Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury

What was supposed to be a promising restart for Victor Olofsson and the Vegas Golden Knights became a week-to-week affair. The Swedish forward suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday's loss to the Washington Capitals. He was involved in a nasty incident going after a puck with Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath. He twisted his leg on the ensuing play, taking him out of the game.

Olofsson could be an LTIR candidate if the Golden Knights need a roster spot available. However, they're set to get William Karlsson back soon, which should fill another forward slot. That should also add more depth to the position, giving them a scoring option to ease the pain.

Still, the former Sabres' contributions will be missed. He scored three goals in four games, including two on the power play. Olofsson's powerful shot and special teams acumen made the unit significantly better, where they're currently tied for sixth in the NHL.

The winger has 93 career goals and 92 career assists, with 37 goals and 26 assists coming on the power play. He scored a career-high 28 goals in 2022-23, where he added 12 assists that year. The Swedish forward was hoping to break through those totals in 2024-25. However, it seems he'll be sidelined for a month or two with his lower-body injury, leaving the Golden Knights with one less forward.

What losing Victor Olofsson means for the Vegas Golden Knights

Olofsson was set to break through and cash in on his "golden" opportunity. He signed a one-year, $1,075,000 contract during the summer, acting as a "prove-it" deal of sorts. Scoring three goals in the first four games is a great way to make that happen. But it seems that dream will be put on hold for now.

The winger will miss time, leaving a hole on the Vegas Golden Knights power play. It's unfortunate because the unit has looked its strongest since the franchise's inception. Boasting a power play percentage of 29.4% is a promising sign for a group which has normally been unorganized and lacking bite. Olofsson added some bite with his shot, blazing it past his opponents.

Now, it seems like that will be shelved as the forward is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. While the Golden Knights are getting another reinforcement in William Karlsson, he's more of a two-way playmaker. He's meant to move up and down the ice fluidly while acting as a special teams extraordinaire.

Still, the Golden Knights have dealt with similar situations before. The team won the 2022-23 Stanley Cup despite losing goaltenders such as Laurent Brossoit, Adin Hill, and Logan Thompson, relying on a solid forecheck and balanced scoring to get the job done. Losing Victor Olofsson will sting and leave a void. However, Bruce Cassidy is great at making the most of what he has, making necessary adjustments if needed.