The Golden Knights don’t need to go shopping like a team with holes everywhere. They’re coming off a run to the Stanley Cup Final, and with most of the core already in place, the smarter play may be finding the right short-term fits instead of chasing the loudest names on the board.
That’s the lane general manager Kelly McCrimmon is expected to work in when free agency opens on July 1. According to PuckPedia, Vegas has roughly $7.3 million in projected cap space, which makes the top tier of the market a tough reach. The better path is obvious: veterans, value contracts and players who can slot into specific roles without boxing the club in for the future.
One name that could make sense is Anthony Mantha. The reunion angle is there, even if his first stint in Vegas barely got off the ground.
He played just 18 games before signing with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2024. Mantha still brings the kind of blend teams chase in July: size, finishing touch and enough offensive feel to help on either wing.
He also brings power-play utility and multiple 20-goal seasons on his resume. After a huge year with the Pittsburgh Penguins - 33 goals and 31 assists in 81 games - he may want more than a bargain deal.
But if he lands in the one- or two-year range at around $2 million to $3 million per season, he fits the math.
Michael Bunting is another fit if Vegas wants more bite in the middle of the lineup. He’s the type of player opponents hate to face, and that’s part of the appeal.
Bunting works the dirty areas, draws penalties and can keep pace with skilled teammates while still bringing a physical edge. If the Golden Knights are trying to replace some of the offense lost after trading Pavel Dorofeyev, Bunting would give them a dependable middle-six scorer who makes life harder on defensemen.
His price could land a bit higher, but if it settles between $3 million and $4 million, Vegas could justify it.
There’s also Vladimir Tarasenko, a more straightforward scoring gamble. He isn’t the 30-goal machine he once was, but his shot still plays, especially on the power play.
Add in the fact that he has won Cups with both the St. Louis Blues and the Florida Panthers, and you have a veteran built for a contender.
Vegas wouldn’t need him to carry a line. The better setup would be sheltered offensive minutes where his instincts can still do damage.
If the contract is short and incentive-friendly, that’s the kind of low-risk swing contenders tend to like.
On the blue line, Carson Soucy deserves a look. Most of the discussion around Vegas naturally centers on forwards, but depth on defense has real value, especially for a team that has seen injuries test its depth before.
Soucy checks a lot of boxes the Golden Knights have traditionally liked: he’s 6-foot-5, uses his size, kills penalties and has played meaningful minutes on playoff teams. He wouldn’t bring headlines, but he could bring stability.
If his deal comes in around $2 million to $3 million annually, he looks like a practical add who doesn’t eat much cap space.
Anders Lee might be the toughest to land, but he could be the cleanest stylistic match. He has spent his career as one of the league’s best net-front forwards, and that skill set fits right into the way Vegas likes to operate.
Lee brings leadership, physicality and a knack for scoring around the crease. Even with age becoming a factor, he still profiles as a useful two-way winger in a middle-six role.
He wouldn’t be expected to drive the offense, but he could help create it in the exact areas that matter most in the postseason.
McCrimmon has never been shy about making a splash, but this summer may call for restraint. The Golden Knights are in a position where they can strengthen the roster without tearing into the future. Whether that means another scorer, a steadier defenseman or just one more seasoned veteran, there are workable options if Vegas wants to stay sharp without getting reckless.
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