Why this power play unit will work for the Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights are desperate for a solid special teams unit. After the group was a middle-of-the-pack team on the penalty kill and power play, fans wondered whether the unit would ever become viable. After all, averaging 19.6% on the power play isn't something to brag about. However, it seems the Golden Knights might've found the perfect unit.

The group consists of Mark Stone followed by Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and Victor Oloffson. The defenseman is Noah Hanifin, where he'll play a full season with the Golden Knights alongside Tomas Hertl. This group was rolled out for Friday's game against the Utah Hockey Club, giving fans a potential glimpse of what's to come.

It's not a bad unit when everyone's on the ice. Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin are two more big bodies that can overwhelm the penalty kill, whether fending off defenders or redirecting shots. Olofsson can break out and become a power play sensation again. The former Sabre has 35 goals on the man advantage, including a career-high of 11 in 2019-20. That all sounds good on paper, right?

Well, here's the thing, dear reader. Many factors could affect the team this season, including the dread injury bug. It's something that has ruined various players during the year, no matter if it's Stone or Eichel. Still, there's optimism with this unit, specifically with what the new additions will bring. Here's why fans should be excited for this installation of the special teams group.

Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl are what the doctor ordered

There are plenty of reasons to miss the departing members of the Vegas Golden Knights, specifically players like Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson. Marchessault (42 goals, eight on the power play) and Stephenson (16 goals, 13 points on the power play) added speed and deadly shooting to the unit. While it didn't make the Golden Knights world-beaters on the man advantage, it kept them upright.

Yet, those players are gone, leaving a void on special teams. Oddly enough, the 33-year-old Marchessault was in a contract year, which explains an uptick in production. As for Stephenson? He struggled out the gate, leaving the unit behind. So how did Kelly McCrimmon prepare for the future? He got Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin, two bigger bodies who add more to the group.

Hertl can move around the ice effortlessly, displaying his power in various aspects. He has 51 career goals and 60 career assists on the man advantage, making him a valuable asset. Hanifin acts as another version of Shea Theodore, quarterbacking the power play. The defenseman has 13 goals and 59 assists on the power play, which shows promise for the historically beleaguered group.

The two will bring their playmaking acumen to the Golden Knights, joining Mark Stone and Jack Eichel for a bolstered offensive group. They'll add more size as well, making Vegas more imposing with the man advantage, regardless of if they need a deflection or a man up front. That's good news for a team struggling in this regard since its inception.

Jack Eichel is reunited with his Buffalo buddy

Eichel actually has two familiar faces on this power play unit. The first one is a longtime friend from his youth hockey days in Boston. The former second-overall pick goes back to when they were playing in juniors, familiarizing with each other as foes... and eventually best friends. However, he also has one more buddy in this proposed unit.

Victor Olofsson returns to play alongside Jack Eichel, only he didn't bring any buffalo wings. As mentioned, the former Sabre brings an offensive pedigree to the Golden Knights unit. He has a hard shot that could rip through defenders and goaltenders. His shot also finds its way into the net, making it an incredible weapon for a starved group.

Last season, Olofsson scored seven goals and eight assists, with one goal and two assists coming on the man advantage. He can get back to scoring seven goals on the power play (and 20+ in a season) if he finds his shot and meshes well with the group. That could finally get the Vegas Golden Knights over the man advantage hump alongside Mark Stone and Noah Hanifin, which will benefit everyone.