3 questions facing Vegas Golden Knights

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, three important questions facing the Vegas Golden Knights.

1. How will the players respond to Ryan Craig?

The Golden Knights needed a confidence boost with eight games remaining in the 2025-26 season, when they were 5-10-2 in their previous 17 games and 1-4-2 in their previous seven.

That's why they replaced coach Bruce Cassidy with John Tortorella, who restored their swagger and led them within two wins of a championship before they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Now they're turning to Ryan Craig, a 44-year-old who has never been an NHL head coach but has been with the organization from the start, spending six seasons as a Vegas assistant and three as coach of Henderson of the American Hockey League.

This is a team with plenty of veteran leadership, and the plan is to keep its identity intact.

"I've coached it," Craig said. "I've lived it. In Henderson, we ran similar systems. Our players know it. They believe in it, so there's going to be a seamlessness in that transition. There will be some tweaks, but I'm excited to get with the group and put my stamp on them while continuing what's been built here over the last few years."

2. How will Vegas replace Dorofeyev's production?

Forward Pavel Dorofeyev led Vegas in goals in each of the past two seasons, scoring 35 in 2024-25 and 37 in 2025-26. He also scored 12 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, second on the team behind forward Brett Howden (14).

It was time for the restricted free agent to cash in, so the Golden Knights traded him to the New York Rangers on June 26 for two first-round picks and a third-round pick. The 25-year-old later signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with New York.

Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon recalled how forward Jonathan Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators after helping Vegas win the Stanley Cup in 2023 and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

"You wondered how you would ever replace a guy like that, and it provided the opportunity for 'Pav,'" McCrimmon said. "That's how Pavel got his opportunity."

Forwards William Karlsson (68) and Mark Stone (22) each missed a significant number of games last season. If they stay healthy, that will help offset some of the loss. Vegas also signed forward Victor Olofsson, who scored an NHL career-high 28 goals for the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23.

But who else can help replace Dorofeyev's production? Can Howden, who has never scored more than 23 goals in a regular season, take another step after his playoff performance?

3. What will happen with the goalies?

Carter Hart was the only goalie who played for Vegas in the playoffs last season. Tortorella had a history with Hart after coaching him with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2022-24. Hart played well after Tortorella took over, and the coach stuck with him when he struggled in the Cup Final.

Adin Hill, who started 14 games when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023, was relegated to the bench after going 10-9-6 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .871 save percentage in the regular season.

The coaching change could create a clean slate. McCrimmon said those decisions will be left to Craig and goaltending coach Sean Burke.

"If you set out on Sept. 1 and you're hoping to play in the Stanley Cup Final, you're going to play 104, 105 hockey games," McCrimmon said. "You need two goaltenders to be able to get through that. ... I think it's a really good tandem. ...

"I think Adin is going to bounce back. I think he's a good goalie who had a tough season. We need him to revert to form. We expect that he will. Carter, for me, made a great impression getting us right to the Stanley Cup Final, so I think we're in good shape at that position."