Are you ready for roster speculation? With NHL training camp starting Thursday, there are some questions about how the Vegas Golden Knights roster will look. Who will be on the fourth line? How will the power play look? These will burn in the minds of Golden Knights fans as the team gathers for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
That gives names like Ben Hutton and Tanner Pearson optimism that they can crack the opening night roster. But let's go one step further than that. There's also the possibility they could stick with the team for the entire season. That could come from various factors, including trades, injuries, and... being terminated for missing a medical exam. Jim Carrey sums up the possibility for these players perfectly.
It gives these players hope they'll contribute regularly to the Golden Knights. After all, who wouldn't want to be on a team that's made the Stanley Cup playoffs six of its first seven seasons? The realistic possibility of competing for a Stanley Cup makes playing in Vegas enticing, where they can hoist the most glorious trophy in sports.
It's a goal for every NHL player passing through the league. Getting your name engraved on the trophy after fending off 31 other teams is a rite of passage for hockey immortality. That's why these three players want to become roster mainstays, for they'll have an incredible story to show their children. Who are these mysterious players that Golden Knights fans should watch for as roster regulars?
Ben Hutton
First, Ben Hutton is on the outside looking in regarding defensive pairings. He's projected to be the seventh blue-liner for the Vegas Golden Knights, sitting behind a loaded group that features big names such as Noah Hanifin, Shea Theodore, and Alex Pietrangelo. However, some circumstances could open a door for the journeyman player.
Let's say a defender like Zach Whitecloud doesn't pan out as intended. He's owed $2.75 million annually and has no conditions or terms, only him and his contract until 2028. If dealt during the season, there's the chance Hutton steps in, especially since Hutton is due $975,000 for the next two seasons.
Granted, that wouldn't be as plausible as, say, Brayden McNabb being traded. That's especially true with the tenured Golden Knights star entering NHL training camp at 33 years old. Theodore has also dealt with said rumors, which will be revived if Vegas isn't contending. Thus, Ben Hutton will be a name to watch as a long-term roster option if things head south by the trade deadline.