How Should the Golden Knights Approach the Deadline?

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.