So...
Remember how I talked about the Vegas Golden Knights needing to bump Brandon Saad to the press box? The Golden Knights winger has one assist to his name, leaving fans wondering whether they should've signed Victor Olofsson instead. Well, it appears the former Golden Knights star is having himself a terrific season with the Colorado Avalanche.
On Tuesday, the Swedish forward scored a hat trick (yes, you read that right) against the New Jersey Devils. On top of having said hat trick, Olofsson had two assists, leading the Avalanche to an 8-4 victory. Overall, the former Golden Knights role player has a surprisingly good season, scoring three goals and seven assists. I can just imagine the average Golden Knights fan watching him perform right now...
Boy, Vegas could've used him for the bottom-three lines, eh?
To throw salt on the ol' wound, the Golden Knights are having serious buyer's remorse about signing Saad to a one-year deal. Sure, it's only $2 million and that money comes off the books next season. However, you have a full no-trade clause, while Olofsson comes in at a much cheaper deal ($1.575 million).
The kicker? Olofsson doesn't have a no-trade clause. Ouch.
A deeper dive into why picking Brandon Saad over Colorado Avalanche star Victor Olofsson hurts the Vegas Golden Knights
On the surface, picking Saad over Olofsson hurts from a points perspective. However, a deeper dive into the numbers proves this strikeout hurts as much as Adin Hill getting kicked in the family jewels. MoneyPuck shows why that's the case, specifically in the advanced stat department.
Player | Expected Goals | Corsi | Fenwick | Share Of xGoals From Rebound Shots | Shooting Talent Above Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor Olofsson | 2.3 | 69% | 68% | 26.6% | 18.2% |
Brandon Saad | 0.7 | 49% | 48% | 0% | 4.2% |
Remember when I talked about how Saad was forcing plays and trying everything possible to score? Well, the advanced stats show that, specifically with his shot selection. Olofsson came alive against New Jersey, putting up a wide range of shots that put the Devils on their heels. It's almost like he wasn't trying to force a play. The Corsi and Fenwick show that the Swedish forward doesn't hesitate to make the right shot, turning him into a lower-line threat.
In fact, his shooting acumen was a welcome sight last season with Vegas. He scored 15 goals last season, with six coming on the power play. Many people attribute the power play's arrival to big names like Tomas Hertl (14 power play goals last season) and Pavel Dorofeyev (13). While that's true, Olofsson was also vital since he acted as the backup sniper to Dorofeyev.
Letting Olofsson walk is a rare miss for Kelly McCrimmon
Look, I know it's early in the 2025-26 season. Many people haven't even settled into their seats for the season. However, the early numbers show alarming trends when you compare a former Golden Knight to a current player.
It shows that Kelly McCrimmon dropped the ball with a potentially great bargain, being saddled with an untradeable piece who isn't performing. The result? You're stuck with said player until season's end, leaving you without much wiggle room.
Besides, who's coming up to save the day in Saad's place? There aren't many options in Henderson, even if the AHL club is playing better this season. Your best (and perhaps, only) bet is Cole Reinhardt, who provided a spark in Tuesday's victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Of course, this will be one minor (albeit important) decision that McCrimmon must reckon with. The concerns revolving around the lower line's lack of depth will echo throughout the season. Not having Olofsson around will make those echoes louder, leaving fans wondering if Saad will eventually break out. It's almost like an "Avalanche" of problems unfolding.