You know the saying, "parting is such sweet sorrow?" It's supposed to indicate when it's time to let go of something you really love. It could be a beloved family member or a pet. Heck, it could be a hockey player that impacted your team positively.
That could be Victor Olofsson, who had a resurgent season with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Swedish winger scored 15 goals and 14 assists in 2024-25, with six goals coming on the power play. All of this came on a one-year, $1.075 million contract after falling off the face of the Earth with Buffalo.
Some will say that Tomas Hertl and his 14 power play goals were the main conductors of the second-best power play (28.3%). Some will say it was Pavel Dorofeyev and his 13 power play goals. However, Olofsson's six power play goals simply can't be overlooked.
That's part of why it's hard for Kelly McCrimmon to simply let him go. He was instrumental to the Golden Knights winning 50 games and getting 110 points. Oh, and a Pacific Division title was also nice. Thank you, Mr. Olofsson, for your contributions.
Unfortunately, such successes come with a rising price tag. He's estimated to get a two-year deal worth roughly $2.5 million AAV, according to ScotiaStats. Considering Vegas is focusing on a particular Maple Leafs superstar and they have $9.615 million in cap space, it just won't happen.
Therefore, it's time to look at some suitable replacements for the underdog. These four names could help the Golden Knights fill out their lower-line wing depth. On top of that, they could finally compete with the Florida Panthers, Edmonton Oilers, and other elite teams.
Yes, my friend. It's time for the sequel. Let's meet those four players and see what they can do.