2025–26 Edmonton Oilers’ Pacific rivals preview: Vegas Golden Knights

Last season, the Oilers were finally able to exact some revenge on the Vegas Golden Knights, dispatching them in the second round of the playoffs. In true Knights fashion, the team has answered emphatically, reloading with high-end talent in Mitch Marner. At the same time, stalwart defencemen Alex Pietrangelo appears to be out for the entire season. Are the Knights better for the high-end shuffling? Let’s take a look in our Vegas Golden Knights preview.

Forwards

Barbashev–Eichel–Marner
Smith–Karlsson–Stone
Saad–Hertl–Dorofeyev
Howden–Sissons–Kolesar

The strength of this team is undoubtedly their forward group, which should be considered among the best the league has to offer. This strength is particularly obvious down the middle, where Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, and William Karlsson make for an incredible top trio of centres.

The next strength comes from two of the best wingers in the league, Mark Stone and Mitch Marner. Both are elite players on either side of the puck, and Marner’s offence should help unlock some of his teammates.

Throw in some solid options on the wings, and the group becomes all the more dangerous. Pavel Dorofeyev broke out last season and should be able to replicate if he shares a line with Marner. Ivan Barbashev plays a rugged game that should open some room for his linemates.

The Knights’ depth continues with a plethora of solid options beyond this. Colton Sissons joins as a defensive centre, while Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Brett Howden, and Keegan Kolesar return to bring a lot of dimension to the lineup. There is not necessarily much youth pushing for spots in the lineup, and the veteran-laden group is set up to thrive in the moment.

Defence

McNabb–Theodore
Hanafin–Whitecloud
Lauzon–Korczak

As mentioned, the upgrade of adding Marner is offset by the loss of Pietrangelo. The Knights will be hard-pressed to find another player as strong as Pietrangelo, but there is still a lot to work with.

Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin lead the way as mobile puck movers who can handle top minutes. Both are left shots, making Pietrangelo’s absence even more inconvenient. Brayden McNabb on the left and Zach Whitecloud on the right provide some defensive stability.

A real X-Factor is the recently extended right-shot Kaedan Korczak. While he has slowly been eased into a regular NHL role, stepping in as the only right shot besides Whitecloud is a big ask. Replacing Pietrangelo might be an even steeper concept. Still, Korczak is ready for more, and the Knights will need him to thrive as a regular.

Jeremy Lauzon is a mean left shot blueliner. Also on the left, Ben Hutton has been an effective partner for Pietrangelo in the past. This should provide some depth to fill out the blueline on a game-by-game basis. Beyond them, Jaycob Megna and Dylan Coghlan are options, and Lukas Cormier could push.

Goalies

Hill
Schmid

Although he has a Stanley Cup and a Four Nations Face-off victory, Adin Hill is a tandem option. Some might argue that Stuart Skinner has a better resume, and as such, there should be some competition between them in their efforts to earn a spot on Canada’s Olympic team. The Knights have been an example of how a team can win with unspectacular but solid goaltending.

Akira Schmid has shown promise, albeit a few years ago now. Still, there is time for Schmid to come into his own, and with a step forward, he might be able to challenge Hill for starts. It should be a reliable duo for the Knights, though perhaps a swing on upside is in their future. With virtually no cap space to work with, the Knights will have to be creative if they are looking for an upgrade.

Path to success

The Knights are a powerhouse team in transition. The shift from Pietrangelo to Marner is significant, though opinions may differ on whether the team is better overall or not. While there might be some questions left to answer, perhaps some in-season upgrades to the blueline or goaltending, the Knights are a safe bet to make the playoffs and be a threatening team in the postseason.

Like the Oilers, the Knights are a clear-cut above the rest of the Pacific Division. A second-round matchup between the two powerhouses is almost inevitable, and the Knights will be eager to avenge themselves from last season.