 Golden Knights players, including the likes of Mark Stone, Marc-Andre Fleury, Shea Theodore, Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson.
So, seeing as we are in a jubilant mood following the return of proper hockey to our lives, we decided to give you some advice on what Vegas Golden Knights players to draft to your Fantasy Hockey team prior to tonight’s season opener.
Right, let’s get started…
1. Mark Stone
This is an obvious one for me and, by the way, I have Mark Stone in my Fantasy Hockey team so take my word on this suggestion.
Ranked No. 56 by nhl.com, Stone is one hell of an option for Fantasy players looking to add a two-way forward who is going to put up monster figures throughout the year. Trust us on this, you would be silly not to draft Stone.
Consider this; in 59 games with the Ottawa Senators last year Stone tallied 62 points (28 goals, 34 assists) on what was a woeful team in transition, before being traded to the Golden Knights at the Trade Deadline.
Now surrounded by better weapons and high-end talent, expect Stone to be absolutely lethal for Vegas in 2019-20 when it comes to putting points on the board, as well as putting together another Selke Trophy caliber season.
Our verdict – grab him as soon as you can!
2. Marc-Andre Fleury
Still ranked as one of the best goalies in the NHL, Marc-Andre Fleury will be the saving grace for many a Fantasy player throughout 2019-20 and he’s easily worth a third or fourth-round pick.
Able to stand on his head at times and flash those pads to great effect, Fleury is the heartbeat of this Vegas Golden Knights team and the success they have enjoyed over the large two years is in part thanks to the 34-year-old.
With three Stanley Cups on his resume and a whole highlight-reel stuffed to the brim with high-quality saves, Fleury is a lock for the Hall of Fame once he hangs his skates up and you can be sure that he’s still got plenty more to achieve before that happens.
And nhl.com have the goalie ranked as high as No. 26 on their list, although you should be able to still pick Fleury up in the middle rounds of your draft if you are lucky.
Plus, it is worth keeping in mind that with the biggest weakness on the Golden Knights roster being the defense, Fantasy owners can be confident that Fleury will rack up the points in 2019-20 due to the amount of traffic he could face.
3. Max Pacioretty
Want a pure sniper on your roster who is a lock to reach at least the 30 point plateau in 2019-20?
Then Max Pacioretty is your man.
Tallying 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points in 66 games during his debut year in Vegas in 2018-19, Pacioretty also recorded 11 points (five goals, six assists) in seven postseason contests.
So, overall, a solid first year as a Golden Knight for Pacioretty who is playing without the pressure of being the Captain of one of the most storied franchises in all of sports in the Montreal Canadiens, an overbearing pressure that clearly got to the forward towards the end of his time there.
But, now playing with a new leash on life on a genuine Stanley Cup contender, Pacioretty can be counted on as being one of the most productive scoring wings in the NHL thanks to his wicked and deadly release.
And things are certainly looking good for the 30-year-old who absolutely lit up the preseason with 10 points (four goals, six assists), while developing an almost telepathic understanding with young phenom Cody Glass, who will be his linemate for opening night.
Having now had a year to settle into his new surroundings, expect Pacioretty to morph into the natural leader he is both on and off the ice and, as a result, put up some monster numbers for the Golden Knights.
4. Shea Theodore
After a defenseman very much on an upwards trajectory for your Fantasy team? Then make sure you draft Shea Theodore when you get to the meaty part of your Fantasy Draft.
Putting up 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 79 regular season games in 2018-19, Theodore really came of age last year and, at just 24-years-old, his ceiling is a lot higher too.
Able to play hard in the corners and on the forecheck, boasting a long reach, willing to put his body on the line and relied upon as the quarterback of the power play, Theodore is your modern-day NHL two-way defenseman and there’s a reason nhl.com have him ranked No. 123 on their Fantasy list.
And we are pretty confident that Theodore will elevate his game further this year, maybe even reaching the 50 or 60 point plateau, so he’s worth picking up for your Fantasy team if you are in need of a high-end blueliner.
5. Cody Glass
We’ve decided to finish with a sleeper pick and one that could prove to be a dark horse for Fantasy owners out there.
Set to make his NHL debut tonight for the Golden Knights, Glass is ranked No. 218 by nhl.com and he’s a perfect pickup if you are looking for a potential wildcard when adding the finishing touches to your roster.
Impressing in the preseason with three assists and showcasing his elite playmaking ability, what should make Glass even more attractive to Fantasy owners is the fact that he will begin his NHL career centering a second line between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone.
Now, that is impressive company to keep.
But, what we should be paying attention to here is the fact that Glass will begin his career in the big leagues sandwiched in-between two absolute elite forwards and that could translate to an explosive start to life in the NHL.
If Glass does fly out of the traps and shows that he has what it takes to succeed on the second line for the Knights, then he could well be the steal of the draft for any Fantasy owner out there.
5 bold predictions for 19-20. dark. Next
Got a spot you need filling? Then taking Cody Glass late is worth the risk because, even if he does end up being sent down to the AHL, you can easily cut bait and head to the waiver wire to pick up a replacement.
So, there you have it, our five top rated Vegas Golden Knights players to consider for your Fantasy team. Good luck and remember to say thank you if any of our picks lead you to success!