Kelly McCrimmon is threading the commitment and financial needle perfectly

It's been a busy regular season for Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights.

First, Shea Theodore was signed to a seven-year, $51.975 million contract extension on October 24. Then, Brayden McNabb was extended with a three-year, $10.95 million deal last week. Now? Brett Howden received a five-year, $12.5 million contract extension to remain with the Golden Knights.

Life is good for Vegas hockey fans as their general manager is building a stable foundation for the next three years. They're capitalizing on their recent successes and creating a solid core to compete for more Stanley Cups. After all, having one from 2023 isn't enough.

That's why McCrimmon locked up the two "Original Misfits" set to hit free agency next summer. He wanted to solidify his blue line and have structure within his team. That would silence the critics saying there was no loyalty on the team.

And silence, he did! After a tumultuous summer that saw Jonathan Marchessault ride a mechanical bull in Nashville, the Golden Knights needed something to restore faith from the fanbase. That meant giving extensions to not one, but TWO, "Original Misfits."

McCrimmon hushes the critics with Brett Howden's extension

On top of that, Howden was thrown into the mix, given his eight-goal season so far (20 games). The three players will make a combined $13.575 million AAV over the next three seasons, providing plenty of financial flexibility for bigger deals. That includes another superstar and keeping the big name home (*cough* *cough* Eichel *cough*).

In turn, there's $11,740,001 left for next season's salary cap room (that is if the limit remains at $88 million). That leaves room for a major signing, which could be used in numerous ways. Maybe a new starting goaltender should Adin Hill not work out. What about a few bottom-six players? The possibilities are endless.

It's obvious there will be a bigger move in the works for McCrimmon and the Golden Knights. You don't simply get players on team-friendly deals like Howden's to sit on money. Remember that Jack Eichel is due for a big contract after the 2025-26 season. Therefore, he'll become a priority starting next year.

But the Golden Knights general manager might not be done making moves and giving contract extensions. In fact, there's one bottom-six player who has done solid work to warrant such a deal.

What Kelly McCrimmon's contract mastery means

His name? Keegan Kolesar. The native of Brandon, Manitoba, has five goals and four assists in 20 games, providing a lower-line spark. He's also a physical presence, delivering 979 hits in six seasons. For a team that looks weaker on the defensive end than years prior, his presence would be deeply appreciated.

In fact, he's one of the more notable players with one year left on his current deal. Of course, there's Adin Hill, who's due $4.9 million this season. That also includes players like Ilya Samsonov and Victor Olofsson. However, fans have noticed Kolesar's presence similar to Howden's contributions.

That could mean McCrimmon keeps the winger with the Golden Knights on a similar deal, providing financial flexibility. That's especially true with the salary cap expected to rise in the future. Will he stick around and get such a deal? Stay tuned.

In the meantime, the Golden Knights general manager is showing fans and the hockey world that loyalty means everything. He's getting key players like Theodore and Howden to buy into the team-first mentality, something that didn't happen with the cowboy boot-donning Marchessault. It could be the front office who gets the last laugh as well, especially if they win the Stanley Cup in the future.