Although 2023-24 didn't turn out the way the Vegas Golden Knights wanted, they did have plenty of noteworthy goal-scorers. Players like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone were at the top of the goal list, keeping Vegas's offense afloat. This season will provide an opportunity to bring an offensive onslaught to the NHL. Now with newer faces like Tomas Hertl playing a full season, that could become a reality.
Granted, there will be some notable faces absent from the goal-scoring festivities. That includes Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson, who went to other Western Conference teams. So what's a team to do when your biggest stars go elsewhere? Well, there's getting involved in trade rumors for superstars.
Names like Mitch Marner and Patrik Laine are thrown around in the mix, with Golden Knights fans dreaming of a stacked top line with Eichel. Imagine Laine firing a blazing shot from the point set up by the former second-overall draft pick. Perhaps watching a scoring duo of Marner and Eichel will entice you? Whatever the case, these scenarios are tempting for Golden Knights fans to envision.
But let's go back to last season, where Vegas had some noteworthy names. Who were the top five goal-scorers for the Golden Knights? Are there any surprising names that pop up on the list? Or are these players recognizable by Vegas hockey fans everywhere? Here are the five-best offensive weapons from 2023-24.
The top five goal-scorers for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023-24 (with Jonathan Marchessault at the top)
The team leader in goals scored last season was none other than Jonathan Marchessault. He scored 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights, with eight coming on the power play. The Golden Knights will miss his sniping and great shot from the point, for he's taking it to Nashville. However, he's served as a consistent model for Vegas, providing timely scoring when the team needed it.
Sitting in second place was Jack Eichel with 31 goals. However, he led the team in power play goals with 11, serving as the go-to forward for the man advantage. Following behind him is William Karlsson, who was one goal shy of tying Eichel for second place. The Swedish center scored seven on the power play, showcasing his special teams acumen.
Coming in fourth was Ivan Barbashev with 19. He only scored three goals on the man advantage, a notable dropoff from Karlsson's seven. After him are two players tied for fifth: Mark Stone and Chandler Stephenson. Each player scored 16 goals in 2023-24 despite Stone missing time with a lacerated spleen.
Some of these players won't come back, leaving voids on the top line. That will hurt fans and the team without key production. However, newer players like Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin will play their first full season with the team, providing the team with an opportunity to replace their output. If all goes well, Vegas could become a playoff threat again.