Golden Knights 2023 Free Agents, Draft Targets, Offseason Guide After Stanley Cup Win

The Vegas Golden Knights are 2023 Stanley Cup Champions, defeating the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Sport 5 to take hang of their first title in franchise historical past, and whereas many celebrations are in store, it be furthermore time for the group to commence up planning for the 2023-24 campaign.

The Golden Knights done first within the Pacific Division and their deep playoff dash below unusual head coach Bruce Cassidy became extensively anticipated, but a success a Stanley Cup title in precisely their sixth NHL season is terribly spectacular and speaks volumes of what the group has constructed.

Standard supervisor Kelly McCrimmon will absorb his work cut out for him this summer season as Vegas hopes to repeat subsequent year, so let’s take hang of a stare at the Golden Knights’ free brokers, some draft targets and what to predict this summer season.

Unrestricted free brokers: Ivan Barbashev, Teddy Blueger, Phil Kessel, Jonathan Mercurial, Laurent Brossoit, Adin Hill

Restricted free brokers: Brett Howden, Pavel Dorofeyev, Brayden Pachal, Nolan Patrick

Whereas the Golden Knights absorb some valuable unrestricted free brokers this summer season, one of many completely avid gamers who will likely be price re-signing is Ivan Barbashev.

Vegas bought Barbashev from the St. Louis Blues at the 2022-23 season’s exchange closing date. In 23 popular-season video games with the franchise, he tallied six targets and 10 assists for 16 components, including seven targets in 22 postseason video games.

Barbashev furthermore match properly on a line alongside Chandler Stephenson and Phil Kessel, and he demonstrated the flexibility to be inserted gleaming about wherever into the lineup, which is a necessary asset for any team.

Whereas it be now not going the Golden Knights re-signal Jonathan Mercurial, they are awaiting Robin Lehner to attain abet in unbiased subsequent season, so there may possibly be now not mighty of a necessity for the team to elongate any of its free-agent goaltenders.

If they produce lengthen a netminder, this can also fair likely be Laurent Brossoit, who posted a 7-0-3 fable, 2.17 targets-against common and .927 set up proportion in 2022-23.

The Golden Knights absorb some solid draft picks to work with this summer season, that implies they’re going to be in a pronounce to proceed constructing for what must be a appealing future.

Right here is a stare at the franchise’s recent alternatives within the 2023 draft:

• One first-round pick
• Two third-round picks
• One sixth-round pick
• One seventh-round pick

With the Golden Knights’ first-pronounce develop within the Pacific Division, they’re going to receive a leisurely first-round draft different, that implies they’re going to be out of the Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli sweepstakes.

Nonetheless, there are various gifted possibilities readily accessible, and it be moderately priced to have faith in the Golden Knights will pick out a forward with their first-round different, such as Ethan Gauthier, Otto Stenberg or Gabe Perreault.

Occupied with the Golden Knights produce now not absorb any free brokers on defense, it be moderately priced to have faith in they’re going to pronounce extra of a heart of attention on the forward market in free company, and it be doable they’re going to take hang of a stare at Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and even Tyler Bertuzzi.

Kane, who became traded to the New York Rangers one day of the 2022-23 season, will likely be one of many most sought-after free brokers within the marketplace this summer season, but there is now not any reason to rule Vegas out of the sweepstakes for the winger.

The 34-year-extinct continues to invent at a high level, notching 21 targets and 36 assists for 57 components in 73 video games, and he furthermore added one unbiased and five assists in seven postseason video games.

Adding Kane to a line alongside Jack Eichel and most likely Stamp Stone would absorb the Golden Knights offense practically unstoppable in 2023-24.

The same is also talked about for Tarasenko, who became furthermore traded to the Rangers one day of the 2022-23 campaign. The 31-year-extinct tallied 18 targets and 32 assists for 50 components in 69 video games and added three targets and one abet in seven playoff video games.

If the Golden Knights strike out on each and every avid gamers, going after Bertuzzi would be a wide fallback understanding.

Whereas the 28-year-extinct had a down year by his standards, tallying eight targets and 22 assists in 50 video games with the Boston Bruins and Detroit Purple Wings, there may possibly be reason to have faith in he can return to the 20-plus goalscorer he as soon as became.

Bertuzzi became furthermore electrical for the Bruins within the 2023 playoffs, notching five targets and five assists in seven video games, proving that he can compete on the excellent stage.

Additionally, the Canadian is mighty youthful than Kane and Tarasenko and can stick round on a long-length of time deal.