The most active talking point coming from the players and coaches in this training camp has been a need to score more goals. Balanced lines, loaded-up D-pairs, power play adjustments, and a few minor shifts in focus in the offensive zone have been a few of the examples that have been cited so far and there’s still time for many more as the regular season approaches.
I think everybody was pretty curious and it was cool to see the shake-up of the lines coming back for the first few days. Then again, things change so quick and I’m sure everyone is going to play with everyone during the preseason. -Brett Howden
Maybe the most important group in helping the Golden Knights achieve that goal will be the depth group of forwards. There’s obviously an expectation for Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and William Karlsson to lead the charge, but if Vegas truly is going to not only replace all the goals that have departed but add to them, they are going to need the bottom six to contribute at a higher rate than they have in the past.
You’re seeing the goals come right now. We’re trying to find goals in different ways than we have before. Obviously, the top-end skill is going to take over for a majority of the game but for us, we need to find ways to score when we get into those tough games and those tough areas so we are trying out new things. -Keegan Kolesar
Through three preseason games, that’s been occurring. Every member of the first-choice 4th line, Brett Howden, Tanner Pearson, and Keegan Kolesar, has scored a goal thus far and they are starting to gel together.
Former Vancouver Canuck, Los Angeles King, Pittsburgh Penguin, and Montreal Canadien, Pearson, has made an impression on his teammates as he fights for a contract during his professional tryout (PTO).
Just how easy it is to play with him. He’s a veteran player and has been in the league a long time. I can still learn a lot of things from him. He’s always in the right place. A guy like that he’s working his nuts off every game. He has something to prove. -Kolesar
As the team heads into the final few preseason games, the focus on unearthing every bit of offense from this group will continue. So far, they’ve done it against lesser competition early in the preseason, let’s see if they can keep it up as teams start to play closer to real lineups as the preseason wraps up.
