1. Becoming the Gold Standard in Health
Of course, you know about Jack Eichel and William Karlsson being out for some time due to injuries. After all, they're the most prominent names on injured reserve. But more names on the list will surprise some Golden Knight fans, including Shea Theodore and William Carrier.
But let's focus on Theodore for a second. In his career, he's become more than one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He's a power play merchant (14 career power play goals, 71 career power play assists) and has shown himself to be solid in transition.
In fact, Theodore's absence has had a profound impact in the past. Just look at last season, with Vegas going 38-13-4 (points percentage of .727) with him. Without the defenseman? 13-9-5, with a points percentage of .574.
The worst part of sports is the injury aspect. You can lose your best player at the snap of a finger and it changes the trajectory of your season. Plus, you can't predict when they'll come, making life more stressful. Fortunately, the defending champions are getting scoring from key players at the right time. When the top guys return (like Adin Hill), it'll make life much easier.