How New Golden Knights Additions Improve Roster & Outlook

The Vegas Golden Knights have been busy over the past few weeks, addressing roster needs left and right. 

After an abrupt end to their season at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers, it was evident that, as constructed, the Golden Knights simply weren’t good enough to contend for the Stanley Cup. It was a humiliating loss, and, according to Elliotte Friedman, everyone in the organization knew it. Everyone was mad, and it showed during exit interviews.

However, the Golden Knights have never shied away from making the necessary changes to win. They needed to revamp their roster, and this offseason, they’ve done just that.

The 102-point perennial Selke candidate is, of course, the most prominent addition. But he wasn’t the only one. 

Mitch Marner. Colton Sissons. Jérémy Lauzon. Every player has a purpose, brought in to fill a specific hole. An already good Golden Knights team improved with each addition; now, they’re downright formidable.

Here’s how every new player will improve not just the roster, but also the outlook for the 2025-26 season.

Colton Sissons

When the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023, they were the biggest and baddest team in the league. Their six defensemen towered over the competition, doling out punishment to all who dared step into the crease. 

But that was then. 

Last season, the Edmonton Oilers gave the Golden Knights a taste of their own medicine. The Golden Knights outshot the Oilers 197-170, but make no mistake– they were the second-toughest team on the ice. And after the Florida Panthers dominated the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals, one thing is clear: the Golden Knights need to return to their roots to once again win the West.

Sending Nic Hague to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Jérémy Lauzon and Colton Sissons was a start.

Sissons, a 6’1” bottom-six right-shot center, was brought in to be Nic Roy’s replacement. He’s an excellent defensive forward, throws hits, blocks shots, and is very dependable in the face-off dot. Sissons will be a staple on the penalty kill; last season, he averaged 2:06 shorthanded TOI to Roy’s 0:47. 

Sissons, along with William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Mitch Marner, and Brett Howden, give the Golden Knights more penalty-killing options. This allows them to reduce Mark Stone and Jack Eichel’s shorthanded minutes. The Golden Knights hope this will be a long season, and reducing the regular-season wear and tear on their star players’ bodies bodes well in the long run.

Now, adding Sissons doesn’t improve every area of need– admittedly, Nic Roy has more offensive upside. However, Sissons fills the defensive void and does so in a mature manner. Last year, Roy racked up 43 penalty minutes during the regular season. In turn, Sissons finished the year with 22 penalty minutes in just one fewer game.

Jérémy Lauzon

Of course, adding one player doesn’t immediately improve team toughness. Adding two, however, is a massive step in the right direction. And by adding Jérémy Lauzon, the Golden Knights showed that they mean business.

Lauzon, 28, is a fierce competitor who plays with some serious snarl. And after losing Alex Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights need all the snarl they can get.

If the Golden Knights wanted to get meaner, Lauzon was the perfect add. Standing at 6’3”, he’s one tough customer. Although he isn’t the greatest fighter, he’s quick to drop the gloves to stick up for a teammate. 

In addition to his brawling tendencies, Lauzon hits everything that moves. In 2023-24, he set the record for hits in a single season with 383; Kiefer Sherwood has since dethroned him with 462. Lauzon recorded 127 hits in just 28 games last season– had he played a full 82 games, he easily would’ve led the Predators in hits.

Lauzon will fill the Nic Hague-shaped hole in the third defensive pairing. With just 14 goals and 45 points in 316 career NHL games, he won’t wow you offensively. However, he’s a responsible, stay-at-home defenseman with great defensive metrics in a sheltered role. 

The Golden Knights won’t get much offense out of Lauzon– or Colton Sissons, for that matter– but that’s not an issue. In his press conference, general manager Kelly McCrimmon called them both “guys you can win with.” Every team needs players like that, and the Golden Knights are no exception.

Mitch Marner

Mitch Marner isn’t the toughest player, and he certainly won’t lead the Golden Knights in hits next season. But that’s not why the Golden Knights pursued him so aggressively. No– Marner was brought in to increase top-six scoring and dazzle the fans with his offensive brilliance.

With Marner, it’s not all offense– he’s like a younger clone of Mark Stone. Last season, he led all forwards with 56 takeaways– seven more than the closest player and in one fewer game. His speed and high hockey IQ allow him to draw penalties like a madman, and his power play prowess makes teams pay.

Marner is a wizard with the puck at even strength and on the man advantage. He’s even a threat to score a man down and has 10 career shorthanded goals and 18 points. With his 27 power play assists, Marner will join an already lethal PP1. However, it’s hard to say who he will replace– last season, the Golden Knights had the second-best power play in the league. 

Marner is a very cerebral player, allowing him to read off and play with almost anyone. His work along the walls is second to none. Marner possesses an elite ability to win battles and funnel the puck to dangerous areas of the ice. He’s one of the best playmakers in the game and was fourth among all forwards in primary assists last season with 47. 

The Golden Knights needed to improve their offense on the wing, and Marner does just that. He’ll play in the top-six and on both special teams units. At 28, he’s young enough to log heavy minutes, and his two-way game means that he’ll handle the tough matchups.

FOR MORE GOLDEN KNIGHTS NEWS AND UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE, VISIT VEGAS HOCKEY NOW AND LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

FOLLOW US ON 𝕏:

@VegasHockeyNow
@h_kirk6