The Vegas Golden Knights didn't make too much of a splash in terms of trading for guys this summer. Instead, they cleaned house and ditched some bloated contracts. They also dumped players that would've received big paydays (think Pavel Dorofeyev), keeping $10+ million salaries off the books.
Of course, it wasn't Dorofeyev that the Golden Knights had to reckon with, though. It was also letting Reilly Smith go, along with names like Brandon Saad, Colton Sissons, and Cole Smith. Those players had to make way for the new crop coming in for the Stanley Cup run.
Besides, what are you going to do when these players leave and you don't have a replacement? Just pick up a random dude off the streets? No way that happens, which is why you need a plan.
Luckily, that's what McCrimmon has in store. That could involve keeping four names around for a year or two since they carry some value. For some, it'd be wise to keep them around even longer. Here's who the Golden Knights should consider for the long haul for next summer (yes, we're looking ahead with this one).
1.) Mark Stone
Last season showed what Mark Stone can do for the Vegas Golden Knights offensively. He was tied for 11th in points per game with 1.22 (tied with Jack Eichel and Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander). Mind you, he was injured twice during the 2025-26 season, leaving him on the sidelines.
Still, it would be wise to bring the Captain back a little longer. Stone has shown that the Golden Knights need him on the attack, specifically since he picks apart opposing defenses fluidly and knows how to position himself on the attack.
2.) William Karlsson
The offensive output might be dwindling on Karlsson's part. After all, you can't expect him to put up 43 goals as he did in 2016-17. He's 33 years old, you know. But you still need Karlsson since he's one of the most cerebral defenders in the league.
The Swedish center knows a thing or two about spacing and limiting attackers on getting the inside edge. He has one of the most active sticks on the Golden Knights' roster, making him crucial on the penalty kill. It's definitely worth keeping this Misfit around for another season or two.
3.) Nic Dowd
Now, this one might seem a little odd. However, there's a good reason for this pick. One, you have Dowd's face-off prowess, where he's won 50.7% of his face-offs during his career. In fact, he posted a face-off win percentage of 51% during his 20 regular-season games with the Golden Knights.
Second, he provides penalty-killing prowess and can leverage his face-off abilities to the max. That helps to kill off time on the clock and keep the Golden Knights' momentum squarely in their corner. Give him a smaller deal for a year and have him continue to bolster the penalty kill.
4.) Braeden Bowman
The young forward showed that he can stick around on the Golden Knights' roster in 2025-26. He scored eight goals and 18 assists in 54 games, making for a solid rookie campaign. But that's not the only thing he's good for.
The undrafted forward is said to have a similar playing style to Stone. He positions himself naturally on the attack and can carry the attack well. Considering that he's a restricted free agent next summer, keep him around for the long haul to have Stone's future replacement ready.
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