Hang around Vegas Golden Knights assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon and you'll hear a lot of wisdom. Not just on hockey, but on life and learning and relationships. McCrimmon has an MBA and a bus driver's licence. He's been a player, a coach, a GM and an owner during his career. When he talks, it's smart to listen. One of the things he likes to say about a hockey club was uttered the other day.
"Every team runs its own race," said McCrimmon, during a discussion about what lies ahead for this season's version of the Golden Knights.
Scoring streaks and slumps, injuries, trades, suspensions as well as any number of unknown factors can impact a team and where it eventually ends up. There are spurts and bursts. There are dips and lulls.
4 Questions During VGK Training Camp
Training camp is the opportunity to build a foundation for the season. For the coaches to layout their blueprint, make revisions and to then begin to execute their vision.
Every new season brings its own set of challenges. Rosters change as players come and go and that creates change within a lineup. There are good problems... too many capable players. And there are bad problems... not enough depth.
Here's a look at some pressing VGK problems now that training camp and the preseason are under way:
Too many centers
By our count - the Golden Knights have all of last year's centers back: William Karlsson, Erik Haula, Cody Eakin and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Throw in free agent signing Paul Stastny and the middle of the ice is crowded. Not to mention Tomas Nosek had played all his career at center prior to last season when he moved to the wing.
This is a great problem to have. When national federations are putting together their teams for international events such as the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships, countries rich in players often have a surplus of centers on their rosters. The chance to win a gold medal will convince even an elite centerman to move to the wing.
Let's put the top line down in ink. Karlsson between Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. They were among the best lines in the NHL last season and there is no reason for Gallant to tinker with this threesome.
Nosek happily moved to the wing last season to earn a chance to play full-time in the NHL and it worked for him. It appears Erik Haula will face a similar choice this season if head coach Gerard Gallant uses Paul Stastny at center on the second line. For Haula, who scored 29 goals last season and is a top-six player, to stay high in the lineup he'll likely have to move to the wall.
Missing D
Vegas will begin the season with at least one regular from last season's blue line out of the mix and perhaps two. Nate Schmidt will miss the first 20 games due to a suspension while Shea Theodore is without a contract.
If that's the case, there will be an opening or two on the back end.
McPhee has already stated he'll carry eight defensemen this season just like last year.
Deryk Engelland, Brayden McNabb and Colin Miller are mainstays. Nick Holden was signed as a free agent and often played in the New York Rangers top four last season. He'll be a fixture. Brad Hunt and Jon Merrill are back and will also be part of the equation leaving room for two additions.
Griffin Reinhart is a veteran and could provide early depth. Jake Bischoff took strides in the AHL last season but rookies such as Nic Hague, Zach Whitecloud and Erik Brannstrom can do the math and will also be pushing for a spot on the opening night roster.
What about the kids
Ideally, GMs like to add entry level contract players to their lineup in small doses. Teams that insert a number of young players into their lineup all at once are usually in rebuild mode. For a contender like the Golden Knights, adding a rookie to the lineup would be helpful in terms of managing the salary cap as well as a great development opportunity for the player. There are a number of young players in camp such as Bischoff, Whitecloud, Nic Hague, Eric Brannstrom, Cody Glass, Keegan Kolesar and Reid Duke which might fill this role. Best guess is they're all still a year away but this is what the preseason is for, a chance for players to force management into a decision.
Bottom six
Look for Cody Eakin to reprise his role as center on the third line and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare on the fourth. On the wing, Alex Tuch, Nosek, Ryan Carpenter, Will Carrier, Oscar Lindberg and Ryan Reaves are the incumbents. Daniel Carr, Tomas Hyka and Curtis McKenzie are also possibilities.
Head coach Gerard Gallant will have a chance to balance defensive responsibility, offensive upside, speed and power to get the right mix.
Maybe Carrier moves up to the third line with Eakin and Tuch to provide a physical presence. Nosek has shown he can play up in the lineup but he also combined with Bellemare and Reaves in the playoffs last season to great effect.
Perhaps one of the new faces develops chemistry with Eakin or Bellemare and forces change.
There are too many forwards to go around right now and that's a great problem to have.
