3 surprising names that could impact the Vegas Golden Knights
Here are three names you might not think about helping the Vegas Golden Knights. What makes them unique?
The Vegas Golden Knights have fostered a reputation for finding absolute steals, both in trades and drafts. They've picked up names such as William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson, fortifying themselves as finding the best value among 31 other NHL teams. It's something the competition dreams of, especially when Kelly McCrimmon is your general manager.
The Golden Knights can do the same for this upcoming season, where the team seems lighter in different aspects. For example, they don't have winger depth like they used to, with superstars like Jonathan Marchessault missing. That could open up opportunities for lesser-known players to impact the team. As a result, a new diamond in the rough has been discovered!
After all, who doesn't love rooting for an underdog? Everyone went crazy when Jeremy Lin took the NBA by storm. His insane passes and scoring touch made him a cult classic in the basketball world, drawing fans from around the world. It also made the Brooklyn Nets prominent, drawing eyeballs into the superstar's offensive firepower.
So let's search for some Lin-Sanity in Las Vegas, shall we? Who's got the potential to impact Vegas positively for the upcoming season? Who could make the team and go on a hot streak scoring-wise? That's right, PTO players are included in this list for added dramatic flair! Here are three names Golden Knights fans should watch for that could surprise the fanbase.
Victor Olofsson
Last season, Victor Olofsson scored seven goals and eight assists with the Buffalo Sabres. That might not seem like much to the average hockey fan. However, the Swedish forward scored 28 goals the season prior, adding a strong scoring shot to Buffalo. Now, he heads over to the Vegas Golden Knights, where he'll reunite with Jack Eichel on a one-year, $1,075,000 deal.
There's plenty to like about the deal that's been mentioned before. He's a proven goal-scorer with a great shot and the ability to score in the slot. Olofsson also has scoring ability on the power play, where he's scored 35 goals and 26 assists on the man advantage. Having him on special teams and the wing could provide an uptick in scoring for Vegas.
He's expected to play on the top line with Eichel, where expectations won't be as high this season. That's a good spot for the Swedish winger to be in, for he can fly under the radar. In fact, that's the story for the team this season, as stated by Mark Stone. Many people are writing the Golden Knights off like they are Olofsson, which bodes well for both parties.
Tanner Pearson
Yes, this one involves a try out that must be successful for this to happen. That's almost never a guarantee, especially when the team's practically set in stone. However, let's assume an injury happens to one of the players on the wing. Such incidents like this happen all the time, leaving open opportunities for lesser players to shine.
What happens if Tanner Pearson gets a shot at redemption, similar to Victor Olofsson this season? He's got some scoring pedigree to him like the Swedish winger, scoring 138 goals and 147 assists. The former first-round pick also has some veteran experience to give, helping younger players like Brendan Brisson and Alexander Holtz develop.
Granted, this is a long shot to happen. However, crazier things have happened. That includes Jonathan Quick getting a second wind with Vegas, where his career found a renaissance with the New York Rangers a season later. That's what makes the NHL a great sport, for parity makes it more enjoyable than the competition.
Zach Aston-Reese
Zach Aston-Reese doesn't have the scoring pedigree as the previous two candidates mentioned. However, he does bring physicality, which would be a perfect fit on the fourth line. That would especially helpful if one of the fourth line players gets injured or bumped up because of an injury elsewhere.
How so? He's amassed 821 hits throughout his seven-year career. In fact, his highest total came in 2021-22, where he totaled 231 with both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks. The former Red Wing could be a good replacement for Paul Cotter's outgoing production, although fans shouldn't expect as much offensive output.
The Vegas Golden Knights love having a strong forecheck that takes away scoring opportunities. That's done through various means, including laying out opponents and closing gaps quickly. Aston-Reese could be a nice fill-in when there's an injury, giving more strength to a solid defensive unit. He could mesh into Bruce Cassidy's system without trouble and wear down the opposition without any problems.
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