Champs are here: Five storylines heading into Golden Knights training camp

By Danny Webster

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 | 2 a.m.

For those who haven’t finished partying over the Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup, it’s time to come back to earth.

The Golden Knights open training camp Thursday at City National Arena and try to become the third team since the turn of the century to win back-to-back titles. 

It was June 13 when Champagne and beer sprayed through the locker room and halls of T-Mobile Arena. But it’s back to hockey for a group returning almost all of last season’s roster that captured the first championship in the franchise’s six-year history.

One positive for being the defending champs is there aren’t a lot of important questions to answer. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things to look out for with the Golden Knights preparing for their Oct. 10 season opener against the Seattle Kraken.

Here are five storylines to watch as camp progresses:

Who replaces Reilly Smith?

This is the question that’s dominated this offseason, and will for the foreseeable future.

The battle for Smith’s vacant left wing spot has been the talk since the original Golden Misfit was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in June. The competition for who skates on William Karlsson’s line is going to be stacked.

A case can be made for either Paul Cotter or Pavel Dorofeyev. Cotter scored 13 goals in 55 games as a rookie and has more familiarity with coach Bruce Cassidy’s system. Dorofeyev had seven goals in a 10-game stint in March as a call-up due to injuries.

There’s also Max Comtois. The former Anaheim Ducks forward signed a professional tryout agreement and will also compete for a spot. The 24-year-old has the NHL experience (210 games) to lay claim to the opportunity.

And then there’s Brendan Brisson, the first-round pick from 2020 who is entering his second pro season. Brisson had a strong showing in the Golden Knights’ rookie tournament this past weekend with two goals in three games, but the jury is still out on how he stacks up against NHL-caliber competition.

With preseason games Sundayin San Jose and Monday in Colorado, Brisson may get an extended look early on.

“It’s one more spot,” Brisson said. “It’s going to be pretty competitive during camp. There’s still a lot of good players here, and I’m sure everyone is going to be bringing their best.”

Defensive depth

There’s no drama with the Golden Knights’ defensemen, but it’s never too early to ponder the future.

Barring injuries, the Golden Knights will have the same six blueliners as last year. Ben Hutton will compete for a spot, but the numbers game says the 30-year-old will be the seventh defenseman.

This is an important camp, and season, for those looking to eventually make the roster. Alec Martinez turned 36 in July and is entering the final season of his three-year deal. Hutton is also a pending unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Golden Knights are high on Brayden Pachal, the captain of AHL Henderson. He was trusted to play Game 5 of the first round against the Winnipeg Jets when Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore did not play due to illness and injury. Pachal had two assists in 10 games last season. He’s reliable in case of emergency.

Eyes will be on Kaedan Korczak, the top defenseman prospect in the organization. The second-round pick from 2019 is entering the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer. Not to say there will be any negotiation drama, but Korczak is going to get the first chance to compete for a full-time spot next season.

He’s improved each year, but Korczak is also a victim of the numbers game. Expect him, much like Brisson, to get a long look in preseason.

Contract-year talks

There are some notable players in need of new deals before next summer.

One of them happens to be the reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

Jonathan Marchessault is entering the final year of a six-year extension he signed in January 2018. The Golden Knights’ all-time leader in goals (150) and points (348) is coming off a historic playoff run that ended with a 10-game point streak and four goals with four assists in the Cup Final against Florida.

Chandler Stephenson is also due for a pay raise after evolving into an All-Star center. Stephenson has proven to be a No. 1 center on a championship team and has been a perfect complement to captain Mark Stone. Stephenson is coming off a career-high 65 points (16 goals, 49 assists) last season.

The Golden Knights have not been known for in-season contract extensions, outside of the inaugural year. Smith and Martinez, for example, did not have new deals until the following offseasons. Deals before the season also aren’t typically done unless they’re with restricted free agents, like Nic Hague last season and Theodore in 2018.

Point being: Don’t be alarmed if no extensions are coming down the pipeline.

Is there a No. 1 goalie?

Last season, there was no debate. Logan Thompson entered the year as the No. 1 goalie, with Adin Hill — by process of elimination — the No. 2.

How much difference one season can make.

After injuries galore to the goaltending department, Hill found himself as the netminder responsible for leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup. His 11-4 run in the postseason was rewarded with a two-year extension at $4.9 million average annual value this summer.

It’s still Hill and Thompson as the goalies, but the order has flipped, for now. Hill is the No. 1 while Thompson, now 100% after a season-ending lower-body injury in March, is coming into this season with much to prove.

“We have a good relationship there,” Hill said. “We’ll just keep pushing each other in practice and carry it into the games.”

George McPhee, president of hockey operations, said in his exit interview in June that it’s important for a team to have two capable goalies who can carry the load.

That will be the case this year. Hill played a career-high 27 regular-season games in 2022-23. There will be an increase in workload.

“I’m just excited to get things going,” Hill said. “Contract and all that aside, our expectations are high. We’re looking to keep the ball rolling.”

Mark Stone’s health

Two back surgeries in less than a year. A fractured wrist in the clinching game of the Cup Final on the same night he recorded a hat trick.

Stone had a heroic effort during the playoffs three months after a back procedure. He finished third in playoff scoring (24 points), tied for second in goals (11) and looked every bit like the 200-foot force fans have been accustomed to seeing.

But while the Golden Knights proved in the second half of last season that they could win without Stone, it’s a much different feeling when he’s healthy.

Stone told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Aug. 15 that he suffered a fractured left wrist in the first period of Game 5, then went on to complete the first hat trick in the Cup Final since 1996.

Not that a wrist injury was going to prevent Stone from being the first player in team history to hoist the Cup, but the amount of work he’s put in to get back on the ice is exhausting.

The Golden Knights go as far as Stone goes. His health will determine how much leeway the doubters have.

Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.