The Golden Knights are heading into the 2026-27 season with expectations that come straight from the sting of a Stanley Cup Final loss. Falling two games short after a run few saw coming leaves a sharp edge on everything that follows, and that means the pressure is already building on a few key names.
Not every player is feeling that heat the same way. Rasmus Andersson would be the easy choice, but the bigger question is which other Knights need to answer the bell when the next season arrives. Three stand out: Tomas Hertl, Noah Hanifin, and Jack Eichel.
Hertl’s case starts with what he does on the power play. He scored 13 goals on the unit last season, which gives him a clear lane to help this team.
But the concern is what happens when the games tighten up in the postseason. In three playoff appearances with the Golden Knights, the Czech Olympian has only two power play goals, and that’s not the kind of return that quiets doubts.
The question hanging over him is simple: can he produce when the lights are brightest, or does his role eventually change?
Hanifin is in a different spot, but the pressure is still real. He’s not expected to be moved anytime soon, yet that won’t stop fans from wanting more.
The Olympic gold medalist scored only three goals in 71 games and didn’t score in the 2026 postseason. That’s a tough line for a defenseman to carry, especially after he put up 10 goals in 2024-25.
If he gets back near that number in 2026-27, it would give Vegas a much stronger threat from the blue line.
Then there’s Eichel, the name that may surprise some people. Adin Hill could have fit here, but the standard for Eichel remains high even after a rough 2025-26 season around the team.
He went quiet as a goal-scorer during the 2026 Stanley Cup Final run, and that silence mattered. If Vegas is going to chase Stanley Cup No. 2 for Bill Foley, Eichel has to finish more chances.
Without that scoring punch, the Knights are going to have a hard time getting back to the top.
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