I know, I know. We haven't reached the new year yet and we're speculating about which Vegas Golden Knights need to stay next season. However, it's never too early to talk about who should buy a house in Las Vegas.
After all, not all one-year stays are the same. Some aren't working out as they should, whether they're struggling to score or they commit too many penalties. It's a cruel world when the hockey fans in Sin City suddenly turn on you.
Alas, some names aren't meant to take up the ol' Las Vegas residency (sorry, Jeremy Lauzon). However, there are three names that should get a new deal with the Golden Knights. These names have been ideal for Kelly McCrimmon this season, providing goals, assists, and more!
So who should be the guys that stick around? Who should take up a residency and hang around with the Golden Knights? Let's explore these three names and see why they should hang around for a tad longer.
1.) Pavel Dorofeyev
The first player here is obviously the trickiest. How in the world are you supposed to pay a restricted free agent when his price tag continues to skyrocket? With 13 goals and eight assists, it makes life tougher when you're dealing with limited cap space.
Still, the Russian winger is worth every penny. He has eight goals and four assists on the Golden Knights' power play, which is ranked seventh in the NHL entering Tuesday (24.7%). His hockey sense and blistering shot make him the long-term player that Vegas needs.
2.) Colton Sissons
Now, I know that Sissons' offensive stats don't stand out too much. He only has a goal and two assists, after all. However, a deeper dive reveals that the center does more beyond what the offensive stats show.
Sissons has a faceoff win percentage of 55.1%, making him vital when the Golden Knights need to close out a tight game. Not only that, but he's an effective penalty killer. The center takes away space and makes effective exits, acting as the proverbial closer for Vegas. Get him back on a cheap one-year deal and Vegas has valuable lower-line depth.
3.) Ben Hutton
When Ben Hutton was given the floor due to injured defensemen, he's taken the ball and run with it. The defenseman has four goals and five assists, providing offense when the situation calls for it.
It was also mentioned yesterday how Hutton was an effective forechecker. He plays solid defense and can strip his opponent of the puck at any time. Like Sissons, the veteran must come back on a short-term deal that's not too expensive.