You can name a few reasons why the Golden Knights are arguably the best team in hockey. Yeah, having a solid group of players at every position group has taken this team far since its inception, but they also rank in the top three in goals scored and goals allowed heading into Thursday night’s slate of games.
That said, you can argue that every player on the Golden Knights has brought their respective A-Games all season. But, if this team is looking to steamroll into the playoffs as the top overall seed in the West, they need a few more players other than just Tomas Hertl to put up red-hot, consistent play from now until April.
So, which trio of players must take their games to an elite level every time they’re on the ice to bring Vegas back to the league’s pinnacle? Let’s talk about one forward, one goaltender, and one defenseman who will make that happen.
Jack Eichel
Yep, the Golden Knights star player is Lucky No. 1 on the list. With 53 points and 11 goals in 40 games, it’s hard to say anything bad about this Hart Trophy candidate. But Jack Eichel has been the face of this franchise since Jonathan Marchessault left town and he’s the team’s rallying point second perhaps only to Mark Stone.
Still, Eichel has proven to be the more durable player this season, and he’s still got room for improvement if he can increase his meager 8.9 shooting percentage. Should that be the case, and if Eichel continues to put up points via assists, nobody’s stopping Vegas.
Ilya Samsonov
Ilya Samsonov’s name may surprise you, but if the Knights are locking the Western Conference’s top overall side, their No. 2 goaltender must continue to put together what’s been a sound season.
So far, Adin Hill’s been struggling with consistency, noted by his 0.480 quality starts percentage, but that hasn’t been the case with Samsonov. While you can argue Hill should be here instead, Samsonov’s the one who’s put up more consistent play and could ultimately cut into Hill’s time in the crease even more.
Noah Hanifin
I’m finally glad to see Noah Hanifin finally picking up his game after I was kind of tough on him earlier in the season. But I want to see more, as six goals and 21 points through 40 contests is still rather low if you ask me.
Okay, six goals isn’t half-bad for a defenseman, but if Hanifin could give us something along the same lines as Shea Theodore, then he and the Golden Knights are going to cook. And yeah, I get it; they’re the best team in hockey as of Thursday evening, so let them take over the league if Hanifin can up his game just a little more.