There are Four Big Questions facing the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21.
The 2020-21 NHL Season is finally here with the big faceoff today and, as a result, we are nearly at the end of our Season Previews with the Vegas Golden Knights our focus.
It was another disappointing year for the Golden Knights who were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals by the Dallas Stars, making it a second straight year where they failed in their ultimate aim of winning the Stanley Cup.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
Now, it seems mad to say that about an expansion team but such are the high expectations that have been set in Sin City.
And, in response to a disappointing end to the 2019-20 season, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon went all out in the offseason and made an already talent-laden roster even better by signing elite defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a seven-year, $61,600,000 contract.
Pietrangelo is the absolute horse on the blueline that this franchise has long craved, and there is a clear reason as to why the Golden Knights are favorites for the Stanley Cup along with the Colorado Avalanche.
They are loaded with talent and firepower and they have depth in every single area, making them a formidable juggernaut that could well go all the way this year.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the 4 Big Questions facing the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21…
4. Can Cody Glass have a breakout year?
Big things were expected of Cody Glass in his rookie year in 2019-20, but a concussion issue and a serious knee injury ultimately ruined things with the forward finishing with 12 points (5 G, 7 A) in 39 games with a plus / minus rating of -7.
It was a big disappointment for the No. 6 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but there could be a shot at redemption in 2020-21.
Although it appears as though Chandler Stephenson has won the opportunity to center a line between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, there is still a chance for Glass to carve out a big role on this team.
With veteran centers Paul Stastny, Cody Eakin and Nick Cousins gone, there is an opening for a center role and Glass could pivot the third-line while also getting time on the power play.
He is likely to start on the third-line but with a sniper on his wing in Alex Tuch, there is an opportunity there for Glass to show off his playmaking abilities and both score and create at a high level while earning the trust of Head Coach Pete DeBoer.
If Cody Glass can remain healthy, improve certain aspects of his play and drive secondary scoring from the third-line while taking any opportunity he gets on the power play, then he could be on pace for a true breakout year in 2020-21 and maybe a promotion to the second-line between Pacioretty and Stone.