2021-2022 Season Projections
For all my season previews, we’ll be utilizing my 2021-2022 team and player projections. You can find much more background on these models here, along with more on assessing value of contracts here. In this post, we’ll preview the Vegas Golden Knights.
2021 Offseason
With nearly the entirety of the Golden Knights 20/21 roster still under contract for the upcoming season, it was a relatively quiet offseason in Vegas. Their most significant move was trading Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago to clear up cap space, which they primarily used to re-sign Alec Martinez.
2021-2022 Season Preview: Vegas Golden Knights
Roster Strength
One of the Golden Knights biggest strengths since their inception has been depth. With nearly the entire roster from last season set to return, that should be the case again for 21/22. Goaltending will be the question mark with Marc-Andre Fleury leaving town, leaving Robin Lehner and Laurent Brossoit to man the crease.
Forwards
Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty are set to lead the Golden Knights forward group once again. With nearly the entirety of the forwards returning from last season, the forward group will look very familiar for the 21/22 campaign. We can see that Vegas has built their forward depth on the strength of good value contracts, with nearly all forwards having projected value above the league median.
Defensemen
As with the forward group, the defense corps will look very familiar for the Golden Knights. The Knights may have overpaid somewhat to bring back Alec Martinez, but he helps solidify the top four. While the cap efficiency of the defense is not as strong as the forward group, they still look like a formidable group as a whole.
Goaltenders
The big question mark for the Golden Knights heading into the 21/22 campaign is in goal. Robin Lehner inherits the starter’s net after the departure of Marc-Andre Fleury. His projection is less than ideal, however we’ve seen Lehner perform well in stretches as the starter. With a less proven backup in Laurent Brossoit, Lehner will have to be consistent.
Team Performance
The Golden Knights will look very familiar in 21/22 with nearly their entire roster back from last season. The questions in goal hurt their projection in the model, but they should be in the mix come playoff time. If Lehner can put in consistently strong performances as the starter, the Knights could outperform the model and be a contender for the Pacific Division title.
2021-2022 In Season Updates
Make sure to subscribe and check back for updates to the 2021-2022 season projections throughout the season. Watch for updates and enhancements to the models, updated player projections using 2021-2022 season data, analysis of trades and injuries, and more.
