Looking at the Vegas Golden Knights, one would think they're perfect.
"Oh my God, Adin Hill looks so comfortable in Bruce Cassidy's system."
"Jack Eichel is gonna win the Hart Trophy someday!"
That's not even mentioning the league's best power play heading into Thursday (30.1%). Having a loaded team with viable forwards and blue liners across the board is a luxury, after all. That's something teams like the Seattle Kraken can't say.
That's why the Golden Knights hold a five-point lead in the Pacific Division (entering Thursday). Careful roster construction combined with team-friendly deals from Kelly McCrimmon has turned this team into a full-fledged juggernaut.
Sure, everything looks good on the surface. However, there's no such thing as a perfect team. Every squad has its various weaknesses that have their respective fans worried. For example, Golden Knights fans have been concerned about the backup goaltender position in 2024-25. There's also the penalty kill that's been dwarfed by the power play's sudden emergence.
So let's examine three names that could help Vegas next season. Sure, fans are thinking about the Stanley Cup playoffs and who they might face. That first-round match-up is vital, after all. However, let's steer away from the playoff talk and look at how they can improve. That starts with these three players stepping in and making an immediate impact in Las Vegas.
1.) Jonathan Drouin
There are many reasons why Jonathan Drouin would be a sensical fit on the Vegas Golden Knights. He's 30 years old and provides much-needed forward depth. The left winger also has 10 goals and 25 assists heading into Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings.
Combine that with his positional versatility, puck skills, and vision and you have a good pick-up. Granted, some issues persist with his game. That includes an injury history and improving his play away from the puck. However, Kelly McCrimmon can get a solid player if the price is right.
2.) Jake Allen
This season has seen Golden Knights fans worry about the possibility of Adin Hill getting hurt. Luckily, that hasn't happened. The Calgary native has a GAA of 2.48 (seventh-best in the NHL) and a save percentage of .908 (tied for 12th in the NHL).
So why not pair him with a solid backup to ease the fan's concerns? Jake Allen has a GAA of 2.56 and a save percentage of .912 this season. His other stats make him a lucrative pickup (Courtesy of MoneyPuck, minimum of 20 games).
Stats | Goals saved above expected | Goals save d above expected per 60 | Save percentage above expected | GAA better than expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jake Allen | 20.8 (fourth in the NHL) | .805 (first in the NHL) | 0.0132 (first in the NHL) | 0.80 (first in the NHL) |
Imagine if this tandem stonewalls the NHL next season. Adin Hill and Jake Allen would be a tough duo to crack in 2025-26. It would also make fans forget about Ilya Samsonov's erratic performances.
3.) Joel Armia
The Golden Knights need to address their below-average penalty kill this summer (75.9%, 24th in the NHL). That's where Joel Armia comes in. The Finnish winger (11 goals and 14 assists entering Thursday) has proven himself to be a reliable penalty killer with the Montreal Canadiens.
In fact, he also has three short-handed goals entering Thursday. If there's one thing Kelly McCrimmon loves, it's penalty-killing threats who can score. Just look at William Karlsson and Reilly Smith as good examples. Armia would fit into Bruce Cassidy's special teams group immediately, adding lower-line scoring depth in the process.