Pacific Division offseason rankings and where the Golden Knights stand

With the free agency period essentially dried up, it's time to see where the top Pacific Division teams stand this offseason. With noteworthy moves such as the Anaheim Ducks drafting Beckett Senecke with the third overall pick, the division has seen its fair share of shake-ups. However, none have been bigger than what the Vegas Golden Knights have experienced.

First, Trevor Connelly was the 19th overall pick in the NHL Draft. If you haven't heard, the former Tri-City Storm star was involved in a controversy involving Snapchat and a swastika. It's enough to drive numerous NHL teams away from drafting the prospect.

"What happens if he acts out again? We can't have a controversy surrounding our team!"

That's what many interesting parties thought when it came to Connelly. But not Kelly McCrimmon, who drafted him based on his offensive potential. Whether that gamble pays off or not remains to be seen. However, it's a huge risk that has astonishing rewards for the Golden Knights. But that's not the only noteworthy move made by the general manager.

One notable move was one he didn't make: Re-signing Jonathan Marchessault. Instead of finishing his career with the Golden Knights, the "Original Misfit" is heading to Nashville on a five-year, $5.5 million AAV deal. The money wasn't a problem for Vegas, though. Other factors played into his exit, ranging from deferred money to the contract length.

But enough of what happened the last two weeks since that's in the past. It's time to move forward and see what's in store for the future. How do the Golden Knights stack up against the division's top teams? What does the outlook appear for a team ready to go all-in on another Stanley Cup?

8.) Anaheim Ducks

Biggest Question: Will reaching for Beckett Sennecke pay off?

The Anaheim Ducks made a shocking selection with the third-overall pick, selecting Beckett Sennecke. The pick spawned some hilarious memes, with hockey fans relishing his innocent reaction.

That is the face of a young man shocked by how high he was picked himself. But that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be in that spot. With playmaking skills capable of breaking ankles, he could become a good complimentary piece to Trevor Zegras (IF he stays).

However, there were some questions about consistency and playing away from the puck that had some scouts concerned. Still, an playmaker like Sennecke doesn't come around often, especially after scoring 27 goals and 41 assists for the Oshawa Generals last season (63 games).