I'm going to be honest with you. I almost touched a certain button while writing this article. It was akin to trying to dig out some nose gold in public, only to realize you had people looking at you. Wait, what?
Anyways, old habits die hard, as they always say. But welcome to the party, pal! The Golden Knights are inching closer to the regular season with Training Camp underway. Fans have already packed City National Arena before they start packing T-Mobile Arena to watch their teams pummel opponents into oblivion.
Okay, not every habit dies hard.
Still, you want to ensure that you undertake healthy habits throughout the year. Otherwise, you end up as a nihilist who chases Mitch Marner out of Toronto and into Las Vegas (although I don't mind the latter). Not only that, but your health deteriorates and you become stuck in a perpetual loop of doom and gloom (Rhymes Like Dimes!).
So... Let's look at three more storylines heading into the preseason. Remember that preseason action starts on Sunday and three storylines aren't enough in this town. After all, you can't have three storylines if you expect to win a Stanley Cup! Therefore, it's time to check out the newspaper and see what fans should watch for.
1.) The Alexander Holtz situation
Alexander Holtz is in a unique position right now. Currently, he's attending Training Camp on a PTO so he can get a new deal (since he's a restricted free agent). He's also trying to re-establish himself within the Golden Knights organization after an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign.
Can he do it? Or will he get the dud and be called a poindexter in the process?
The good news is that Training Camp offers him a clean slate. He's wanted a greater deal for himself heading into 2025-26. What better way to do that than to impress the masses during Training Camp and preseason.
2.) How impressive will the top line be?
As productive as the line of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev was last season, it had a shelf life. Aside from the obvious passing problems, they were hampered by a lack of... speed.
No, it's not Eichel and Barbashev getting high into the clouds.
It's more like they needed an injection of youth. That's where Mitch Marner comes into play. The newest Golden Knights take his place atop the top line with Eichel and is ready to take over the NHL. How far can this group go for Vegas?
3.) All eyes are on Pavel Dorofeyev
Leading the Golden Knights in goals (35) last season should call for an encore. That's especially true when you're 24 years old and will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season. That's where Pavel Dorofeyev lies in his current situation.
However, he can get off on the right foot and start Training Camp with an explosive campaign. He's entering the preseason with more bulk to his frame, looking to bolster his two-way game. That would be a massive boon for a Vegas Golden Knights team looking to get the Stanley Cup back.