Biggest potential surprise
Marner and Eichel are elite passers. Marner ranked third in the NHL in assists last season with 75; Eichel ranked sixth with 66. It appears Ivan Barbashev will get the first shot at playing left wing with them, a great opportunity at even strength. The 29-year-old scored an NHL-career high 26 goals for the St. Louis Blues in 2021-22. He had 23 for the Golden Knights last season. Each of those two seasons, 21 of his goals came at even strength. Can he reach new heights this season?
Ready to contribute
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said Pietrangelo brought up defenseman Kaedan Korczak in conversations. Pietrangelo thinks the 24-year-old is “ready to be a really good NHL player for a long time.” Korczak played 77 games for Vegas over the past four seasons, including 40 last season, when he averaged 15:04 of ice time. Now he will have the opportunity for a full-time role on the third pair with Jeremy Lauzon.
Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats
Noah Hanifin, D: In his first full season with the Golden Knights, the defenseman had 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists), 10 power-play points, 145 shots on goal, 106 blocks and averaged 21:33 per game. Hanifin, who has scored at least 10 goals in three of his past four seasons, could exceed his NHL-career highs in goals (13), assists (38), points (48), power-play points (13) and shots on goal (189) this season with Pietrangelo (lower body) potentially out for the season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hanifin ranked among the leaders at his position in 20-plus mph speed bursts (91; 94th percentile), top skating speed (22.99 mph; 92nd percentile), skating distance at even strength (231.61 miles; 95th percentile), midrange goals (six; tied for eighth), midrange shots on goal (30; 90th percentile), long-range shots on goal (79; 92nd percentile) and long-range goals (three; 85th percentile). — Chris Meaney