The Vegas Golden Knights Need More from Shea Theodore

The Vegas Golden Knights have struggled defensively so far this season. There are multiple reasons accounting for how bad the Knights have been, but a big part of it has been the lack of defense.

While reflecting on their road-trip, it’s safe to say that without Robin Lehner, they would definitely not be .500 on the season. He has had, what feels like, almost no help on the defensive side of the puck. The opposition that they face seems to consistently have double digit grade-A chances.

Now, when looking at the Vegas Golden Knights defenseman, they should be better than they are showing. But they aren’t. Losing the one guy that has the skill-set to be a strong stay-at-home defenseman in, Zach Whitecloud, doesn’t help matters. They should definitely still be performing better than they are. So now it becomes a matter of, Who’s holding the Knights back from becoming a great all-around team again?

The Vegas Golden Knights fan base has recently stated about how Alex Pietrangelo is the problem. Since the internet started bashing Pietrangelo a little bit, he’s really stepped up his game. Even if he didn’t though, I don’t think he is the problem. After watching all of the games so far this season there is one name that need’s to step up, Shea Theodore.

The Vegas Golden Knights have struggled this season when compared to expectations. One of the players that hasn’t stepped up in light on multiple absences is defenseman, Shea Theodore.

This is a little bit of a touchy subject to write about, and I’m sure read about. Since Shea Theodore has entered the league, he’s been one of my personal favorites. However, it’s hard to not see the glaring decrease in production and defensive ability so far this season.

As stated above, Zach Whitecloud has been the Knights stay-at-home defenseman when healthy. Key word in that sentence; healthy. Whitecloud got hurt against the Edmonton Oilers and has not yet returned.

Shea Theodore has never been a elite defenseman in the league, but what he’s done this season is disastrous. Now, there are probably more people to blame than just Shea Theodore, but he’s not helped matters by any stretch.

As an offensive defenseman, you would expect him to be a threat on the power play and a good scoring option along the perimeter. As you know if you follow the Knights at all, the power play has been absolutely pathetic.

So far through 12 games this season, Theodore has two goals and four assists for a total of six points. Now, somehow he’s managed to put up a +/- of +1, but it definitely doesn’t feel like it. His performance has game in-game out been hard to watch.

If the Vegas Golden Knights want to turn things around, they are going to need to ask more from him. In order to win, you have to find a balance between offense and defense, and right now Theodore hasn’t done either.

Once, they start getting Theodore back on track, setting up plays, and making things happen himself, they Knights will be much better off. This slow start by Shea Theodore is definitely not helping matters, but hopefully he can start getting back to form sooner rather than later.