The Vegas Golden Knights had their media day shoots going on last week and it brought a ton of memes. Fans saw Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner buddying up like they were in the movie Step Brothers. They're clearly talking about John Stamos during the promo shoots.
Now it's time for the two superstars to do karate in the garage. But that's not the only thing noteworthy within the Realm this past week. If you haven't caught the news, the Vegas Golden Knights extended Braeden Bowman and Mark Stone.
The deals are seen as net positives for numerous reasons. Both players have deals seen as extremely valuable, with Bowman getting $3.4 million per year while Stone gets $9 million AAV. For Bowman, he's younger and doesn't have a no-trade clause attached. For Stone, the team literally thrives with him on the ice, as proven by Vegas's 8-9-5 record without him last season.
But the extensions have a deeper meaning beyond the players being extremely productive last season. General manager Kelly McCrimmon is sending a clear message about the team's direction, starting with the overall core. What's McCrimmon telling the Golden Knights' faithful? Why is the message so obvious to the fans?
Kelly McCrimmon wants to win another Stanley Cup right now for the Vegas Golden Knights
Looking at the current Golden Knights core, you'll see plenty of players locked into longer-term deals. Obviously, there are names such as Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner that are in for the long haul. But other names are also locked into said core for the next three years minimum.
You're also looking at the newly extended Braeden Bowman, who just inked a six-year, $3.4 million AAV deal with the Golden Knights that starts next season. You're looking at Rasmus Andersson being locked in until 2033. You also have Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, and Jeremy Lauzon staying in Vegas until 2032. The objective is clear: The current Golden Knights core is gearing their current Stanley Cup window towards bringing another title to Las Vegas.
While the Eichel and Marner deals might appear to be gargantuan, those deals will have a lesser impact as the salary cap rises. This also makes the lesser deals far more lucrative, specifically with Bowman. If Bowman can improve his play with the Golden Knights, that $3.4 million AAV will look even better for the long-term.
The potential ramifications of locking in with the current Golden Knights core
Of course, this has ramifications. Say the Golden Knights don't get Stanley Cup No. 2 and are left with an older group. Considering Vegas enters the 2026-27 season as the league's third-oldest team, what happens next?
Well, you're saddled with a ton of players with no-move clauses or no-trade lists. It'll be impossible to move off names like Eichel and Marner since they have said no-move clauses. But it's also names like Hanifin, Andersson, and Lauzon that'll be as tough to move.
Andersson, Theodore, and Hanifin all have no-trade clauses, while Lauzon's no-trade clause lessens to 16 teams in 2027-28. All four defensemen are 29 years or older, which would age the unit out in a few years. Mind you, that's a combined $27.275 million invested in the defenseman group.
That's not even mentioning how you're saddled with Tomas Hertl's $6.75 million AAV salary until 2030. The center is already 32 years old and isn't exactly the fastest person on the ice. Imagine the lag that hits when he gets older. That's essentially your Golden Knights lineup in the next few years.
Now, understand that this comes with locking in your roster for the Stanley Cup roster. When you lock in your best players, you're bound to watch them become victims of Father Time. Alas, that's the nature of the beast and Kelly McCrimmon understands this.
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