The one thing that must improve for the Vegas Golden Knights on the homestand

The Vegas Golden Knights have had some bright spots in the first six games. That includes an impressive power play (tied for sixth at 29.4%) and the fifth-most goals per game (3.83). Offensively, the team is clicking and has seen players like Jack Eichel (two goals, 10 points) rise to the top.

It's a promising sign when your forward group is producing at a great clip. The production helps fans forget about players scoring a goal and three assists in the first four games. Who needs a five-year contract when you can get a player on a one-year deal who does as much?

But not all is well in the land of the Golden Knights. They have had one particular problem area that was exposed on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. They allowed 49 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss, ending an East Coast trip with only one point. So what did Bruce Cassidy do to remedy the issue?

No longer are Shea Theodore and Alex Pietrangelo the top pairing for the Golden Knights. Instead, Noah Hanifin gets bumped up to the top spot while Theodore is paired with Brayden McNabb. The structure remains offensively focused at the top. The only difference is Cassidy hopes to see a spark come from Hanifin.

After all, the defenseman only has one assist to start the season. That came in the season opener against the Colorado Avalanche, where he's encountered a dry spell since. He's not the only Golden Knights blue-liner that needs a spark.

Why the blue line needs more life for the Vegas Golden Knights

So far, Shea Theodore is the only productive defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights. He has six assists in his first six games. Half of those came on the power play, where he continues flourishing. Otherwise, the others haven't done much offensively. That includes Hanifin, whose move to the top pairing is made to get that spark going.

There were also issues with the Theodore-Pietrangelo pairing, where one defender wanted to stay home and not pick up an offensive player. Minor details like this led to the shakeup, with the Golden Knights heading into a four-game homestand. Closing gaps and taking away shooting lanes is the unit's essence. That must return during the homestand.

But let's shift back to the power play for a second. Of the three defensemen on the unit, only Theodore has points of any kind. Neither Noah Hanifin nor Alex Pietrangelo have done anything for the group this year. While the power play's been excellent in six games, the Golden Knights need Pietrangelo and Hanifin to start chipping in.

Bruce Cassidy is no stranger to a good lineup shakeup. He did this last season against the Dallas Stars, hoping to find a spark in the team. While it worked for the goaltending tandem, the forward group still lacked bite, unable to move past the neutral zone. That's how they fell in seven games, losing their Stanley Cup crown in the process. If the Golden Knights want to return to the top, it starts with the blue line picking up the tab.