Pacific Division offseason rankings and where the Golden Knights stand
With the free agency period dying down, it's time to see where the Vegas Golden Knights stand in their division. How does the NHL Draft help their future?
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.
Beckett Sennecke is RAPIDLY rising on my power rankings of hilarious NHL players. https://t.co/Y6Ojz2yM26 pic.twitter.com/Zey4evaNin
— Christopher Horvat (@chrishorvat_) July 3, 2024
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).
7.) San Jose Sharks
Future Outlook: The San Jose Sharks have amassed plenty of young talent for next season and beyond. That started with drafting Macklin Celebrini first overall, followed by defenseman Sam Dickinson with the 11th overall pick. With these picks comes a budding power play that can rule the NHL.
As it stands, the Sharks will need a few more years to gel and become competitive. That's especially true with the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights as the resident Pacific Division giants. However, they have a good young core that can put up incredible numbers if they match their upside.
6.) Calgary Flames
Biggest Question: Is this the start of a rebuild?
In the past year, the Calgary Flames have traded away key pieces to interested teams. That includes Noah Hanifin going to Vegas and Jacob Markstrom heading to New Jersey. The team has gotten stuck in neutral, where they had no choice but to sell.
Now, they've ushered in a new era where they must press the reset button. With the team in a suddenly competitive Pacific Division, there must be new life added to the franchise. Looks like the "Burn Out for Hagens" campaign is a full-go for the 2024-25 season.
5.) Los Angeles Kings
Future Outlook: The Los Angeles Kings got out of a terrible contract with Pierre-Luc Dubois, sending him to the Washington Capitals. In comes Darcy Kuemper, the former Avalanche goaltender ready for a new adventure in Hollywood. Given his big size and experience, he might be a great fit.
Still, the Kings project to be a defensive-minded team, with their patented 1-3-1 system frustrating opponents. They added Warren Foegele to the mix, hoping to bolster their scoring. But they could run into some issues, with a logjam in front of them. As it stands, Los Angeles might have to make a big move or rebuild. Could Leon Draisaitl be in their future?
4.) Seattle Kraken
Biggest Question: Will the Chandler Stephenson contract become an albatross?
If you're Chandler Stephenson and you get a massive seven-year, $6.25 million AAV contract, you've hit the jackpot. The Seattle Kraken noticed how well the former Vegas Golden Knights star performed, scoring 75 goals and 162 assists since December 3, 2019 (when he was acquired from the Capitals).
However, that could become an albatross for a Kraken team looking to make the playoffs again. They have a young unit led by Matthew Beniers, along with a new head coach in Dan Bylsma. What will happen with that contract if things go awry? Seattle can't expect Stephenson to perform at a high level in his mid-30s.
3.) Vegas Golden Knights
Future Outlook: Believe it or not, the Vegas Golden Knights can perform better than expected this upcoming season. Victor Olofsson had a down year last season with the Buffalo Sabres, scoring seven goals and eight assists in 51 games. He's a low-cost acquisition that can rebound with the Golden Knights.
That also goes for Alexander Holtz, acquired with Akira Schmid from New Jersey for Paul Cotter and a 2025 third-round draft pick. Both have the potential to thrive in Vegas's system and are young players. Add an NHL Draft pickup in Trevor Connelly and Vegas might crack open their Stanley Cup window.
2.) Edmonton Oilers
Biggest Question: Was last season Edmonton's best chance?
The Edmonton Oilers nearly made history in the Stanley Cup Final, forcing a seventh game after being down, 3-0. However, they fell short in the deciding game, 2-1, with the Florida Panthers winning their first Stanley Cup. The Oilers missed out on a chance to end Canada's title drought, stemming all the way back to 1993.
But there's a bigger question at play regarding their contention window. Leon Draisaitl is in the last year of his contract. While Edmonton picked up Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner to bolster their offense, more teams are looking to take their spot. That could mean bad news throughout the season, especially if Draisaitl doesn't return.
1.) Vancouver Canucks
Future Outlook: With a young team ready to win their first Stanley Cup, the Vancouver Canucks are ready to dominate the Pacific Division--and the NHL. Big names such as Quinn Hughes (75 assists), J.T. Miller (37 goals, 103 points), and Elias Pettersson (34 goals, 89 points) have made their presence felt last season, putting up incredible numbers.
However, their depth goes beyond those players. 2024 third-round NHL Draft pick, Melvin Fernstrom, is an up-and-coming piece. He scored 31 goals and 32 assists in 45 games for Orebro HK's J20 National team last season. He's another prospect to watch with Vancouver ascending the NHL ranks.
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