Golden Knights will have to undergo roster surgery this summer 

After winning a Stanley Cup championship in just their sixth NHL season, the Vegas Golden Knights fell back to Earth on Sunday, losing 2-1 to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their first-round series.

The Golden Knights won the first two games of the series and looked like they could make another run to the Stanley Cup Final, but a hard-fought effort from a loaded Stars team made this a seven-game series, and Dallas pulled off the win in the deciding game.

Now Vegas faces a complicated offseason, as forwards Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson becoming unrestricted free agents, as well as defenseman Alec Martinez. Not only that, but defenders Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb have only one year left on their deals, and will be eligible to sign extensions after July 1.

With the additions of Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanafin this past season, the Golden Knights are a team with plenty of difficult decision and fewer dollars to spend.

On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL defenseman Colby Cohen discuss the Golden Knights’ tough Game 7 loss, and what could be on the horizon for Vegas ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Tyler Yaremchuk: We will have a new Stanley Cup champion this season as the Golden Knights fall in seven games to the Stars. What a dog fight this series was, as every game came down to one bounce or one goal.

For Vegas, it’s a disappointing end and it’s going to be a summer of change. I don’t think they can keep Marchessault, so they’ll have to do a little roster surgery.

Colby Cohen: I don’t understand how they’re going to fit him in. Why would you give the Golden Knights a discount? You’ve earned another payday! You were a Conn Smythe Trophy-winner and a 40-goal scorer. I’ll be interested to see how they handle that, considering he’s not an old player, but he’s now in his 30s, so he’s no spring chicken.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…