The Vegas Golden Knights are getting healthier at the right time. After seeing Jeremy Lauzon return to the ice in a red no-contact jersey, the Golden Knights defenseman was inserted back into the lineup by John Tortorella. That confirms that he'll return for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Jeremy Lauzon is back in the lineup for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, per John Tortorella.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) June 2, 2026
This past regular season, Lauzon scored one goal and 12 assists. However, his calling card isn't offense: it's physicality and defense. He has 97 blocked shots and 251 hits during the 2025-26 regular season, making him one of the more vital back-end defenders for the Golden Knights.
Lauzon also provides immaculate penalty killing, using that physicality to strip the puck from opponents. He's great at taking up space and ensuring opposing attackers don't get the inside edge. That'll be vital in many ways, especially if Vegas gets careless with penalties.
For one, Carter Hart will be extremely thankful. The netminder has become one of the dark horse Conn Smythe candidates, posting a GAA of 2.22 and a save percentage of .924. Part of that has been the space being limited by the Golden Knights, where the sticks have been the most active up front.
Lauzon's return can also revitalize the team and give them energy. Just look at how that's worked with Ivan Barbashev, especially during the Utah Mammoth series. The Russian winger has done excellent work at setting the tone early, leading to charged attacks on the other end.
The Golden Knights are fully healthy for the first time in a long time and it's refreshing. You have your Misfit in William Karlsson back, along with Mark Stone on the ice (among others). It's time to get that second Stanley Cup with the boys. The city of Las Vegas needs it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google