Remember when the Vegas Golden Knights saw a mass exodus of forwards leave town in the summer of 2024? That included Jonathan Marchessault, William Carrier, and Michael Amadio, leaving the winger group underwhelming. People were even asking who'd replace a particular Misfit's scoring output.
No, it wasn't Carrier. It was Marchessault.
What happened next will shock you to the core. Pavel Dorofeyev led the Golden Knights in goals scored last season with 35. Mind you, he's... a winger. The team also added Mitch Marner this summer and brought in Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith last season.
It's like a magical elixir came about and cured the Golden Knights of their ailment. Perhaps it was Gas-X and Kelly McCrimmon was feeling bloated. It usually happens when it comes to the salary cap.
But the moral of the story is this group is no longer the weakest link. It's now an indomitable strength that could lead Vegas to its second Stanley Cup. With a combination of veteran experience on the lower lines and an elite winger atop the hierarchy, fans finally have a solid group on all four lines.
How the Golden Knights wing group became a juggernaut
First, let's go back to Dorofeyev. He was the key that unlocked the second-best power play last season. Sure, fans will point to Tomas Hertl and his slot presence as a contributing factor. You can't deny that a franchise-record 14 power play goals led the way, after all.
However, the Russian winger scored 13 goals atop the power play umbrella. Armed with a hard shot, Dorofeyev could fire a slapshot at will. He could also snipe without any complications, making him a formidable threat.
Of course, the obvious addition of Mitch Marner elevates the group to another level. Having a partner alongside Jack Eichel is something the top line desperately needed. But the depth has become a key factor, too.
Now, you have Saad (13 goals and 17 assists last season) in the mix. Now, you have Smith (13 goals and 27 assists) coming back to aid the special teams group. Everything is back where it was, specifically when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup.
Other underrated pieces to the Golden Knights puzzle
Fans can't forget about what Keegan Kolesar did on the lower lines last season. He scored a career-high 12 goals and 18 assists last season and kept up his hard-hitting ways (237 hits last season). But he wasn't alone in making the lower-line wingers brilliant.
Brett Howden also set career-high marks last season with 23 goals and 121 hits. On top of that, he bolstered the penalty kill and gave them some respectability, scoring a short-handed goal. Watching the 27-year-old dominate in his breakout season did wonder for the Golden Knights when needed.
All of these factors have turned a laughable weakness into an unstoppable force. That could mean the team becomes a Stanley Cup champion once again. Sure, you don't have a Misfit who won a Conn Smythe Trophy. But does that matter when you're trying to win another title in the long term?