Shea Theodore’s 2025-26 season for the Vegas Golden Knights told a very different story from the one he put together the year before.
In 2024-25, Theodore finished with seven goals and 50 assists. Last season, he scored more often, reaching 10 goals, but his playmaking took a noticeable hit as his assist total fell to 29.
He also had 14 primary assists after posting twice that many in 2024-25, though his secondary assists stayed steady at 15. Even so, he came through with the Game 3 winner.
The broader numbers show a player whose value shifted rather than simply fading. Theodore’s offensive point shares dropped from 4.5 in 2024-25 to 2.8 in 2025-26, the first time in his Golden Knights career that figure dipped below three since 2017-18, when he had 2.1.
At the same time, his defensive point shares climbed from 4.4 to 5.5, the highest mark of his career. That lines up with a season in which he looked more impactfully defensive than ever.
Theodore also blocked 87 shots, five more than the previous year, and he got through 70 games for the Golden Knights. That mattered, because the 31-year-old has dealt with wrist injuries and other upper-body issues in the past. Just being on the ice more consistently helped his defensive game settle in.
There’s reason to expect a modest offensive rebound in 2026-27. Theodore is coming off the first season in which he finished with fewer than 30 assists for Vegas since 2018-19, when he had 25. But he also delivered a career-high season in primary assists in 2024-25, so the drop was always likely to look steep.
For next season, a reasonable projection is nine goals and 35 assists, including 18 primary assists. The expectation is that Theodore keeps the defensive momentum from last season while nudging his offense back up.
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The move gives San Jose another experienced option for a position that can change quickly over the course of a season, especially with a roster built to sort out depth as much as upside. Samsonov brings a six-year professional track record that has included stretches in the KHL and in the NHL, but the real intrigue for Vegas fans is less about the contract itself and more about how a former Knight fits into one of the clubs divisional rivals. [Read more 🡒]
Rasmus Andersson Faces One Big Pressure Point In Vegas
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Kelly McCrimmons belief in him helps explain why the Golden Knights were willing to commit for the long haul. The general manager values Anderssons puck-moving ability, which fits neatly with the clubs offensive approach and gives Vegas a specific reason to bet on a player who now has to live up to a very visible investment. The pressure point is obvious, and it comes with the territory when a new arrival is handed that kind of responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Fans Will Notice A Big Change Outside T-Mobile Arena
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The timing gives the change immediate visibility, with the partnership launching during the Garcia vs. Benn boxing event week. The plaza is expected to be part of the action around that event, while also serving as a showcase for UFC programming and the kind of pregame atmosphere Golden Knights fans are already used to seeing before big nights in Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]