Jesper Vikman
Wait, this Jesper Vikman? Are you saying there's a good chance he'll have time on the Vegas Golden Knights this season? Considering he's entering the NHL training camp session with a decent showing at the Rookie Faceoff, there's a possibility fans could regularly see him as the No. 2 goaltender in 2024-25.
There's concern about Ilya Samsonov's viability heading into the new hockey season, where he might still face jitters from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. What would happen if Adin Hill went down with another injury and the Russian backup was playing like he was still on the Toronto Maple Leafs? That could open an opportunity for the Swedish prospect to get some regular reps.
Yes, he hasn't been the best during his minor league career, with his best tenure coming with the Savannah Ghost Pirates in 2023-24 (3.01 GAA in 15 games). However, he showed signs of brilliance during the Rookie Faceoff, including his 11-save performance where he allowed no goals against the Los Angeles Kings.
Plus, the Golden Knights have been in this situation before. They've lost goaltenders and stayed the course with names like Jiri Patera and Jonathan Quick. The result was a Stanley Cup, showing a stable system makes a difference. Thus, Carl Lindbom could also be a viable option like Vikman, although both are long shots for the season.