The Vegas Golden Knights have already run into a problem on the back end, and it’s centered on one pairing that hasn’t come close to stabilizing things.
Rasmus Andersson and Parker Wotherspoon were put together to open the season, but the early returns have been rough. Through the first two games, the duo has looked like a drag on the lineup, and Friday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks only added to the concern. As Danny Webster noted, “The Wotherspoon-Andersson pairing is minus-4 through 100 minutes of hockey.”
That number alone doesn’t tell the whole story, but the underlying data backs up the eye test. According to MoneyPuck, the pair has been decent enough offensively, posting 2.2 expected goals for, which is tied for second-best on the Golden Knights among defense pairings with at least 10 minutes together. The real issue has been the other end of the ice.
Wotherspoon and Andersson have combined for 1.5 expected goals against, the second-highest mark on the team. Their expected goals percentage sits at 59.5, which is not the kind of balance Vegas wants from a duo that’s been asked to handle real minutes.
The comparison with Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb makes the problem clearer. That pairing also has a high expected goals against number at 1.7, but they offset it by driving more offense, leading the Golden Knights with 2.8 expected goals for. They’ve also logged more time together, with 43.7 minutes compared to 41.8 for Andersson and Wotherspoon, which gives them more of a runway.
With Andersson and Wotherspoon, the concerns go beyond the team stats. Andersson has had trouble in front of his goaltender, while Wotherspoon has posted -0.2 point shares to start the season. The source also notes that his defensive point shares are at -0.2.
That’s why some Golden Knights fans are already pushing for a major change after just two games. The instinct is understandable, but the roster math complicates it.
Wotherspoon shoots left, and so do Jeremy Lauzon and Noah Hanifin. Moving pieces around is not as simple as swapping one defender for another, especially when left-handed options already make the blue line feel crowded.
There is also precedent for patience. Theodore and McNabb are both left-handed too, and they’ve been one of the best pairs in the league.
That’s why Vegas may want to give this more time before making a full-scale shuffle on defense. If the pairing still isn’t working after a few more games, then the Golden Knights may have no choice but to break things up.
In Other News...
Victor Olofsson Gives Golden Knights Fans A New Reason To Worry
Victor Olofsson keeps showing why the Golden Knights brought him back, and why his start has already become one of the more intriguing early developments around the team. In Thursdays 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken, he scored twice and now leads Vegas in goals through four games, a sharp opening for a player trying to settle back into a familiar setting after last seasons stops in Colorado and Calgary.
For a team that has leaned on depth and balance in the past, Olofssons quick finish has at least hinted at another layer to the offense. His early production has also revived the bigger conversation around whether this is a short burst or the beginning of a much more meaningful role, which is exactly the kind of question that can linger when a scorer gets hot this fast. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Big Win Came With A New Injury Concern
The Golden Knights left Seattle with another convincing road win, rolling past the Kraken 6-2 at Climate Pledge Arena and staying unbeaten in regulation at the building. Mark Stone helped power the night with the NHLs first Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the 2026-27 season, piling up two goals, an assist and a fight in a game that had plenty of edge for Vegas.
The mood shifted late when Kraken forward Ben Meyers boarded Victor Olofsson, leaving the Golden Knights with a fresh injury concern to monitor after an otherwise strong showing. Meyers was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct, and while Vegas kept control on the scoreboard, the bigger question coming out of the trip now centers on Olofssons status. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Suddenly Face A Blue Line Concern After Physical Loss
Ryan Lindgrens night ended early after a hit from behind forced the Seattle defenseman out with an upper-body injury, adding another layer of concern to a Kraken group already trying to absorb the physical toll of a hard game. The sequence also left Vegas with its own injury issue, as forward Victor Olofsson was hurt after being boarded by a Seattle player, turning a chippy matchup into one with potential ripple effects for both clubs.
For a Golden Knights team that knows how quickly a lineup can be tested over the course of a road swing, the aftermath matters almost as much as the result. Seattle now has to sort through a blue line situation that was already under pressure, while the broader injury picture across the teams involved could shape how both sides approach their next games. [Read more 🡒]