Team: 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 7, 2017

Published: Jul. 8, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

*This is purely opinion based. No trades are assumed. Only RFA's Knight's have the rights to are sign.

The Knights forward group in a word is ok. The top 6 on the Knights feels like it's made up of two 2nd lines, I don't mean this in a disrespectful way they just don't have any true first line players. The bottom 6 on the Knights have some bright spots in Haula, and Karlsson, but other then that this year it's meh. Kolesar I have a third line role to see if he can make it in the NHL this year, but I won't be shocked if he and Tuch keep switch spots in the NHL and AHL... Until the trade deadline that is when they both need to be up to ice a team that's when they will get there shot in the top 6 of they've preformed well up until that point. Oh ya and Reid Duke is up because Vegas wants to use there first ever signing as a marketing tool, we'll see how long that lasts.

Top 6 C+
Bottom 6 C-

I really like the what the top 4 in Vegas could in theory be. A good mix of high end Offensive Skill from Theodore, well rounded games for Schmidt and Miller, and a old school defensive game from McNabb they all compliments each other very well. The problem is that's all in theory only Miller and McNabb have played in top 4 roles before and only for short periods of time. Will these four look good now that they are front in center facing the other teams best players ? Only time will tell but I think they could do pretty well. The bottom pairing is a very interesting part for this you have so many options to fill it out at the moment (I'm guessing this will change before the season starts) that bottom paring can have many different looks it will all come down to what coach Gallant feels he needs to beat the opposition that night.

Top 4 B-
Bottom paring B

The Goaltending in Vegas will allow them to stay in games this season. Fleury hopefully give the Knight's above league average goaltending. If nothing else he's a great locker room guy who will be able to keep the room light in harder times in the season. As for Pickard he's a very good option to be the backup. For the next 2 years Fleury will teach Pickard what it takes to be a true starter in the NHL. Pickard I can see starting 25 to 35 games.

Starter B-
Backup C+

Last note this was the hardest team for me to do to date. You would have to guess that either before the season starts and for sure at the deadline this team will look very different. If I was the Knights I'd be signing as many nhl players that I could to deals (cheap one year deals) and have them all fight it out for roster spots come September the ones that don't make it you try and trade and if you can't trade them then wave them not the end of the world... You can always trade them off during the year as well.