How Should the Golden Knights Approach the Deadline?
The Vegas Golden Knights playoff hopes have hit a wall. With disappointing performances dating back to the loss against the Coyotes, what does this team need to do to get back on track?
The Vegas Golden Knights have been playing some very poor hockey over the past couple weeks. I mean, it’s been very hard to watch them lose some of these games. But, we carry on and persevere in hopes that they would turn their season around.
Are we fooling ourselves as Golden Knight fans thinking they will turn their season around again? Maybe. I mean, no team would go 82-0. It’s just never going to happen. It’s unrealistic. However, we hold this team to a higher standard than they are showing, and we are not seeing improvement from them.
After losing to the Buffalo Sabres in Jack Eichel’s return, and then losing against the Pittsburgh Penguins, this team is without a doubt- struggling. But who’s to blame? The players? The coaches? The organization? It’s hard to tell. I mean, something has to give. It’s as simple as that. But what?
Well, as you all may know, the NHL trade deadline is coming up. with that, there will be the ability to switch things up- if they so choose. So, if the Golden Knights are looking to mix things up, what are three trades for the Knights to consider?
Filip Forsberg, LW/RW, Nashville Predators
The Golden Knights are without captain, Mark Stone for the foreseeable future. In his absence, the Knights were able to activate Jack Eichel. But, that hasn’t quite worked out as well as we once would’ve thought.
When looking at what Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch are doing for the Buffalo Sabres organization, it shows that the Golden Knights might’ve already lost the trade. I mean, the Golden Knights are no longer winning, and the Buffalo Sabres are actually starting to find ways to win hockey games.
Tuch was a budding superstar even last season, and now he’s coming into his own. Krebs on the other hand will wear teams down with his speed and has started to really begun clicking. Still young and developing, but they are playing very well.
When looking at the Golden Knights, Jack Eichel has played well. However, he isn’t helping them win many hockey games. Since he’s made his Golden Knights debut, they have only won 4/12 games. That’s not good!
That’s where this trade scenario comes into play. It seems to me that the Golden Knights have done everything right, but without a healthy Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith, Mark Stone, Alec Martinez, Robin Lehner, there is just to many people out to make a run for it. Because at the end of the day, the healthiest team generally wins it all.
So, the Golden Knights, being as though they are already all in, would more than likely try to acquire help. Now, I am just going to put this out here- in my opinion this wouldn’t solve the problem, but it’s going to help create a scoring juggernaut.
Filip Forsberg has been one of the better wingers in hockey this season despite missing multiple games. Now, why would I say that this trade would be good? Well, for a couple reasons.
First, the Golden Knights, if they want to be one of the teams that compete for the Stanley cup, are going to have to find a way to get healthy. Best way to do that? By not playing the people who have been in-and-out of the lineup.
Max Pacioretty has been in and out of the lineup throughout the most season. Given how important he is to this team, keeping him in the lineup if he’s not healthy, isn’t worth risk. If they were to put Max Pacioretty on the LTIR, it gives him a chance to get healthy and the Knights a chance to make an extra move at the deadline to create a juggernaut.
Filip Forsberg would work well in the Golden Knights lineup, but I’m not quite sure how much they’d have to give up in order to obtain him. If the Golden Knights could find a way to maintain two solid lines with their top tier players, the Knights would be in a great offensive position to win and compete in the playoffs.
Start From the Beginning
At the beginning of the season, the Golden Knights were feared as one of the best teams in hockey. There was no denying that unless you for some reason hated the Knights. Nonetheless, the Golden Knights still had a terrific roster.
When looking at how the Golden Knights daily lineup could’ve looked like, you’ll notice how much more full the lineup is.
Max Pacioretty-Chandler Stephenson-Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith
Evgenii Dadonov-Peyton Krebs-Alex Tuch
Mattias Janmark-Nolan Patrick-Keegan Kolesar
When we look at that lineup, I’m pretty mesmerized about the talent. I mean, William Carrier and Nicolas Roy aren’t even on the ice and those two are some of the better talents on the roster. Not to mention Brett Howden, but he seems to get time off even now. Which, I don’t understand fully because he’s actually been very good for the Knights.
Anyways, for those of you who don’t like that lineup or think it’s great- here’s the lineup we’d draw up more than likely right now.
Max Pacioretty-Jack Eichel-Mark Stone
Jonathan Marchessault-William Karlsson-Reilly Smith
Evgenii Dadonov-Chandler Stephenson-Nicolas Roy
Mattias Janmark-Nolan Patrick-Keegan Kolesar
Now, there isn’t anything wrong with it per say, but I’d take the lineup from the beginning of the season before this one. There’s a lot more youth on the team, and it’s filled out quite a bit more. But we don’t always get what we want. It’s the way of life.
Anyways, I’m mentioning all of this because when the Golden Knights activated Jack Eichel, this team has only won four games. That’s not good. So what can they do to help fix this team and get them back on track?
We’ll they can either, as I mentioned on the previous slide, trade for another player and put Pacioretty on the IR or they can trade away Reilly Smith and mix things up a little bit. They can try to acquire a A prospect that can slot in and give them a chance to add some young talent in the lineup.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I know about Jake Leschyshyn and Jonas Rondbjerg and how well they’ve played. In fact, I’m a huge believer in Jake Leschyshyn and his future. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he hasn’t done good enough to get moved up the lineup to a role in which he can produce.
Maybe that’s because there isn’t a spot for him in the other lines, which is a fair guess. But, it’s also possible that he isn’t a good enough offensive talent to score and play with those other lines which means that he probably won’t move up unless injuries continue to deplete this team.
If the Golden Knights can get a prospect or two from a team who is looking to go all-in, then the Golden Knights would have the ability to start from the beginning. Hit the off-season running, and make the moves the need to make in order to make a Stanley cup team. But right now, the team we are seeing, is not.