Golden Knights camp opens with heightened competition, opportunity

For the first time, there will be competition for roster spots at the Vegas Golden Knights' training camp.

Due to a mass exodus through free agency in the off-season, which included Jonathan Marchessault, William Carrier, Chandler Stephenson and Alec Martinez, the Golden Knights need to fill a handful of gaps by opening night on Oct. 9 against the Colorado Avalanche. 

"There's going to be some great opportunities in our lineup this year, and someone's going to benefit from that," General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said. "It's a two-fold process. There has to be opportunity, but then who's going to step up and take those opportunities?" 

One of the biggest gaps is at right wing on the first line with center Jack Eichel and left winger Ivan Barbashev, where Marchessault was. Newly acquired right winger Victor Olofsson was tried out at that position on the first day of camp, and it wasn't a random decision by the Golden Knights' coaching staff.

Olofsson played three seasons with Eichel in Buffalo before he left for Vegas in 2021. During his time with the Sabres, Olofsson was a constant 30-plus-point scorer and could be a quick solution to closing the Marchessault shaped void. 

"I felt great chemistry (with Eichel) right away," Olofsson said. "It's nice to get the first practice out of the way, but we had some good plays, and I felt some chemistry with Barbashev as well. It was a fun practice." 

McCrimmon said Olofsson was going to "play with Jack (Eichel) today," a suggestion that multiple players would be tried at the first line position throughout camp. 

Another player possibly looking to take over at a fourth-line winger position or as the 13^th forward is winger Tanner Pearson, who is at camp on a professional tryout. He played 54 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens but has recently struggled with injuries. 

Pearson dealt with an upper body injury throughout last season and was a healthy scratch for a handful of games. He said he's healthy and feels good after training all summer. 

"Even though I didn't get to sign on the dotted line for a contract, I still went to the gym and skated," Pearson said. "I tried to stay with it and stay positive...I want to play responsible and see where it takes me." 

Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said he's still trying to figure out who Pearson fits best with as he (Pearson) has not played as much as other guys did last season.

"We're not sure if he's a complimentary guy," Cassidy said on Pearson.

"Maybe he is a (Tomáš) Hertl guy, who is a horse with the puck down low. We want guys that are going to compliment him (Hertl) and be a bit of a shooter," the coach said. "The lines come together and sometimes they just fit and sometimes it doesn't." 

Another pair that the Golden Knights are trying early on in training camp is center William Karlsson and right-wing Mark Stone with Pavel Dorofeyev at left wing. Cassidy said Vegas is trying out this combination as Karlsson and Dorofeyev have played together before. 

Among sorting out new line parings and roster spots on the ice, the Golden Knights are also sorting out the unexpected absence of goaltender Robin Lehner. 

Lehner failed to show up to an exam to determine if he would continue to stay on long-term injured reserve. He has been on LTIR since April 2022, undergoing shoulder and hip surgeries since then. 

He is in the final year of a 5-year/$25 million contract. McCrimmon said on Thursday that Lehner will not report to the club this year. 

"He continues to be unfit to play," McCrimmon said on Lehner's status. "There are unique circumstances surrounding this situation that the NHL, NHLPA and the club are currently working through. Collectively, we are assessing our next steps and when we have more say, we will."