Way-too-early Vegas Golden Knights starting forward combinations

This year's Golden Knights lineup will look noticeably different, with some faces missing. Whether it's the top line or the fourth, some names won't be there.

Winnipeg Jets v Vegas Golden Knights
Winnipeg Jets v Vegas Golden Knights | Ethan Miller/GettyImages
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Line 4
Brett Howden-Nicolas Roy-Keegan Kolesar

Compared to Olofsson, Brett Howden is a bigger player with more physicality. Last season, he had 86 hits, nine more than the Swedish forward had throughout his career. Howden might not light up the stat sheet. However, he doesn't need to, for Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar can set up scoring opportunites and carry the load.

Roy is developing into a reliable piece for the Golden Knights and is learning how to use his size more. As he grows into his game, he could get reps with players like Mark Stone, galvanizing his game. In the meantime, he'll still be on the bottom line, which has more offensive potential than one would think. That's partly because of the center, who had 28 assists last season.

But Keegan Kolesar is the muscle of this line, bringing a strong checking presence. He's also skilled as a playmaker, passing the puck in awe-inspiring fashion. Being on the bottom line isn't the prettiest job in the world, for you're dealing with plenty of crunching hits and grinding. However, this unit can be tough to play against, specifically with their size.

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