Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights have been busy keeping pending free agents off next year's market. Names like Shea Theodore (seven years, $51.975 million) and Brayden McNabb (three years, $10.95 million) remained with the team for the long term, giving them long-term stability.
Aside from keeping key players around for a while, he also silenced the critics vocal about the team's lack of "loyalty."
"HURDUR, YOU DID THE FRENCH MAN WRONG!"
"What kind of player would want to stay in Las Vegas after they screwed Fleury AND Marchessault?"
Well, dear skeptic, two "Misfits" have an answer for you. It's not what you want to hear, specifically since it shatters your narrative. The Golden Knights general manager got his two defensemen from "Day F****** One" and gave Brett Howden a contract extension this past week, too. Five years for $12.5 million sure looks good on you, Howden.
But that leaves two players in the last year of their respective contracts left. Keegan Kolesar and Adin Hill don't have renewed contracts, leaving fans wondering who the next person to be extended is. Could it be the starting goaltender? Maybe it'll be the fourth-line player.
Let's say for argument's sake that it's Kolesar. The Golden Knights have plenty of names waiting in the wings to start in the net for the future. Take your pick from the plethora, whether it's Akira Schmid or Carl Lindbom. So let's focus on the winger and see where he stands with a new deal.
What factors will go into a new deal for Keegan Kolesar?
The one factor in determining Kolesar's new deal will be the physicality needed by the Golden Knights. Currently, they rank 18th in the NHL in total hits with 441. A majority of those hits come from the native of Brandon, Manitoba (70 hits through 21 games).
Having that hard-hitting presence has been a staple of the Golden Knights throughout the years. It started with Deryk Engelland (405 hits in three seasons) and was continued by Ryan Reaves (837 hits in four seasons). The 27-year-old will continue that long-standing tradition (981 hits in six seasons) if he's given a new deal.
Of course, there's also the lower-line production he's provided this season (six goals, four assists). Kolesar has been one of the most reliable players on the lower lines, grinding out every shift. That includes key goals, with the goal against the Montreal Canadiens as a perfect example.
Keegan Kolesar’s heater continues! 🔥
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) November 18, 2024
‘Nickels’ nets his 5th goal of the young season, on track to shatter his career-high of 8 scores in a single season. Knights cut their deficit, trailing Caps 3-2 in 2nd. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/IOhyeOfsZ5
Having a winger who crashes the net for goals is quintessential for a successful team. That's especially true with the fourth line, where they need impact players to disrupt opposing defenses. The winger does this efficiently, giving the Golden Knights much-needed juice in the bottom units.
What will Kolesar's new deal look like with the Vegas Golden Knights?
Let's use Brett Howden's deal as a template for what could happen. The forward has eight goals in 82 games and is projected to score 31 in a full season. His recent deal of five years and $2.5 million AAV is a sweetheart deal for Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights.
It allows them the financial flexibility to make a bigger move, whether it's handing Jack Eichel or signing a big name. Of course, this has other benefits, including lower-line scoring and speed.
As for Keegan Kolesar? The 27-year-old still has key elements to his game, including timely scoring and a physical presence. While getting a lower-line player on a nice deal sounds enticing, keeping an established winger to grind out shifts can be better.
Currently, Kolesar is in the last year of his three-year, $4.2 million deal. His cap hit is $1.4 million, providing a team-friendly deal for a strong forechecker. Why not go with a four-year deal worth $9 million ($2.25 million AAV)? Kolesar gets similar money to Howden and stays in Las Vegas for the long term.
If McCrimmon wants to continue his contract extension kick, the Brandon native is the perfect person to do so. Sure, there's Adin Hill who might get a new deal. However, the Golden Knights appear to have a contingency plan for the future at goaltending. Therefore, the 27-year-old forward makes more sense. In fact, he could solidify the bottom six group with Howden for the foreseeable future.