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This offseason, the Vegas Golden Knights overhauled their roster as they lost key pieces such as Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Michael Amadio, and William Carrier. While the team is known for its big offseason moves to remain contenders, this offseason the front office was unable to replicate the same magic as years past.
That said, looking at potential PTO signings, the team will likely look for the best players available rather than fill one specific need. This week, we have seen a slew of veteran free agents scooped up for PTOs.
Ahead of the start of their preseason slate on Sept. 22, the Vegas Golden Knights are expected to join the PTO sweepstakes in an attempt to fill out their roster for the season ahead.
Three PTO signings the Vegas Golden Knights may consider before the start of preseason
#1: Kevin Lankinen
Vegas' netminding unit suffered a blow when Logan Thompson was traded to Washington for a pick in this summer's draft. The team still has Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov to tend to the net this season; however, adding Kevin Lankinen on a PTO could be a solid move.
He is fresh off a season where he played just 24 games but has posted a save percentage of over 90 percent in back-to-back seasons and in three of his four NHL campaigns.
#2: Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk may not be the 40+ point player he once was in the NHL during his time with the St. Louis Blues; however, he can still contribute valuable playing time on the ice. Last season, the defenceman logged 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 61 games.
In the 2021-22 season, Shattenkirk scored 35 points and played all 82 games for the Anaheim Ducks. He followed it up with 27 points in 75 games the next season. While durability is a concern with his age, some veteran leadership could make him worthy of a PTO for the Vegas Golden Knights.
#3: Blake Wheeler
Last season, Blake Wheeler wound up on the long-term injury reserve list for the New York Rangers in February. However, his performances in previous seasons made it clear that although he's no longer the 90+ point per season player he was during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns, he can still contribute valuable minutes.
During the 2022-23 season, Wheeler logged 55 points over 72 games for the Winnipeg Jets, after he ended the 2021-22 season with 60 points in 65 games. Given the Vegas Golden Knights' current roster, he could slot into the team's preseason roster on a PTO contract.
