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.