3 things the Vegas Golden Knights must do to return to the Stanley Cup Finals
Ladies and gentlemen, a new Stanley Cup champion is being crowned this month. What can the Vegas Golden Knights do to hoist the prestigious trophy again?
It's tough watching another team hoist a trophy that you won last season. All the fun memories of becoming the champion of a respective sport flies by, watching players eat hot dogs out of the Stanley Cup. There's also the occasional player in a conga line with the illustrious trophy and a bunch of kids following. In short, the memories flood like a good 1990s movie for a 30-year-old person (or older).
Jack Eichel confirmed Phil Kessel has in fact eaten hot dogs out of the Cup already 😂🌭 pic.twitter.com/QkjOz7f67m
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 18, 2023
The Vegas Golden Knights are victims of this, with their title defense ending in the first round. The Dallas Stars did them in behind a dominating performance that went a surprising seven games. Hockey fans will have a new champion this month, with the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers fighting in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Golden Knights fans might watch or be indifferent to the matchup. Their beloved team isn't competing for the prized trophy, so why should it matter to them? But they're probably not thinking about the matchup. Their thoughts consist of what the team must do to get back, already anticipating the start of next season.
And who could blame them? The high of the first Stanley Cup still courses through their veins. Moments like the fulfilled promise, the breathtaking save from Adin Hill, or even the celebratory heart photo made the run special. Why not go for another run and get more iconic memories for the fanbase?
That's what Vegas fans deserve, especially after their miraculous run during their inaugural season. Of course, they can't try the same thing as this season. That strategy didn't win them anything. However, making the following three adjustments will ensure the Vegas Golden Knights are back in the Stanley Cup Finals, with a chance to win a second title.
The Vegas Golden Knights must bolster their power play
Certain things in life are mere formalities. Death, taxes, and the Vegas Golden Knights's power play not doing anything. The lifetime percentage for the unit is 19.6%, which is surprising and depressing. When your best season on the man advantage is 22% (2019-20), that's a major cause for concern.
What did Vegas do to bolster the unit? Add proficient offensive pieces to the unit, keeping them for the long term. Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl were brought in to add more muscle, which they did. For the defenseman, he scored two power play goals and three power play assists in 19 games with his new team. For Hertl, he had a goal and an assist on the man advantage in six games for Vegas.
With the new pieces, the unit saw a dramatic turnaround. They scored on 46.7% of their man advantage opportunities after April 7, finally breathing new life into the group. With more time together, the team will become better as they adapt to one another. However, the Stanley Cup Finals return won't happen if they don't bring back one particular "Misfit..."
Re-sign Jonathan Marchessault
All the rumors about Jonathan Marchessault being too expensive for Vegas might be true. After all, the winger just had a career year, scoring 42 goals this season. However, the other rumors involving the Golden Knights and players like Mitch Marner should suggest cheaper alternatives are in play. That's especially true with Marchessault, who won't fetch a $10 million AAV deal like the current Maple Leaf will.
What does bringing back the beloved "Misfit" do for the team? For one, he's excellent on the power play, scoring eight goals and nine assists on the unit. During his Golden Knights tenure (seven seasons), he scored 42 goals and 61 assists on the man advantage. It's not saying that Marner doesn't do these things. The problem is it's coming at an unachievable price that could be solved by bringing a fan favorite back.
The team needs a good sniper who can provide an offensive spark. That person must also be consistent, providing timely goals in times of crisis. Marchessault fits the bill perfectly, bringing an offensive acumen that can be acquired at a cheaper price. If Vegas wants to acquire Marner, they won't do it for a one-year rental. Therefore, the "Original Misfit" would be better for the team's contention chances. Otherwise, fans will lose their collective minds.
More forward depth for the Vegas Golden Knights
Bringing Marchessault back keeps the top line strong, giving Jack Eichel another scoring option. However, that leaves the other lines yearning for more help, from the second to the fourth. That's the issue with losing starters such as Chandler Stephenson and William Carrier.
Granted, players such as Paul Cotter and Pavel Dorofeyev should take the next step. Therefore, it makes filling the voids from free agency much more bearable. However, there are still a couple of problems. For one, there's still a starting forward or two that general manager Kelly McCrimmon can get. There's no way both Stephenson and Marchessault are brought back unless drastic changes are made.
There's also the injury bug that ravaged the team in recent years. It's affected every beloved player, from Mark Stone to William Karlsson. The emphasis on depth is more important than ever, with functional pieces ready to step in. There will likely be a trade or two made to ease the salary cap pressure. However, McCrimmon can put the team back in contention by emphasizing a great forward group in free agency.
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