Right around 9 a.m. this morning, Ryan Craig blew his whistle in earnest for the first time this season and Vegas Golden Knights training camp was officially underway.
Medicals and meetings got started yesterday and after weeks of captain's skates at City National Arena, it's now Craig's show. The first-time NHL coach – he served for six seasons as an assistant with Vegas and then three as top knock for the organization's AHL team in Henderson – has four preseason games to get a look at his roster and form lines, and 12 sleeps to have the group ready to compete for two points in an NHL game.
Vegas came two wins away from capturing its second Stanley Cup last spring, losing in the final to the Caroline Hurricanes. The cynics will tell you Vegas has taken a step back due to a handful of departures.
Those wearing rose gold-colored glasses, and count me in this group, look at this roster and consider it a contender once again. The doubters will get their say and certainly the lineup isn't perfect, but show me one in the NHL which doesn’t have holes.
Training camp is about hope. So, here's our opening day list of reasons to have hope in these Golden Knights.
- Jack Eichel: Every coach in the NHL would like to be able to pencil Eichel into his lineup. He's arguably the most complete center in the world. Fast, powerful, skilled, driven and bent on winning – there is only one Eichel in the NHL. It can't be overstated how valuable Eichel is and how fortunate Vegas is to have him. Franchise center sells him short. Eichel is more. A once-in-an-era talent teams bottom out to earn a chance to draft and then never let go. Eichel is all about winning and bends his game on a nightly basis to give his team its best chance to win. There is no other player in the NHL that can turn this trick to the extent which Eichel can. He's a unicorn both physically and mentally.
- Kelly McCrimmon, George McPhee et al: This roster is elite. Maybe it stays intact and enters the playoffs with a chance to contend. Or maybe management determines it needs a tweak or two. The Hockey Operations department in Vegas has proven itself to be fearless and adept. Yes, they make hard decisions, but they also make great decisions. And creative ones. They don't just collect glittering baubles but also find players with subtle but imperative skill sets. They constantly evaluate with an eye towards icing a team which can win in June. So, if the squad on opening night turns out to be lacking, they'll know before we do and they will do something about it. If you like to watch winning hockey and live in Vegas, this group should help you sleep easy at night.
- Mitch Marner: All the stuff written above about Eichel being a unicorn and a one of one can also be said about Marner. Not many teams can boast one of these talents. The list of clubs with two of these types is the shortest. Marner is a hockey wizard. A tireless genius. Creative, competitive, cerebral and uber-skilled. Some were under-whelmed by Marner's statistical output in his first regular season with the Golden Knights when he totaled 80 points. But his 10 goals and 29 points in 22 playoff games silenced those criticisms. Last season was one of change for Marner, and he had 109 points in 103 games (regular season and playoffs combined).
- The rest of the Top 6: Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, William Karlsson, Brett Howden and Tomas Hertl surround Eichel and Marner to give Vegas a list of forwards as dangerous and accomplished as any in the NHL. Stone is a point-a-game wonder who thinks the game better than any forward in the NHL. Barbashev is a physical menace who can score. Karlsson is an elite two-way center. Howden is fast and physical and has found his scoring touch the last few seasons and seems to be just hitting his prime. Hertl is a big and powerful center with 607 points over his career.
- Hart and Hill: Carter Hart and Adin Hill give Vegas the promise of an elite tandem in net. Hart played 22 post-season games last spring giving him invaluable experience. Hill already has a Stanley Cup championship on his resume. Today's NHL requires a one-two punch and Vegas has this. If these two can operate close to their potential, Vegas can boast one of the best tandems in the league. Goaltending could be a huge strength for Vegas this season.
- Best in class D: This might be the best blueline the Golden Knights have iced since the group which won the 2022-23 Stanley Cup. Three mobile puck-movers in Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson give the group the ability to get up ice move from defense to offense with rapid efficiency. Matched by stalwarts Brayden McNabb, Jeremy Lauzon and Parker Wotherspoon, there will always be measures of responsibility and physicality on the ice. Three pairs which could each be considered a top 4 duo gives the team depth and balance.
- Youthful exuberance: Braeden Bowman and Trevor Connelly will get the opportunity to contribute this season. Bowman scored eight goals in the NHL last season, and the team recently signed him to a six-year extension. They clearly believe in him and understand what he can provide. Connelly had 49 points in 46 AHL games last season in his first full pro campaign. He has elite skills and could provide a jolt of creativity down the lineup. He's dynamic and brimming with enthusiasm.
