A season ago, people were talking about the Vegas Golden Knights and how they could win back-to-back Stanley Cups. They had superstars like Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Jonathan Marchessault, making them one of the NHL's most dangerous teams. However, injuries and a bad Stanley Cup hangover did the franchise in, for they lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games.
An offseason later, they've lost a beloved "Misfit" and other key offensive pieces. They also traded away key players such as Logan Thompson and Paul Cotter, rearranging the roster for newer pieces. The result has been a massive shakeup which has knocked the Golden Knights off the map. Now, nobody is talking about the team, with everyone focused on the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
Now that's not a bad thing. It provides the team with extra incentive to outperform and exceed expectations. That's how Nicolas Roy views matters for the upcoming NHL season, where the Golden Knights are in a similar position during their inaugural season.
"We've always been really good when we have something to prove and here we go again. The guys were really excited for the first day."Nicolas Roy
Not many hockey fans expected Vegas to make the Stanley Cup Final in the first season. However, it created a fantastic story while creating divide among NHL fans. Some fans loved the team's Cinderella story, while others thought they were gifted a team. Regardless, the Golden Knights are a controversial team, with everyone expecting them to fall off.
How the Vegas Golden Knights can do as Nicolas Roy says and prove they're worthy
The Golden Knights lineup has plenty of upside offensively. Players like Pavel Dorofeyev (13 goals and 11 assists in 47 games last season) and Alexander Holtz (16 goals last season with the New Jersey Devils) can give Vegas much-needed firepower in the 2024-25 season. Names like Nicolas Roy can also help the cause, specifically on the lower lines. Of course, it doesn't just involve young wingers and skill players.
It also involves getting these players more involved in the power play. Holtz specializes in the slot, where he can be an offensive asset. While he's prone to the occasional turnover and defensive lapse, his focus is shooting the puck. That could help the Golden Knights power play unit, which has historically struggled (19.6% lifetime).
Having Tomas Hertl for a whole season will help, especially with him in front of the net. However, getting more physical on the unit will also work. Playing without the puck means getting open and fighting to create open space. That has been a historical problem with the Vegas Golden Knights, which is why they've gotten bigger over the years.
Finally, staying healthy helps. Losing big names like Mark Stone and Jack Eichel hurt the team last season. That's how they were eliminated prematurely, for they didn't have the offensive firepower to compete with teams like Vancouver and Edmonton. Of course, this is something that the team can't control. Still, the group can step up and have players take on a bigger role within the team. That could raise eyebrows across the league, starting with Bruce Cassidy.