3 Victor Olofsson replacements the Golden Knights need to keep scoring options open

Let's play out a hypothetical scenario, dear reader. Let's say that Victor Olofsson goes somewhere else in free agency. Perhaps he's chosen to begin his acting career in Hollywood in a film about post-apocalyptic Buffalo. Maybe he takes his talents to South Beach and plays shuffleboard with the locals.

Sounds disastrous, right? The Swedish forward scored 15 goals and 14 assists with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. Six of those goals came on the power play, turning the unit into an absolute powerhouse (28.3%, second-best in the NHL).

Now, Kelly McCrimmon and company are looking for a replacement. They need someone to come in and take the reins. You need a player with a hard shot who can snipe. That shouldn't be too hard, right?

Well, here's the thing. It's tough nailing the "diamond in the rough" signing that every general manager wants in sports. Getting quick production to fill a hole is often strenuous and tricky. The cheap players usually are as good as Ilya Bryzgalov at his current age.

Luckily, these three names can provide the same bargain bin boost that McCrimmon wants. If he has to pay a bit more? So be it!

They don't have to compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off, mind you. They must be serviceable like Olofsson or Tanner Pearson (12 goals and 15 assists this season). Let's dive in!

1.) Trent Frederic

Not long ago, Trent Frederic was a key component of the Boston Bruins. He was a solid lower-line scoring forward, scoring 18 goals and 22 assists in 2023-24. The year before? 17 goals and 14 assists.

But there was a slight problem. He hasn't grasped that offensive mindset for good. Sometimes, he'll get too fancy with the puck and turn it over.

Still, Vegas could offer the 27-year-old the chance to regain his scoring touch like Olofsson did this season, adding some solid checking in the process. Frederic does have 672 hits in seven seasons to his name, making him a nice lower-line pickup.

2.) Ryan Donato

Remember when Ryan Donato scored a hat trick against the Vegas Golden Knights on March 28? The Golden Knights nearly had their pants pulled down by the Chicago Blackhawks forward, who had a career game.

Well, what if I told you that the 29-year-old could fill in for Victor Olofsson? Better yet, what if I told you that he scored 31 goals and 31 assists this season, with five goals and nine assists on the power play?

Want the kicker? 2024-25 was his breakout season (stats courtesy of MoneyPuck).

The good thing about Donato is that he doesn't just play center. He's also viable on both wings, meaning you can slot him alongside Tomas Hertl or William Karlsson. He'd be an ideal replacement on a lower budget than Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser, should Kelly McCrimmon strike out on a big name.

3.) Luke Kunin

One thing that stands out about Luke Kunin is his work ethic. The former first-round pick is a bulldog on every shift, battling for every puck imaginable. It's the type of mentality Bruce Cassidy awards, especially if he's a physical player (887 hits in eight seasons).

It's not just the grit that's awesome, though. He's also a low-key solid scorer. Kunin scored 11 goals and seven assists with the San Jose Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets this season. In fact, he's scored double-digit goals in five seasons, making him a valuable lower-line pickup.

Bonus: Alexander Nylander

The funny thing about Alexander Nylander is he's the sheer definition of a journeyman. How, you ask? Well, he's been in the NHL for seven seasons, yet he's only played 126 career games. The winger has bounced around with teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

His most recent successful campaign was in 2023-24 with the Blue Jackets, where he scored 11 goals. Nylander is also well-known for his underrated 2019-20 season with the Blackhawks, where he scored 10 goals and 15 assists (65 games).

Now, Nylander has also dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout his career, ranging from upper-body nicks to hurting his left knee. Therefore, it should surprise anybody that the 27-year-old has only played 126 career games. However, he's a good bargain bin pickup that can be had for less than $1 million. In fact, you could say he could be the ultimate dumpster dive.