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Vegas Golden Knights: Four players who may have played their last game

By Andrew Steele-Davis

CALGARY, AB - MARCH 8: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 8, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - MARCH 8: Ryan Reaves #75 of the Vegas Golden Knights in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on March 8, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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Jon Merrill of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.
Jon Merrill of the Vegas Golden Knights skates during warmups before a game against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena. /

Honourable Mentions

As already mentioned, the Vegas Golden Knights will have eight players due to either hit the off-season as a UFA or as an RFA.

We picked out two other players that may have played their final game for the Vegas Golden Knights if hockey doesn’t return this year:

Jon Merrill, D, UFA

An unrestricted free agent in the off-season, Merrill has also failed to seemingly impress Head Coach Peter DeBoer and often found himself as a healthy scratch prior to the hiatus.

With Alec Martinez still having another year on his current deal, coupled with new extensions for Nick Holden and Zach Whitecloud, Merrill could well end up joining Deryk Engelland in leaving T-Mobile Arena this year.

Having coughed up 27 Giveaways in 49 games, Merrill’s game this year has been ravaged by a plethora of mistakes and, with a bevy of talented prospects waiting in the wings, his time as a Vegas Golden Knights player could already be over should hockey not resume this year.

Tomas Nosek of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against he New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.
Tomas Nosek of the Vegas Golden Knights skates against he New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. /

Tomas Nosek, F, UFA

Personally, I feel the front office will need to make a decision to keep one of Tomas Nosek or Ryan Reaves.

Due to the other players they need to re-sign, coupled with the need for a backup goalie if Robin Lehner does indeed depart, I can’t see the Golden Knights keeping both Reaves and Nosek.

And it all boils down to who fits best. Reaves, as we mentioned in a previous slide, can provide an offensive punch in addition to being a human battering ram, while he is one of the best fighters and enforcers in the entire NHL.

However, Nosek can also hit like a train and he also has the same amount of points as Reaves this year with 15 (eight goals, seven assists).

Next. Takeaways from Fleury's NHL Conference Call. dark

At 27-years-old and with a current cap hit of $1,000,000, Nosek would be a younger and cheaper option to re-sign rather than Reaves, although Reaves is a crucial glue guy in the locker room and that factor alone could be what seals Nosek’s fate, meaning he too may have played his last game for the Vegas Golden Knights if the season is cancelled.

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