Golden Knights season preview: Cassidy takes over with high expectations

The 2022-23 NHL season starts Oct. 7. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today, the Vegas Golden Knights.

Coach: Bruce Cassidy (first season)
Last season: 43-31-8, fourth in Pacific Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

3 KEYS

1. New coach
Bruce Cassidy must develop relationships, install systems and determine line combinations in the short term. In the long term, he must live up to expectations with a team that fired Gerard Gallant while still in a playoff spot in 2019-20 and Peter DeBoer after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since joining the NHL in 2017-18. The goal is nothing less than a Stanley Cup championship. One of the areas of emphasis will be special teams. Vegas ranked 25th on the power play (18.4 percent) and 21st on the penalty kill (77.4 percent) last season.
2. Goaltending
The biggest question mark is in goal. Robin Lehner is expected to be out for the season recovering from double hip surgery, and Laurent Brossoit's status for opening night is uncertain as he recovers from hip surgery and will miss all of training camp. Logan Thompson has a chance to seize the starting job after going 10-5-3 with a 2.68 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout in 19 games with Vegas last season. His competition will be Adin Hill, who went 10-11-1 with a 2.66 GAA, .906 save percentage and two shutouts in 25 games with the San Jose Sharks last season. Cassidy describes his system as goalie friendly, taking less risk in the neutral zone and keeping shots to the outside in the defensive zone.
3. Eichel
Jack Eichel had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 34 games for the Golden Knights last season after missing almost a year to recover from a neck surgery that had never been done before on an NHL player. If he can return to form, the 25-year-old can be the bona fide No. 1 center Vegas has sought since entering the League. With the Buffalo Sabres, he set NHL career highs in assists (54) and points (82) in 2018-19 and in goals (36) in 2019-20. Cassidy has talked to Eichel about getting to the next level.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
It appears there will be more jockeying for roles than roster spots. For example, Cassidy could break up the "Golden Misfits" line of Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson and Reilly Smith that has been successful dating back to the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. But can any of the youngsters push their way onto the roster? Forward Brendan Brisson, the No. 29 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, had 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) in 38 games for the University of Michigan and eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games for Henderson of the American Hockey League last season.
Most intriguing addition
Phil Kessel comes to Vegas on a one-year contract with something to prove. He had 52 points last season, third on the Arizona Coyotes, but scored eight goals. This is a player known for his goal-scoring who has had 12 seasons with at least 20 goals, including six with at least 30. How much does the 34-year-old forward have left in the tank? Will he be reinvigorated playing with Eichel? Does he help boost the power play?

Biggest potential surprise
Sakari Manninen is 30 years old and never has played in North America, let alone the NHL. But the forward had 84 points (38 goals, 46 assists) the past two seasons with Ufa of the Kontinental Hockey League and seven points (four goals, three assists) for Finland in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. If his game can translate to the NHL, he could give the Golden Knights much-needed depth.
Ready to break through
Thompson might be ready to be a No. 1 goalie or at least a solid option in the NHL. He has put up strong numbers in the minor leagues the past three seasons. With South Carolina of the ECHL in 2019-20, he was 23-8-1 with a 2.25 GAA, .929 save percentage and three shutouts in 32 games. He was named the top goalie in the AHL the following season when he went 16-6-1 with a 1.96 GAA, .943 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 games with Henderson, then went 13-9-4 with a 2.77 GAA, .920 save percentage and two shutouts there last season.
Fantasy sleeper
Kessel, RW (undrafted on average in fantasy) -- He ranks ninth in points (956 in 1,204 games) and fourth in shots on goal (3,700) among active NHL players and is a fantasy deep sleeper after signing with a Stanley Cup Playoff contender in Vegas, where he could play on the first power play with high-scoring skaters Eichel, Mark Stone and Shea Theodore under new coach Cassidy.-- Anna Dua

PROJECTED LINEUP

Jonathan Marchessault -- Jack Eichel -- Mark Stone
Phil Kessel -- William Karlsson -- Reilly Smith
Sakari Manninen -- Chandler Stephenson -- Nicolas Roy
William Carrier -- Brett Howden -- Keegan Kolesar
Alec Martinez -- Alex Pietrangelo
Brayden McNabb -- Shea Theodore
Nicolas Hague -- Zach Whitecloud
Logan Thompson
Adin Hill