Positive Expectations For VGK’s Revamped Defensive Depth

This summer TSN has been deep-diving into each NHL roster. While we’ve expressed apprehension about the Golden Knights’ defense without Nic Hague and Alex Pietrangelo, TSN has confidence in VGK’s bottom blueliners.

With Alex Pietrangelo on long term reserve and unlikely to play this season, the workload will be increasing for the rest of the Golden Knights and I’m curious to see if depth defenceman Kardan Korczak is a player Bruce Cassidy leans on more. –Travis Yost on TSN.ca

TSN considers the Golden Knights’ defensive depth as second-tier. Beginning with Vegas, TSN’s Tier 2 consists of Buffalo, Florida, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington and Winnipeg. All teams with postseason aspirations, some with deep playoff plans.

Vegas’ defense is blessed with two high-quality pairings. Veterans Noah Hanifin, Brayden McNabb, and Shea Theodore will firm up three of the top four defensive positions. That leaves Dylan Coghlan, Ben Hutton, Korczak, Jeremy Lauzon, Jacob Megna, and Zach Whitecloud to form the most effective bottom pair. Out of that group, coach Bruce Cassidy will need to find a combination he can trust on a nightly basis.

In a limited role, Korczak’s produced some impressive splits – in fact, no defender in the league over the last two years has conceded fewer goals per 60 than Korczak (1.4 per 60). –Yost on TSN.ca

TSN’s classes of defensive depth rank three Western Conference teams in their top tier. Unsurprisingly, Colorado, Dallas, and Edmonton are the clubs flashing the best hands. The Avalanche and Stars’ top four are so talented that they naturally make it easier on the bottom pair. In Edmonton, fewer minutes and less responsibility makes a veteran blueliner Jake Walman effective on the ice. That role could be Whitecloud for Vegas.

If Cassidy elevates Korczak to the second pair, the Golden Knights will have a strong veteran leader behind him. Whitecloud’s been an effective third pair D-man for Vegas since the 2020-21 season. Leaving him to sure up the depth would be ideal for Cassidy. Whitecloud remaining with the final pair likely means another defender forced himself into the lineup. This will strengthen the lineup.

We just felt Korczak was playing really consistent hockey so we put him ahead of Zach (Whitecloud) for that game. It’s not a long-term thing but sometimes it’s good for a player to know that this young guy is pushing from underneath… Korczak has brought some real value to this hockey team. For a young player in a position like right-shot D that isn’t easy to find these are good things. – Bruce Cassidy on February 12th, 2024

In 2024, Cassidy scratched Whitecloud and replaced him with Korczak. The Stanley Cup-winning coach praised the young blueliner but quickly sent him back to the AHL. Chances are, a year and a half later, Cassidy has a better read on Korczak. Natural NHL timelines suggest this is the season a young player makes his first leap.

Of course, reliable depth defensemen are necessary for contenders looking to make a deep run. However, it always comes down to the four blueliners above them. If the men with the most minutes struggle to defend and break down in their own zone, it won’t matter who Vegas’ fifth, sixth, or seventh defenders are.