There's no such thing as something being perfect (unless it's Roberto's chicken tacos). Last season's Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, had numerous problems with their wide receivers. Despite having the best quarterback in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes, they averaged 2.6 drops a game (most in the NFL). Something tells me that not even Taylor Swift could save them on that one.
The Vegas Golden Knights have had their version of the dropped pass with the power play. Countless turnovers in the offensive zone coupled with a lack of a big presence up front have led to a lifetime percentage of 19.6. It's equivalent to finding an eclair in the receptacle and eating it (even with the doily on it). That, my friends, is garbage.
However, there's hope on the horizon. Tomas Hertl will play a full season with the Golden Knights. He'll act as the big body Vegas has wanted since their inaugural season, specializing in redirections and havoc in front of the opposing goaltender. There's also Noah Hanifin, an offensively-minded defenseman who has a good shot and pairs well with any goal-scorer. But there are other reasons why the Golden Knights should have hope for next season.
Aside from Tomas Hertl, other new faces such as Victor Olofsson could boost the Vegas Golden Knights power play
Of course, Tomas Hertl will be one of the main focuses of the power play. However, some underrated names could also play a factor for the Vegas Golden Knights. One particular player is Victor Olofsson, who spent his time specializing in the man advantage with the Buffalo Sabres.
Before last season, the Swedish winger scored 34 career goals on the unit. That included an impressive 2019-20 campaign, where he scored 11 times on the man advantage. He can prove that 2023-24 was an aberration by bouncing back on a "prove-it" deal. He won't be the only player with something to prove, though.
Alexander Holtz can also prove he has massive upside, starting with boosting the power play. He didn't get many reps on the unit, particularly since he's 22 years old. But the Swedish-born winger is projected to be in the fold, given his knack for scoring in the slot. The Golden Knights are counting on him to become the 30+ goal scorer New Jersey thought he'd be.
Will Vegas become a power play juggernaut the way the Edmonton Oilers are? No. But they're not expected to post around 30%, anyway. They're structured to be a disciplined team that stays cool under pressure, regardless of the circumstances. This year, fans might be in for a big surprise with the unit given their potential upside. The Golden Knights ended their last six games by scoring 46.7% of the time during the power play. That trend could carry over to next season, making their weakness... less trashy.