The Importance of Pre-season

The Vegas Golden Knights don’t have anything to prove this pre-season but, there is still a great deal of importance that comes with pre-season games.

The Vegas Golden Knights just finished their first pre-season game a couple days ago. After a loss to the San Jose Sharks, it gave the players a chance to work their way back. Even though the loss didn’t mean much as it is a pre-season game, It does hold some significance.

In the pre-season, it gives the veteran players  a chance to get their legs back under them, and rebuild their line chemistry. As stated in my previous article, the Knights struggled with passing as they were just slightly off. With that being said, it won’t stay that way, but there’s a reason for the pre-season.

Competition

The Knights are going to be without wing, Alex Tuch, for six months to start the season after getting shoulder surgery. The Knights are fortunate enough to have a plethora of prospects who can compete for a roster spot. After watching the game against the Sharks, you’ll see how well Dugan, and Cotter were playing and how smart they were playing. However, with that being said, They are still going to make mistakes on the ice given their inexperience.

Looking forward, the Knights will to have to decide rather or not some of the prospects are ready to face next level competition. With a lot of hype around Peyton Krebs during the pre-season and training camp, a lot of fans are hoping for him to make the roster. After the Sharks game, you could spot the inexperience from Krebs with some of his decisions with the puck.

Chemistry

The Knights have a very good team around them that has helped them, but after a rough first game, it’s clear that there is still work that has to be done. The pre-season is all about giving the team’s young players a chance to show what they can do, and it’s also to get back in the rhythm. When it comes to hockey, chemistry is one of the most important behind-the-scenes actions. When your constantly changing lines and practicing with different people, you don’t get acquainted with your team if you’re never with the same people.

Everyone has different tendencies and it’s important to know those tendencies for your team. When transitioning into the offensive zone you are probably not going to be carrying the puck up by yourself. You will lean on your teammates and work together to control the puck. With that being said, You need to understand which players are good with the puck where, and what their skill-set is.

Conclusion

The Pre-season doesn’t mean much to most people, but when you look at what it means going forward, It can completely alter people’s perspectives. Pre-season is extremely important for the players and the coaches as they look to try and win the Stanley Cup and put together their best team.