Kelly McCrimmon has three paths to choose from this summer

Last summer was a tumultuous period for Kelly McCrimmon. He tried re-signing Jonathan Marchessault to the Vegas Golden Knights, only to watch him leave town over the term of a deal. That wasn't the only problem with the team, though.

Key players like Alec Martinez and Chandler Stephenson also left town. That left a massive void in Sin City, where the Golden Knights were pressed to find key replacements. That meant... Digging into the dumpster.

Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing. McCrimmon took a one-year, $1.075 million flyer on Victor Olofsson and watched him score 15 goals and 14 assists. The Swedish forward was surprisingly solid on the power play, scoring six goals on the man advantage.

That's not all, though. Brandon Saad came in off waivers and scored six goals and eight assists. Not only that, but he was a solid forechecker who had some speed to boot. Moves like this led the Golden Knights to another Pacific Division title and 110 points.

But this summer? The burning questions are back again. This time, they're slightly more underhanded and surprising.

Sure, you locked up key players like Shea Theodore (seven years, $51.975 million) to long-term deals. But you need something a little extra to the mix. That something must work well with Jack Eichel and add more to the top line. There's also the age factor that comes into play. Ladies and gentlemen, Kelly McCrimmon has three paths he can choose.

1.) A complete Vegas Golden Knights rebuild

Now this is something that's never been done in franchise history. Given that you've made seven Stanley Cup playoff appearances in eight seasons, there's never been an actual need to do so.

However, the Golden Knights are tied for the fifth-oldest roster in the NHL, according to Left Wing Lock (29.8). Players like Mark Stone (33) and Alex Pietrangelo (35) aren't getting younger and are nearing the tail end of their deals.

Considering the Golden Knights also have 19 picks in the next three drafts, it might be high time to get moving on the rebuild. You're facing stiff competition from your rivals up north (who are the second-oldest team at an average age of 30.7) and have upcoming teams like the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Therefore, starting fresh might not sound so bad.

2.) Retool and reload

However, that doesn't sound as simple as initially thought. Who's paying Mark Stone's $9.5 million AAV salary until 2028? You also have a 31-year-old Tomas Hertl sticking around until 2030 and he's due $6.75 million each season.

These are prime examples of players who have burdensome contracts looming around. Yes, the salary cap increase should ease these concerns. However, you still need to worry about paying key players like Nicolas Hague and Jack Eichel.

On paper, the current Stanley Cup window has another year or two left. Therefore, it's not out of the realm of possibility that we'll see a repeat of last summer. That means one-year deals while trading the younger players. Think of Hague and Zach Whitecloud in this scenario.

3.) Go all-in, Kelly McCrimmon

Yep, you read that right. The Mitch Marner rumors are returning and in full force. After all, Eichel needs some solid linemates to run alongside him.

Maybe getting a player like Marner (27 goals and 102 points) bolsters the Golden Knights to new levels. Now, you have a top line that can compete with teams like the Oilers and Stars.

You might have to sacrifice some players, i.e. William Karlsson or Ivan Barbashev. But a drastic move or two might be in McCrimmon's plans for the summer. Stanley Cup expectations are at an all-time high in Las Vegas, you know.

What will McCrimmon choose? You never know with the general manager and what he's thinking. But chances are he'll find more prove-it deals for fringe players. He needs to pay Eichel first and find swift wingers. Then again, who knows what he's thinking?