LAWLESS: GOLDEN KNIGHTS PREVIEW
For many NHL Fans, insiders, and even Rod Pedersen and Darren Dupont, the Vegas Golden Knights will finish as the best team in the Pacific Division in the NHL. But before that happens, we have to get through training camp.
The Vegas Golden Knights opened up their NHL preseason Sunday with a 4-2 loss against the San Jose Sharks. While the score does not match how the team is projected to do this season, it was still nice for fans to see the Golden Knights back on the ice.
Gary Lawless, a Vegas Golden Knights insider, was able to chat about the game versus the Sharks, as well as some of the offseason moves that were made.
“There were a lot of young guys last night,” said Lawless on Monday’s Rod Pedersen Show from Summerlin, NV. “Some players that have never played a professional game before. And then there were 7 or 8 guys that we would call Golden Knights regulars.”
Lawless said the team will have the same top six as last year, and the third line will consist of Nolan Patrick, Evgeni Dadonov, and Mattias Janmark
“Nolan Patrick is a first round talent,” said Pedersen. “There’s no two ways about it.”
Lawless said the fourth line is where there is potential for someone to earn some playing time more than anywhere else on the team, with Will Carrier and Brett Howden fighting for the last spot.
One of the biggest stories of the offseason for the Golden Knights was the trade of Marc Andre Fleury. He was one of the most popular players on the team, and when someone like that gets traded, fans aren’t always happy to see a decision like that made.
“People went out and bought Andre Fleury jerseys and bought Ryan Reaves jerseys,” said Lawless. “They love those guys and now they’re not here. Fans are sad to see those players go, but professional sports and the NHL, if you are not moving, you’re dead.”
Teams are always trying to make the right move to improve the team now, but also into the future.
“People are upset but if Kelly McCrimmon can book a parade on Las Vegas Boulevard at some point I think they’ll understand why they did it and be happy he did it,” said Lawless.
With the moves made throughout the summer, and success ever since the team was formed, there is a lot of pressure for Vegas to do well and win a Stanley Cup.
Dupont believes now is the time for Vegas to get over the hump and show the league who they really are.
“The rest of the NHL appears to be catching up,” said Dupont. “You have to be kind of worried about some of these other organizations but Vegas entering this season is a favourite once again. They’re confident now. They aren’t just the new kid on the block finding their way. They are on top.”
Vegas will surely be hoping to hang a new banner up in the rafters this season, but until then, the Golden Knights continue their preseason against the Colorado Avalanche tomorrow night where they look to bounce back from a disappointing opener.
