The Vegas Golden Knights are facing uncharted territory coming off a season when they did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in their five-year history.
"I think, you ask anybody in the room, I don't think any of us ever imagined we would miss the playoffs and have our season end early," forward Jack Eichel said. "But I think as a group, I'm sure everybody would agree that we … probably underachieved."
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The Golden Knights (43-31-8) finished three points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference last season. They were plagued by injuries and inconsistency, and coach Peter DeBoer was fired May 16. Bruce Cassidy was hired to replace him June 14, eight days after he was fired as coach of the Boston Bruins.
"We're going to build our game from Day One of training camp and through the course of the year, that's what we're going to do," said Cassidy, who led the Bruins to the playoffs in each of his six seasons with them. "Build our game so that we're back to where the Vegas Golden Knights are used to being, that's competing for the Stanley Cup."
Vegas made a handful of changes to its roster. Forwards Evgenii Dadonov and Max Pacioretty and defenseman Dylan Coghlan were traded to create room under the NHL salary cap ($82.5 million). Two-time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel signed a one-year contract Aug. 24 and goalie Adin Hill was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in a trade the next day. Defenseman Nicolas Hague, a restricted free agent, remains unsigned.
With a new coach and some new players, the Golden Knights are hopeful they will return to the postseason. However, after having more than 500 man-games lost due to injury in 2021-22, health issues are already impacting them.
Forward Mark Stone, while trending to be ready for opening night, is questionable to start training camp after having back surgery. On Aug. 11, the Golden Knights announced that No. 1 goalie Robin Lehner would have hip surgery and likely miss the season. His backup, Laurent Brossoit, had a medical procedure for an undisclosed injury after the season, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said he wasn't sure if the goalie would be ready for the start of the season (Oct. 11).
Logan Thompson, who played 19 games (17 starts) as a rookie last season (10-5-3, 2.68 goals-against average, .914 save percentage) -- including six of the final seven as Vegas fought for a playoff spot -- could be the No. 1 goalie. Hill, who was 10-11-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .906 save percentage in 25 games (22 starts) last season, has more NHL experience and will get a long look in training camp.
"It's his job to lose, obviously, because he's been here the most, especially if Brossoit is not ready," Cassidy said about Thompson before the trade for Hill.
