How The Golden Knights Can Pair Their Defence Core

The Vegas Golden Knights have eight NHL-calibre defensemen on their roster but they'll need to find away a to deploy the best six every night.

Ben Hutton has been the team's seventh defenseman for the past two seasons and with the emergence of Kaedan Korczak and his recent contract extension, he'll be a full-time NHL player without waiver exemption. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has been given the difficult task of deploying the best six but possible trades by GM Kelly McCrimmon could change that.

Rumours have surrounded Shea Theodore about a possible trade since the acquisition of Noah Hanifin. The rumours further heated up after Hanifin signed an eight-year contract extension with the Golden Knights. In an ideal world, the salary cap wouldn't affect the Golden Knights and they could roster both but with Theodore's contract set to expire at the conclusion of the season, many believe it's wisest to move on before he walks for nothing in free agency.

Zach Whitecloud is also another name that has appeared in trade talks which would allow Korczak to step into the NHL and replace a right-handed shooting defenseman.

Without any trades, here's how the Golden Knights could line up.

Hanifin-Pietrangelo

McNabb-Theodore

Hague-Whitecloud

We saw how effective this back-end could be in the first round against the Dallas Stars last season and with more time to gel, it could be the best in the NHL.

If Theodore and Whitecloud are dealt to bring in a forward, this is how the Golden Knights would likely run their blueline.

Hanifin-Pietrangelo

McNabb-Korczak

Hague-Hutton

They'd lose the offensive star power and would likely be more reliant on Hanifin and Pietrangelo but moving Theodore and Whitecloud would allow them to acquire a top forward.

If the Golden Knights do elect to stay with the eight defensemen, the leash for each player will likely be short. If someone is struggling or underperforming, they'll quickly be moved to a lower pairing or out of the lineup. This creates healthy competition and forces each player to be at their best.

The Golden Knights have always been built from their defence core and they'll be relied on now more than ever during the 2024-25 season.

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