Vegas Golden Knights center Nicolas Roy (10) celebrates his goal with Keegan Kolesar (55) in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Saturday, May 22, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 | 3:56 p.m.
The Golden Knights feel there is unfinished business heading into next season. Keegan Kolesar and Nicolas Roy wanted to be a part of righting that ship.
Vegas expressed how important those two are to its quest for the Stanley Cup by signing Kolesar (three years, $1.4 million AAV) and Roy (five years, $3 million AAV) to contract extensions over the past few days.
The forwards aren’t known to be staples of the Golden Knights’ core, but the Vegas contingent believes in them for their development since becoming full-time NHL players.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Kolesar said Tuesday via Zoom. “This is an unbelievable franchise. I’m so happy I can be back and call Vegas home for the next few years.”
Kolesar and Roy were selected in the 2015 NHL Draft — Kolesar in the third round (No. 69) and Roy in the fourth (No. 96) — and later acquired in trades by Vegas. Kolesar was acquired from Columbus for a second-round pick following the expansion draft, while Roy was considered an unknown in the Carolina trade for Erik Haula in 2019.
Kolesar showed some offensive ability last season with a career-high 24 points, but Roy took the biggest leap with 39 points and a career-high 15 goals in 2022.
“It’s awesome. I wanted to come back, for sure,” said Roy also via Zoom. “I love the team, the city, the fans, the players, the team we have. I wanted to come back long term.”
Training camp opens in approximately six weeks, but getting Roy and Kolesar signed were important to the Golden Knights’ offseason. Only two restricted free agents remain — defenseman Nic Hague and forward Jake Leschyshyn — that are in need of new contracts.
When those two are signed, the Golden Knights are going to bring nearly the same roster into the 2023 season. After a lengthy offseason due to missing the playoffs for the first time ever, both were adamant of getting back to the postseason.
Kolesar benefitted greatly from the extra time off after undergoing surgery on a lower-body injury this summer. He said it was a new procedure that hasn’t been done on a lot of hockey players before but will be ready in time for training camp.
“I think in Vegas, we have a team that can win and win now,” Roy said. “A little disappointed with what happened last year, but it’s a bounce-back year. We have a really good team, and we’re ready to go.”
Roy said he spoke with new coach Bruce Cassidy briefly about what his role might look like this season. His breakout season could put Roy in line for a promotion to the top six following the trade of Max Pacioretty to Carolina.
Kolesar will likely start on the fourth line, a role he’s carved out since he reached the NHL. That’s fine with him, given the road he’s traveled.
“I’m very proud just being able to push whatever it may be,” Kolesar said. “My first year as a pro was in the ECHL [with Quad City] for a number of games, working my way back up [to Chicago of the American Hockey League] and constantly trying to prove myself that I can be an everyday NHL player and I do deserve a spot here. I couldn’t have done it without great teammates, great support staff.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
