Golden Knights 'in pretty good shape' for Cup repeat bid, McPhee says

LAKE ELMO, Minn. -- Every NHL executive wants to have a short offseason, and George McPhee is no different.

The Vegas Golden Knights president of hockey operations said the time since the team raised the Stanley Cup on June 13 has been focused on celebrations and keeping the band together, but he believes they have what it takes to win it again this season.

"Everybody runs their own race and is trying to get better," McPhee said at the Hobey Baker Golf Tournament at The Royal Club on Thursday. "We think we've got a good team, and they just proved it. They played through challenges and they can come back and play again.

"A short offseason makes it busy for everybody. We think we're in pretty good shape. We lost (forward) Reilly Smith, who we liked a lot and respect a lot, and we'll miss him. We've got some young guys that we have to give opportunities to. Otherwise we're bringing back the whole team."

Vegas traded Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 28 but signed center Ivan Barbashev to a five-year contract the same day.

McPhee also said Vegas played "under the radar" last season, and its ability to stay healthy had an immense impact on its run to its first championship.

He also said center Jack Eichel played a role that even took him by surprise.

Eichel, acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4, 2021, led the Golden Knights in scoring during the regular season (66 points; 27 goals, 39 assists in 67 games) and the Stanley Cup Playoffs (26 points; six goals, 20 assists in 22 games).

"It's nice to get 60, 70, 80 points from him, but what is more impressive is his defensively ability," McPhee said. "He is hard to play against. You don't get many opportunities when you play against him and that's what you have to have to win. You have to have a lot of players that are big two-way players.

"We didn't know that about his game, that he could be that good defensively. But he and (coach) Bruce Cassidy worked together, and he's pretty darn good."

McPhee said they will rely on Eichel's veteran status and leadership, along with Eichel's linemate, Jonathan Marchessault (57 points; 28 goals, 29 assists in 76 games last season), to help guide the younger players.

With other Western Conference foes aiming to improve as well, McPhee said he still feels comfortable in the Golden Knights' ability to make a push to repeat.

"It's not an old team, it's not a young team, so we're in a pretty good spot," he said. "We have all our (NHL Draft) picks next year. I'd like to think we're in pretty good shape."