VGK_31in31_Fantasy_Stone

As part of NHL.com's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Vegas Golden Knights. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

Robin Lehner, G(NHL.com rank: 28) -- After Lehner was traded to the Golden Knights on Feb. 24, he went 3-0-0 with a .940 save percentage and one shutout in three regular-season games and 9-7-0 with a .917 save percentage and an NHL-best four shutouts in the postseason as the starter over Marc-Andre Fleury. Lehner is among NHL.com's top five fantasy goalies for this season after signing a five-year contract to remain with Vegas on Oct. 3. He's third in save percentage over the past two seasons combined (.925; minimum 75 games) behind Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars (.927) and Darcy Kuemper of the Arizona Coyotes (.926).
Golden Knights 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers]
Alex Pietrangelo, D (42) -- He left the St. Louis Blues to sign a seven-year contract with the Golden Knights on Oct. 13. The move should have a positive fantasy impact on most of Pietrangelo's new teammates, especially in helping solidify Lehner and Fleury as the most valuable fantasy goalie tandem in NHL.com's rankings. Pietrangelo scored an NHL career-high 16 goals last season, tied with Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators for second among NHL defensemen behind Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (20). Pietrangelo is ranked among the top 10 fantasy defensemen this season and coming off his best SOG total (225) and his second best in PPP (22; 24 in 2011-12) last season.

31 in 31: Vegas Golden Knights 2020-21 season preview

Mark Stone, RW (51) -- He led the Golden Knights in assists (42) and points per game (0.97; seventh among NHL right wings) in the regular season and their forwards in scoring during the postseason (17 points; seven goals, 10 assists in 20 games). Stone, a fixture on the top line and first power play, ranked second on Vegas in power-play points (17) in the regular season behind linemate Max Pacioretty (19). He is nearly a point-per-game player over the past three seasons combined (198 points in 200 games) and a safe fantasy pick in the third or fourth round who could benefit from exposure to Pietrangelo at even strength and on PP1.
Max Pacioretty, LW(53) -- He had the best points-per-game average of his NHL career (0.93) last season and was one of 12 players who finished with at least 30 goals (32; led Golden Knights) and 30 assists (34). He was also one of three players with at least 300 shots on goal (307); the others were Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (318) and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (311). Pacioretty led Vegas in points (66) and PPP (NHL career-high 19) and had strong totals in plus/minus (plus-18) and hits (90 in 71 games) to finish among the top 10 overall fantasy players (ninth in standard leagues). But Pacioretty lost some fantasy appeal after an underwhelming postseason (eight points; five goals, three assists in 16 games).
Marc-Andre Fleury, G(87) -- Despite becoming the backup to Lehner, Fleury contributed to the Golden Knights' run to the Western Conference Final, going 3-1-0 with a .910 save percentage in four postseason starts. Fleury leads active NHL goalies in wins (466) and ranks second in shutouts (61) behind Henrik Lundqvist (64) and is worth stacking with Lehner in the first six or seven rounds of a standard draft because the latter had offseason shoulder surgery. It's also worth noting Fleury has the most shutouts in the NHL (13) over the past two regular seasons combined.

Top 10 Marc-Andre Fleury saves from 2019-20

Shea Theodore, D(103) -- He was one of the most valuable fantasy defensemen last season, finishing among the top 10 at the position in goals (13; T-9th), points (46; 10th) and SOG (219; fourth) with strong totals in PPP (16; T-16th) and plus/minus (plus-12). Theodore then had a full-fledged breakout in the postseason, leading Vegas in points (19 in 20 games), PPP (eight) and SOG (80), and ranking third among NHL defensemen in points per game (0.95; minimum 10 games) behind Cale Makar of the Avalanche (1.00) and Miro Heiskanen of the Stars (0.96). But Theodore is a fringe top 20 defenseman and top 100 overall player entering this season after the Pietrangelo signing because they could split first power-play time.
Other players to consider in later rounds or off waiver wire: Jonathan Marchessault, C/LW (117); Reilly Smith, RW (151); William Karlsson, C (152); Alex Tuch, LW/RW (157); Cody Glass, C/RW (204); Alec Martinez, D (222)
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