To quote Professor Farnsworth: "Good news, everyone!"
NHL training camps are just around the corner, with the Vegas Golden Knights resuming action on September 19. Three days later, the Golden Knights will kick off preseason hockey with a game against the... San Jose Sharks. Although fans aren't going to see a controversial cross-checking major called, there will still be plenty of "friendly" rival banter.
But this isn't your average Vegas training camp this season. Sure, there are familiar faces such as Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, and William Karlsson. However, a couple of "Misfits" have left town, with William Carrier off to watch a NASCAR race and Jonathan Marchessault set to become a country musician. Fans will wonder how the absences will affect the team, specifically without the Conn Smythe winner.
While there are some noteworthy absences, there are some new additions, including Alexander Holtz and Victor Olofsson. The wing position will be vital for the team's success, especially with Marchessault's departure. With newfound youth and upside, the Golden Knights are banking on Holtz and Pavel Dorofeyev to carry the load.
But there are bigger storylines outside of the wing players. In fact, there are three things Golden Knights fans should watch for in 2024-25. These will define how successful the team will be, whether it's in the Pacific Division or the Stanley Cup playoffs. How will the team respond? What adjustments will Bruce Cassidy make? Here are three storylines that will be under a microscope this season.
What will happen with the fourth line?
Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar are expected to form two-thirds of the bottom line for the Vegas Golden Knights. Roy provides a more offensively-minded aspect to the group while Kolesar brings a physical style. But there's one guy missing from the bunch: William Carrier, who's departed to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Out goes the physicality that defined Carrier's career, where he had 1,116 hits in seven years with Vegas. The "Misfit" also had a scoring acumen to his game, with his career-high of 16 goals coming in 2022-23. That leaves a major question for Bruce Cassidy to answer: Who's the third guy to accompany Roy and Kolesar?
Would it be Brett Howden as projected, who's also physical and has some offensive capabilities? Is it Zach Aston-Reese, who was brought in from the Detroit Red Wings? The direction Cassidy chooses for the bottom group will be part of how the team is formed in 2024-25, along with the forecheck. It also indicates how Vegas wants to match up with teams like Edmonton and Vancouver. Do they want to stop the offensive onslaught and go toe-to-toe on each line?