Some Vegas Golden Knights fans are still living with the sour aftertaste of a Stanley Cup Final loss. The team is still licking its wounds after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, leaving them in second place.
Yes, I know it stinks. But the good news is that a new season is quickly creeping up on us.
That means another opportunity for the Golden Knights to grab glory and get a second Stanley Cup. Of course, some familiar faces won't be around for the 2026-27 season, including Pavel Dorofeyev and Keegan Kolesar. Those names? Well, they're gone from the gang.
The good news? Well, the front office structure is still intact, for one. You have general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who's ready to pull the trigger on another big move. Think of names like Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck, names who could make the team better instantly. There's also the wave of stars, ranging from Jack Eichel to Mitch Marner.
Of course, fans can't forget about the players being 100%, whether it's staying on the ice or playing to their potential. The bad news? You can't control injuries, which makes life harder. Still, Vegas is much better when these three players are on the ice and thriving.
1.) Mark Stone
The obvious one. The Golden Knights are 164-106-31 without their Captain, compared to 237-118-45 with him in the lineup. The objective here is simple. The Golden Knights need Mark Stone in the lineup to keep the offense going.
Of course, that's not the only thing he's good for. He's also proficient at the occasional takeaway, picking his opponent's pockets. The Winnipeg native is also one of the smartest hockey players in the league, creating countless scoring opportunities for his teammates. You need your Captain for these reasons—along with an emotional charge—to get the Golden Knights another Stanley Cup.
2.) William Karlsson
Once a normally healthy player, Karlsson has only played in 67 games in the past two seasons combined. Here, he has 13 goals and 23 assists during that span. Now, this isn't a downturn, per se. But the health concerns have fans, well, concerned.
Still, he's one of the most important players on the Golden Knights. Aside from providing depth scoring, he also has great defensive capabilities. Add in some excellent special teams play and there's a good reason why Vegas needs him for more than 60 games in 2026-27.
3.) Adin Hill
You can also make the case that Carter Hart applies here. He's projected to be the Golden Knights's starting goaltender for the 2026-27 season. If he goes down? Well, that's a problem for Vegas, especially with his back-up having a bad injury history.
But for Hill, bigger stakes are at play. He's currently in a six-year, $6.25 million AAV deal and had a down year last season. In turn, he was subjected to endless trade rumors. If he wants to stick around a little longer, he must stay healthy and get back up to speed on the ice.
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