The consensus on the Vegas Golden Knights this season has been... varied. Some fans are excited about the possibility of Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel scoring goals. They even envision a future Stanley Cup with the duo hoisting it proudly.
On the other hand, it's... death.
Some fans are losing their minds over the unorganized back-end defense. They can't believe how mediocre they've been at shutting down shooting lanes. Some have even blamed Adin Hill for the woes, chastising the goaltender for being passive.
Overall, it's been an interesting experience in the first two games. That's especially true after the Golden Knights had a bizarre 4-3 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Not many people thought they'd pull out a win, yet here we are. Be sure to give your regards to Alex Nedeljkovic for the victory, Golden Knights fans. It was a tribute to all the goaltenders who didn't tend the goal.
But Saturday's game against the Seattle Kraken could be more challenging. These three players could make life harder for Vegas on Saturday, causing all sorts of chaos on the ice. I know what you're thinking.
"There's NO way that would happen! This is the Kraken we're talking about here!"
Well, meet the three players who could make things extremely interesting on Saturday.
1.) Matty Beniers
The former second-overall pick (2021 NHL Draft) is the de facto first-line center for the Kraken. Fans are waiting for that one breakout season from the University of Michigan alum, who scored 20 goals and 23 assists (82 games) last season.
Will that come this season? Could that breakout campaign start against the Golden Knights? History says that isn't the case because the center only has a goal and two assists in 11 career games. Such statistics against Vegas won't make you stand out from the competition. But that could change with a big game on Saturday.
2.) Shane Wright
Remember when Shane Wright was such a controversial figure when the Kraken drafted him? He felt slighted by other teams (specifically the Montreal Canadiens) and carried that chip on his shoulder. Well, that controversy was blown out like hot air coming out of the rear.
Last season, he scored 19 goals and 25 assists in 79 games, marking a breakout campaign with Seattle. That's good for a 21-year-old who's looking to exact his revenge. He could take that anger out on the Golden Knights with an impressive game.
3.) Chandler Stephenson
The former Golden Knights center is officially living a cushy live in the Pacific Northwest. But do the statistics back it up? Surprisngly, yes.
Last season, Stephenson scored 13 goals and 38 assists, adding 17 assists on the power play. While the goals won't jump out to fans, that has never been his forte. It's always been coordinating the attack and leading his line.
What's more is he can do that on any unit, making him a dangerous opponent. That's something that the Golden Knights must watch for on Saturday. Otherwise, they'll be cooked in a massive upset.