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Golden Knights off-season review: Vegas hopes new coach can help get them deep

Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

By Ryley Delaney

Sep 8, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 8, 2026, 11:09 EDT

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After landing Mitch Marner before the start of the 2025-26 season, the Vegas Golden Knights went on to the Stanley Cup Finals before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Golden Knights had their usual busy off-season, improving defensively but getting weaker up front. Realistically, they’re no better than they were last season, but also no worse. Being no worse than a team that went to the Stanley Cup final doesn’t sound bad, but they had an easy pathway due to being in the Pacific Division and the Colorado Avalanche being hampered by injuries come the Western Conference final.

That begs the question: What were the Golden Knights up to this off-season?

What major acquisitions did the Golden Knights make this off-season?

The Golden Knights’ most notable acquisition this off-season wasn’t even a player; instead, it was their naming Ryan Craig as their fifth head coach in franchise history. Bruce Cassidy, the head coach who led the team to the 2023 Stanley Cup final, was fired toward the tail end of last season, replaced by John Tortorella.

Despite making their third Stanley Cup Final since their debut season in 2017-18, Tortorella never lost the interim tag and was eventually replaced by Craig. The 44-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., has been in the Golden Knights’ organization since its inception, serving as an assistant coach from 2017-18 until 2022-23, before serving as their American Hockey League affiliate Henderson Silver Knights’ head coach for three seasons.

Their most notable player acquisition is Parker Wotherspoon, as they sent Kaedan Korczak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the left-shot defenceman at 50 per cent retention. Wotherspoon is coming off a career-best season where he scored three goals and 30 points in 80 games.

Also on their back end, the Golden Knights re-signed Rasmus Andersson to a seven-year deal worth $59.5 million. Last season, the right-shot defenceman scored a career-high 17 goals and 47 points in 81 games split between the Golden Knights and the Calgary Flames after acquiring him before the trade deadline for a first and a few other pieces. They also re-signed Jérémy Lauzon to a six-year deal worth $24 million.

Other signings include Victor Olofsson, Dylan Coghlan, and Ville Heinola. Moreover, they signed first-round draft pick Juho Piiparinen to an entry-level contract. How’d they get that first? Well, we have to look at departures for the answer.

Which key players departed the Golden Knights this off-season?

On June 26, the day of the 2026 NHL draft, the Golden Knights traded then-restricted free agent Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers for a pair of first-round picks and a third-round pick. One of those first-rounders is the Rangers’ 2028, but the other one was traded down several times before the Golden Knights selected Piiparinen.

Dorofeyev is a sizable loss for the Golden Knights. The 25-year-old Russian scored a career-best 37 goals and 64 points last season, the second consecutive season where he scored 35-plus goals. He was also one of their best players in the postseason, potting 12 goals and 16 points in 22 games.

Another forward lost via trade was bottom-six forward Keegan Kolesar, as the Golden Knights traded the 29-year-old to the Detroit Red Wings for a pair of late-round picks. Last season, Kolesar scored six goals and 17 points in 82 games, well down from his 12 goals and 30 points in 2024-25.

Backup netminder Akira Schmid was also traded, sent to the Florida Panthers for a 2028 third-rounder. Colton Sissons signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth $4.25 million annually, while Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad are still unrestricted free agents.

With the Pacific Division as weak as it is, the Golden Knights have as good a shot as anyone to once again finish first in the division and clinch home ice through at least the first two rounds.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFOEdmonton, DFOCalgary, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

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