Golden Knights playoff MVP debated by NHL.com

The Vegas Golden Knights have done everything by committee in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They have used two goalies in Adin Hill and Laurent Brossoit, who sustained a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers.

Among the 22 players who have played at least one game this postseason, 20 have recorded at least one point. In the Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars, all 19 players who played in the series had a point.

Eight players have scored at least one game-winning goal, with Chandler Stephenson and Jonathan Marchessault leading the way with three each. Three players have scored an overtime goal.

The Golden Knights will be looking for more of the same in the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers, which begins with Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; TNT, TBS, truTV, CBC, SN, TVAS).

RELATED: [Complete Stanley Cup Final coverage]

So, ahead of that game, who has been the most valuable player this postseason for the Golden Knights?

Not surprisingly, a panel of NHL.com writers differed in their opinions for this roundtable.

Here are their answers in alphabetical order:

Jack Eichel

Eichel is playing the best hockey of his career, eight years after he was selected by the Buffalo Sabres with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, one spot behind Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. It may be Eichel's first time playing in the playoffs, but he has been a big reason the Golden Knights are on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup championship. Eichel leads the Golden Knights in assists (12) and points (18) in 17 games. -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

I agree with Derek's analysis of the impact Eichel has had. More importantly, so does Panthers coach Paul Maurice, whose mandate is to find a way to stop the forward in the upcoming Stanley Cup Final. Easier said than done. This isn't the first time a Maurice-coached team has faced the Golden Knights in the playoffs. In the 2018 Western Conference Final, Maurice and the Winnipeg Jets were eliminated in five games by Vegas. During his press conference at FLA Live Arena on Tuesday, Maurice noted that this version of the Golden Knights is much improved, having since added a playmaker (Mark Stone) and a No. 1 defenseman (Alex Pietrangelo). He then focused on Eichel. "They went out and got a No. 1 center, and that makes them so much more deeper at center ice," he said, noting how well Eichel skates. Hey, who am I to argue with Maurice? -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Adin Hill

Who among us thought this name could be on this list? Not me. Hill has started only nine games during this playoff run for the Golden Knights, but he's been a huge reason why they have advanced to the Cup Final. He was pushed into action after the injury to Brossoit, and since then, he's gone 7-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .937 save percentage, including a 23-save shutout in Game 6 against the Stars to send the Golden Knights to the Final. He's not just keeping Vegas in games -- maybe all you can usually hope for from a backup -- he's actively winning games. It's been an unexpected boost for a team that has had the goalie carousel on overdrive this season, going through five different goalies, and that's not even counting the injured Robin Lehner. Hill's name might not be the top choice for everyone for Vegas' MVP, but I'd argue they wouldn't be here without him. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

William Karlsson

The two-way center won't be the favorite because he's not as flashy as Eichel or Jonathan Marchessault, but there is arguably no forward who has meant more to the Golden Knights. He leads them with 10 goals, including four in the first round against the Jets and five in the conference final, two of which came in the decisive Game 6. Don't get on him for scoring only one goal in six games against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. He was often matched up against Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl at 5-on-5. Oh, and those two, the top two scorers in the NHL this season, arguably the top two players in the NHL, yeah, neither one of them were on the ice for an Oilers' 5-on-5 goal when Karlsson was on the ice. Winnipeg's Kyle Connor scored one goal at 5-on-5 when Karlsson was on the ice in the first round. Karlsson was even, 2-2, in 5-on-5 goals when matched against Dallas' top line of Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski in the conference final. Look at every metric and he's been Vegas' best and most-impactful player. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Jonathan Marchessault

Pick a Golden Knight, any Golden Knight. That's what it feels like as far as choosing an MVP. I'm going with Marchessault. The forward has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 17 games, second on Vegas to Eichel, but here's the stat that stands out to me with Marchessault: three game-winning goals. One of the original "Golden Misfits" who was a part of the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season in 2017-18, Marchessault has been a big part of them getting to the Final once again. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Alex Pietrangelo

Pietrangelo's value goes much deeper than statistics, and that area of his game has been fantastic when you consider he leads Golden Knights defensemen in assists (eight) and points (nine), and all Vegas players in average time on ice (23:46) in 16 games. The Golden Knights have been one of the strongest defensive units in the playoffs this season, and Pietrangelo is a major reason for that. He leads all defensemen in the playoffs with 18 takeaways and is third with 42 blocks. Pietrangelo also understands the amount of effort it takes to win at this point in the season because he's done it once before as captain of the St. Louis Blues in 2019. That experience as a leader and locker-room presence goes a long way and why he's been my MVP for the Golden Knights through three rounds. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer

Chandler Stephenson

The forward, who won the Stanley Cup in 2018, ironically helping the Washington Capitals defeat Vegas in five games, has grown into a valuable player for the Golden Knights since being acquired from the Capitals on Dec. 3, 2019. Stephenson has been clutch throughout the playoffs and plays in all situations. The 29-year-old has scored three game-winning goals, which is tied with Marchessault for first on the Golden Knights, including the overtime winner in Game 2 of the conference final. He is third on Vegas with eight goals, tied for fifth with 14 points, and is third among Golden Knights forwards in average time on ice (18:14). Stephenson has also taken the most face-offs on the team with 259 and has won 53.7 percent, including a team-best 55.6 percent in the defensive zone.-- Tom Gulitti, staff writer