5 bold predictions for the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2024-25 season
The Vegas Golden Knights have plenty of newsworthy tidbits before the season starts. Here are five bold predictions for the upcoming year.
Are you ready to put on your adult pants for the new hockey season? Do you want to go where no person has gone before? It's time to get serious as a hockey fan because the action begins on Wednesday. You know the time, date, and place, with the Vegas Golden Knights taking center stage in Las Vegas.
Arguably a bigger attraction than big names like Usher, Barry Manilow, and Shania Twain, the Golden Knights bring their brand of hockey to the NHL for its eighth installment. This time, expectations are different for the franchise. Not many people are banking on Vegas to do anything, aside from making the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's despite having reputable players like Jack Eichel and up-and-coming stars like Pavel Dorofeyev.
The "Shiny Toy" is based in Edmonton and is called the Oilers. Led by Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor McLuckyunderpants--I mean, Connor McDavid, the Oilers look to finish the job started last season. They almost pulled off an incredible comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Florida Panthers. However, they ran out of juice, losing the seventh game, 2-1.
Still, McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his troubles, putting up 42 points in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He'll be a bold target to take down in the 2024-25 season, with every NHL team looking for a piece of him. Speaking of which, what are some savvy predictions for the Golden Knights this season? Who will shine the brightest when nobody expects it? Here are five bold predictions for the upcoming hockey campaign, VGK style.
1.) Pavel Dorofeyev will score more than 30 goals this season
Pavel Dorofeyev has made his presence felt within the Vegas Golden Knights organization. Last season, he scored 13 goals in 47 games, establishing himself as a solid winger. He would've scored 22.68 goals in a simulated 82-game season, making him one of the more valuable Golden Knights forwards.
This season, he'll tackle a bigger role on the second line, being paired with Tomas Hertl and Alexander Holtz. The trio did great in the final preseason game, combining for four goals and five assists. Bruce Cassidy knows this line is capable of much more, which could elevate Dorofeyev's game.
Expect the Russian forward to rise to the occasion, giving the Golden Knights much-needed scoring power on the left wing. Having Dorofeyev and Barbashev on the left side gives Vegas more speed and offensive upside, turning the team into a force in transition. Cassidy hopes to see this with the second line, especially with the team's new look.
2.) Jack Eichel will be in the Hart Memorial Trophy conversation
Jack Eichel has dealt with an array of injuries throughout his NHL career. He's worked through lower-body and neck problems, hindering him from reaching his full potential. That's resulted in the star center only playing 164 games with the Vegas Golden Knights. However, he's still a premier forward, as proven by Eichel averaging 1.08 points per game last season.
Eichel will be in the Hart Memorial Trophy conversation come spring, where he'll score 100+ points for Vegas. Fans should also expect the superstar to play close to a full season, where he'll lead the Golden Knights to greater things. Could that mean another Stanley Cup Final appearance? Stay tuned. Speaking of greater things...
3.) The Vegas Golden Knights will win the Pacific Division
Now, this is a bolder prediction than the previous two for a couple of reasons. One, the Vancouver Canucks are loaded from top to bottom, carrying ample scoring on every line. They also have Thatcher Demko in the net (although he's currently out). Second, everyone knows about the Edmonton Oilers and what they can do.
However, the Golden Knights have pulled off winning the Pacific Division when nobody expected it. They did it behind balanced scoring and a solid defensive group, making them one of the most stable franchises in the NHL. Plus, there aren't many teams aside from the Golden Knights, Oilers, and Canucks who stand out. Therefore, it isn't outside the realm of possibility, especially if the Oilers and Canucks start slow.
4.) Ilya Samsonov will be better than people think
You know, I was sifting through Ilya Samsonov's stats from last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nothing stands out with the goaltender, specifically with a GAA of 3.13 and a save percentage of .890. That's especially true during the Stanley Cup playoffs, where he posted a GAA of 3.01 and a save percentage of .896.
These stats don't jump out to people in a good way, leaving them uninspired. However, the Russian netminder had good moments in the preseason and would benefit from a goalie-friendly defensive system. Therefore, he'll be like his fellow countryman, Pavel Dorofeyev, and surprise people in 2024-25.
5.) Mark Stone will play a full 82-game season
Mark Stone is projected to start the NHL season with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev in the top line. He's projected to be on Eichel's right wing, setting up the offense as needed. The Captain should also play a full 82-game season in 2024-25, which is a bold claim.
However, there's merit to this statement. Yes, The forward missed time with a spleen injury, playing in 56 games in 2023-24. However, spleen injuries aren't as frequent as people would like to believe. He should have a better bill of health for the upcoming campaign, where he'll re-establish himself as a bona fide forward for the Vegas Golden Knights.
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