New FSM Preview: Golden Knights 2022-2023 Season Preview

FSM’s Jonathan Randall previews the Vegas Golden Knights 2022-2022 season. The Knights look to rebound from last year’s slumber and get back into playoff contention and capture a Stanley Cup with a revamped roster. With opening day today, let’s take a preview of the Knights.

As the new season looms for the Vegas Golden Knights, a lot of questions are to be answered due to offseason storylines from the roster and a new coach, ushering in a new era for the Knights. The “Golden Era” of the Knights begins real soon, and this is the most anticipated season to date for the Knights as they go into their sixth year in the league.

With most of the old pieces and veteran players like Mark Stone, Jonathan Marchessault, Riley Smith, and William Karlsson returning and looking to make an impact. They hope to regain the dominance so they can make a deep playoff run so can finally capture their first Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history.

During the offseason, the Knights hired Bruce Cassidy as their new head coach; Cassidy, who recently coached the Boston Bruins, has success in his resume when he led the Bruins to the Cup Final in 2019. Also, what makes this coaching hire of Cassidy so intriguing is the coaching strategy that he brings.

Last season the Knights struggled on defense and special teams when it came to the power play and penalty kill. The Knights were 25^th in the league on the power play, which is something that needs major improvement for this upcoming season.

Vegas needs to produce on offense and score in order to win games, but it must be consistent as well.

On the opposite side of the power play is the penalty kill is another issue as well, but Cassidy is ready to fix those problems for the Knights. Last season with the Bruins, Cassidy propelled Boston 3^rd overall in best power play and penalty kills in the NHL. His main objective is to focus on the defense but stay in attack mode on offense and have successful special teams.

This upcoming season also features the new addition of veteran Phil Kessel who was previously with the Arizona Coyotes and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. His savvy offense presence will help the Knights to become a potent offense threat, and so far during the preseason, Kessel has shown he will be an effective player during the regular season. Kessel and Jack Eichel have become a duo on offense where Eichel has scored a few goals, and Kessel has provided assists for him. The Eichel and Kessel duo we have seen so far in the preseason is something to look forward to in this upcoming season.

With Robin Lehner out this season with a hip injury that requires him to have surgery, the starting goaltending spot will most likely go to Logan Thompson, where so far during the preseason, he has been consistent, making good saves and keeping the Knights in games. Even though the Knights acquired goaltender Adin Hill from the San Jose Sharks as a potential backup, Thompson is the clear-cut favorite to be the starter.

Going into this season, the Knights have pressed the restart button and must fix their mistakes from the past.

In order to make a potential playoff run, they need to be consistent on offense and defense. Improve on special teams, honestly, with the roster and young players they have like Zach Hayes and Paul Cotter, the Knights should be able to get back on track from last season, but one important aspect the Knights need to avoid is injuries and must stay healthy.

That was the biggest downfall for the Knights last season. If they can avoid that hole this season, the Knights could find themselves back in the playoffs, but as a wild card.

There are a handful of teams, mainly in the Pacific Division, that can compete for a playoff spot, including the Golden Knights. VGK has a lot of promise going into this new rebuild season, this could be a new era, a “Golden Era,” for Las  Vegas hockey fans.

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