{"id":659331,"date":"2026-09-10T15:54:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/659331\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T15:54:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:54:17","slug":"2026-27-vegas-golden-knights-season-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/659331\/","title":{"rendered":"2026-27 Vegas Golden Knights Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vegas Golden Knights enter the 2026\u201327 season saying goodbye to their leading goal scorer last year, Pavel Dorofeyev. They are hoping Victor Olofsson will replace some of that scoring, but he obviously won\u2019t totally replace him. They should be good to make the playoffs, but they did lose some roster depth.<\/p>\n

Key Additions<\/p>\n

Victor Olofsson (LW) \u2013 Signed a one-year deal on July 1st. The 31-year-old scored 12 goals and 17 assists in 80 games last season with Florida, bringing power-play prowess, scoring punch, and middle-six depth.<\/p>\n

Marc Gatcomb (C) \u2013 Signed a one-year deal on July 1st. The 26-year-old brings two-way play, versatility, and bottom-six depth, expected to play a fourth-line role.<\/p>\n

Parker Wotherspoon (D) \u2013 Acquired from Pittsburgh on June 30th in exchange for Kaedan Korczak. The 29-year-old left-shot defenseman brings puck-moving ability, and offensive upside.<\/p>\n

Ville Heinola (D) \u2013 Signed a one-year deal on July 1st. The 25-year-old right-shot defenseman brings depth and two-way play, expected to compete for a call-up role.<\/p>\n

2026-27 Vegas Golden Knights Season Preview<\/a><\/p>\n

Key Subtractions<\/p>\n

Pavel Dorofeyev (LW) \u2013 Traded to the Rangers on June 26th in exchange for the No. 26 and No. 92 picks in the 2026 draft and a conditional 2028 first-round pick. The 25-year-old scored 20 goals and 35 points in 71 games last season, a significant loss of top-six scoring and skill.<\/p>\n

Keegan Kolesar (RW) \u2013 Traded to Detroit on July 1st for a 2027 third-round pick. The 29-year-old had 10 goals and 18 points in 68 games, removing physicality and depth from the bottom six.<\/p>\n

Akira Schmid (G) \u2013 Traded to Florida on July 1st for a 2028 third-round pick. The 26-year-old had a 3.09 GAA and .891 save percentage in 25 games, a loss of veteran goaltending depth.<\/p>\n

Kaedan Korczak (D) \u2013 Traded to Pittsburgh on June 30th in the Wotherspoon deal. The 25-year-old right-shot defenseman had 10 assists in 67 games, a notable loss of youth and puck-moving ability.<\/p>\n

Colton Sissons (C) \u2013 Signed a one-year deal with Toronto on July 1st. The 32-year-old had 10 goals and 18 points in 68 games, removing veteran depth and two-way play.<\/p>\n

John Tortorella (Head Coach) \u2013 Replaced by Ryan Craig on July 1st. The 67-year-old had a 50-26-6 record last season, a significant loss of veteran leadership and playoff experience.<\/p>\n

Impact on 2026\u201327<\/p>\n

The Golden Knights\u2019 will remain competitive, but do they have enough to get back to the Stanley Cup final? Olofsson adds scoring punch and power-play prowess to the top nine, while Wotherspoon bolsters the defense. The departures of Dorofeyev, Kolesar, and Korczak remove veteran presence and youth. Expect the Golden Knights to be in the playoff hunt, but do they have enough to push for another deep playoff run?<\/p>\n

Drake Batherson Hopes an Extension Can Get Done Soon<\/a><\/p>\n

Salary Cap Situation<\/p>\n

Projected cap hit \u2013 $112,661,182
Roster \u2013 22\/23
Projected cap space -$8,661,182
Deadline cap space\u00a0 -$8,661,182
Soon-to-be LTIR \u2013 $8,800,000<\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights Depth Chart<\/p>\n

\"Vegas<\/a><\/p>\n

Vegas Golden Knights Depth Chart from PuckPedia.com<\/a> \u2013 Sept. 4th<\/p>\n

Quick Hits on Crosby, Fantilli, Gauthier, Kucherov, Hellebuyck and more<\/a><\/p>\n

Top Vegas Golden Knights prospects<\/p>\n

Nicholas J. Cotsonika
NHL.com <\/a>
Aug. 30th, 2026
\nSteven Ellis
Daily Faceoff<\/a>
August 15th, 2026
\nMcKeen\u2019s Hockey<\/a>
Apr. 27th, 2026
\nScott Wheeler
The Athletic<\/a>
Mar. 16th, 2026<\/p>\n

1
\nTrevor Connelly (LW)
\nTrevor Connelly (LW)
\nTrevor Connelly (LW)
\nTrevor Connelly (LW)<\/p>\n

2
\nJuho Piiparinen (RHD)
\nJuho Piiparinen (RHD)
\nJakob Ihs-Wozniak (RW)
\nCarl Lindbom (G)<\/p>\n

3
\nCarl Lindbom (G)
\nCarl Lindbom (G)
\nCarl Lindbom (G)
\nJakob Ihs-Wozniak (RW)<\/p>\n

4
\nKei Uchac (F)
\nJakob Ihs-Wozniak (RW)
\nLukas Cormier (LHD)
\nBraeden Bowman (RW)<\/p>\n

5
\nMatyas Sapovaliv (C)
\nJohan Sivertson (RW)
\nTuomas Uronen (RW)
\nMathieu Cataford (C\/RW)<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

Ben Hemmerling (RW)
\nPavel Moysevich (G)
\nMatyas Sapovaliv (C)<\/p>\n

7<\/p>\n

Mathieu Cataford (RW)
\nLucas Van Vliet (C)
\nMateo Nobert (C)<\/p>\n

8<\/p>\n

Matyas Sapovaliv (C)
\nMateo Nobert (C)
\nJakob Brabenec (LW)<\/p>\n

9<\/p>\n

Sean Burick (RHD)
\nMatyas Sapovaliv (C)
\nLucas Van Vliet (F)<\/p>\n

10<\/p>\n

Mateo Nobert (C)
\nBen Hemmerling (RW)
\nPavel Moysevich (G)<\/p>\n

Read more on the top Vegas Golden Knights prospects<\/a> heading into the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n

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