Vegas Golden Knights 2024 offseason primer: Targets, outgoing free agents, trades, draft needs, & more

This upcoming offseason is set to become the most important in Vegas Golden Knights history. There's a certain player named Jonathan Marchessault who's the centerpiece of Vegas's offseason plans (more on that later). While everything will revolve around last season's Conn Smythe winner, other pressing concerns persist for the Golden Knights.

For example, how will they address the outgoing forwards? Who will they pick in the NHL Draft to fill their farm system? Which free agents are a good fit in Vegas? All these questions will loom large for hockey fans in Las Vegas, where they're going all-in on their Stanley Cup contention window. It seems like a tightrope for Kelly McCrimmon and company to walk, especially with an airtight salary cap.

However, other news bits are floating around, including the possibility of Mitch Marner coming to Sin City. These rumors add another layer of drama to the Jonathan Marchessault situation, leaving fans to further speculate if he'll return. Of course, they don't want to see the "Golden Misfit" leave town, which would leave fans in utter shock.

With all that comes an offseason primer that has plenty to talk about. That includes an upcoming NHL Draft, enticing free agents, and potential trade targets. Let's get down to business and look at what the Vegas Golden Knights should prepare for in the upcoming weeks.

Targets for the Vegas Golden Knights

The most obvious target for the Vegas Golden Knights should be Jonathan Marchessault. There are non-competitive reasons for his return, such as the fanbase loving him and his charity work. However, Marchessault brings more to the table than simply being an all-around good guy.

Last season's Conn Smythe winner is also a proficient sniper, scoring timely goals for the Golden Knights. He set a career-high in that category this season with 42, bolstering his value as one of the top free agents in the offseason. Therefore, he'll have a hefty price tag to return to Vegas, making matters tough for a team with little wiggle room.

There are plenty of cheaper options to fill the lower lines, though. Free agents like Dakota Joshua and Warren Foegele can come in and score for Vegas. However, the focus will primarily be on Jonathan Marchessault, who wants to return to Las Vegas for an encore. It's only a matter of whether Kelly McCrimmon can make the necessary moves to open up enough cap space.

Outgoing free agents for the Vegas Golden Knights

Jonathan Marchessault isn't the only Vegas Golden Knight who's hitting free agency on July 1st. The Golden Knights have five forwards altogether becoming unrestricted free agents on that date (including Marchessault). The sudden exodus places a greater emphasis on filling in these voids, specifically through free agency.

Chandler Stephenson is another notable forward hitting free agency. The center scored 16 goals and 35 assists this season for Vegas, a down year in production from his previous campaign (16 goals, 49 assists in 2022-23). He could be a name to watch for a potential reunion if Marchessault goes elsewhere.

But some names won't return to the Golden Knights organization, including William Carrier and Anthony Mantha. For Carrier, a wave of injuries kept him off the ice during his Vegas tenure, leaving the team to search for a reliable fourth-line player. For Mantha, he was a trade deadline acquisition that didn't pan out. As for defensemen, there's Alec Martinez, who's 36 years old and will likely get a deal elsewhere.

Again, the main focus will be Jonathan Marchessault because of what he brings to the Vegas Golden Knights. Not many free agents snipe as well as the winger, with many teams seeking another reliable offensive talent. Plus, his power play acumen makes him a vital asset to the organization, bolstering them offensively. Vegas can get a good deal with Marchessault compared to bigger names like Sam Reinhart, who will likely fetch bigger deals.

Potential trades for the Vegas Golden Knights?

The main name here has been Mitch Marner, who's been linked to the Vegas Golden Knights for months. He'll be in the last year of his current deal next season and has a no-move clause. However, Toronto has been speculated to wait until they receive a substantial offer to approach him about the clause.

Who could potentially move in a Marner trade? Shea Theodore's name has been thrown in the ring along with Logan Thompson. Both players will be in the last year of their current deals next season. Also, both are in positions where Vegas has a surplus or substantial talent. The extra talent makes moving them much more simplified

Therefore, it makes sense that the Golden Knights would look to move both players in the offseason. However, other teams are intrigued in acquiring Marner's services, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and Dallas Stars. If Vegas does move forward on acquiring the Maple Leafs star, they'll have stiff competition from these teams.

Looking ahead to the NHL Draft

The NHL Draft is happening on June 28 and 29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It marks the first time the NHL's held an event at the venue and the first time the draft's been held in Sin City. It's part of a growing effort to expand the league's footprint in the growing city, with the 2022 All-Star Game being another example.

The Vegas Golden Knights will have the 19th overall pick and three later-round picks. They have a sixth-round pick and two seventh-round picks, rounding out their total to four overall. The lack of draft capital comes from ambitious moves at the trade deadline, where players like Tomas Hertl and Anthony Mantha.

With five forwards becoming free agents this summer, the big need in the NHL Draft will be acquiring more offensive talent. Names like Trevor Connelly and Liam Greentree have been thrown around and they can bolster the team's output. While having four picks in the draft will limit getting more young talent, Vegas is in win-now mode. Therefore, the Golden Knights must nail them. Getting forwards who'll fit into Bruce Cassidy's system and battle for every puck will benefit greatly.