The Golden Knights are back on the ice Thursday, and training camp opens with a full slate at City National Arena. The first session is set for 9 AM, followed by workouts at 11:30 AM and 2 PM, with 66 players competing for spots.
The first two days of camp will follow that same three-session schedule, giving fans a chance to see the roster take shape early. The obvious headliners are in place already: Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and the newly extended Mark Stone are all expected to be safe bets to make the roster by the end of September.
What makes this camp more interesting is the cluster of names that could shake out in unexpected ways. PuckPedia’s projected lineup card included Trevor Connelly in the 12-forward group, with the former first-round pick slotted as the third-line left winger alongside Stone and Tomas Hertl.
That placement might raise eyebrows, but there’s a case for it. Alexander Holtz has not delivered on the promise attached to him, and Connelly comes in after a strong AHL season, putting up 14 goals and 35 assists while helping the Henderson Silver Knights reach the Calder Cup playoffs.
Victor Olofsson is another name worth watching as camp begins. PuckPedia had the Swedish winger on the fourth line, and while that might seem like a surprise, his 2024-25 season in Vegas showed why he still matters.
He scored 15 goals and added 14 assists, with six of those goals coming on the power play. With his return coming at a low price, the Golden Knights have a useful shooter available for the lower lines.
And after a long stretch of Las Vegas heat, there’s also the simple fact that hockey is back. Camp gives fans something better to focus on than the usual grind, and Thursday offers the first real look at what this team may become.
In Other News...
Mark Stone Just Made His Commitment To Vegas Crystal Clear
Mark Stones latest move left little doubt about where he wants to finish this chapter of his career. The Golden Knights captain signed a two-year contract extension worth a $9 million average annual value, and the deal includes a full no-move clause, a clear sign of how firmly he is tied to Vegas as he continues as one of the franchises most important players.
Stone has been a central figure in the Golden Knights rise over eight seasons, and his value has gone well beyond the scoresheet. In a recent interview, he talked about his commitment to the team and to the Las Vegas community, reinforcing the sense that his focus remains on building with the organization rather than looking elsewhere. For a club that still leans on its leaders, that kind of certainty matters. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Are Betting On A Late Bloomer On Defense
Parker Wotherspoon arrives in Vegas coming off the most productive NHL season of his career, a stretch that put him firmly on the Golden Knights radar after 80 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. For a player who has had to climb steadily to carve out a regular role, the move represents another step in a late-blooming path that has been shaped by patience, opportunity and the chance to keep learning from veteran defensemen along the way.
Wotherspoon spoke about how his game has progressed, including the influence of teammate Erik Karlsson, and he said the welcome from his new teammates in Vegas has already been a positive one. He also sounded genuinely excited about the off-ice change, noting his enthusiasm about living in Las Vegas as he settles into a new chapter with a team that is betting his best hockey may still be ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Enter Camp With Two Huge Questions To Solve
After another run that ended with the Golden Knights coming up just short of the Stanley Cup, camp is set to open with a familiar mix of confidence and unfinished business. Vegas has spent the offseason preparing for the 2026-27 push, but the roster now has a different look after Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the New York Rangers, leaving a clear hole in the scoring and power-play production the Knights leaned on last season.
The other major decision sits in net, where the club has to sort out whether Carter Hart or Adin Hill will emerge as the starter. For a team that expects to contend again, those are not small questions to answer in September, especially with the standard in Vegas still set by a group that reached the final stage of the spring and wants to get back there. [Read more 🡒]