Looking at the five-game start for the Vegas Golden Knights, you'd figure everything would be okay. After all, you haven't suffered a regulation loss yet (3-0-2). However, the five-game stretch has been... bizarre.
One of those wins came at the expense of not one, but two, goaltender mishaps. Your last game almost saw the Boston Bruins come back and win. Sure, the offense looks stellar. However, some things must be shored up to compete for the Stanley Cup.
Speaking of offense, some players haven't put in the work for Vegas this season. They've been underwhelming in all five games, putting up one point or less. That's not cuting the mustard, especially if you want to beat teams like the Edmonton Oilers.
Remember last season when Edmonton beat the Golden Knights in five games? It wasn't because of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. It was because of role players like Evander Kane and Connor Brown who caused Vegas all sorts of problems. That can't happen again, especially with a superstar like Mitch Marner on board.
So let's look at these three names and see what's going on. Some cases are seeing a player moved down from the top unit. Others, well, it could be old age or simply a slow start. Let's get our doctor uniforms on and examine what's wrong with our lil' patients.
1.) Reilly Smith
Look, I love Reilly Smith. He has an incredible history with the Golden Knights organization, where he watched his NHL career take off. However, only one goal in the first five games doesn't help the lineup.
Imagine if Jack Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev didn't get off to a hot start. That would mean the middle of the lineup carries the load for Vegas, which would hamper its hot start. That's why Smith must come through and take more shots (Smith has seven to start the season). Speaking of the middle of the lineup...
2.) Brandon Saad
Saad is one of three Golden Knights without a single point this season. Another is a defenseman named Brayden McNabb and the other is Noah Hanifin, who's played... one game. Part of Bruce Cassidy's lineup shakeup wasn't just for getting players like Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner going. It was also geared towards the veteran winger, who's lagged behind offensively.
That's partially why the middle of the lineup hasn't caught up with the top unit. Players like Eichel (five goals and six assists) and Mark Stone (nine assists) have carried the load for Vegas, while Saad continues to struggle.
3.) Shea Theodore
The Original Misfit has been uncharacteristly quiet to start the 2025-26 season. He only has one assist to his name in the first five games. But there might be a good reason for that.
Theodore plays on the second power play unit now, which has only produced one goal this season. Compare that to the first unit, where it's been the Pavel Dorofeyev show (four power play goals this season). Can the defenseman make adjustments on the second unit and finally reap the rewards of a redhot Eichel and Stone?