As the calendar is set to flip to August tomorrow, September is just one more month away, meaning NHL training camps aren’t too far away.
At this point in the off-season, the remaining UFAs on the free agent market are facing the prospect of having to settle for PTO or pro tryout contracts to find their next homes to continue their NHL careers. While some of the free agents left on the market may find a guaranteed contract in the coming weeks, the reality for most is that with most NHL teams either having their rosters pretty much set or not having much cap space, they will have to settle for a PTO in hopes of earning a contract as training camps wind down at the start of the season.
The Golden Knights are very limited in terms of maximum space; projected to only have about $1.3 million available after goaltender Robin Lehner reaches LTIR. In case GM Kelly McCrimmon wants to grow his roster even further, here are three veterans who could agree to come to Las Vegas on a cheap PTO if better opportunities don’t arise between now and the opening of training camp in September.
James van Riemsdyk- The 35-year-old isn’t what he used to be, but last year with the Boston Bruins he showed he can still be a productive mid-range winger. In 71 games last season with the Bruins, JVR scored 11 goals and 38 points. JVR could still be a useful option for the Golden Knights on the 2nd PP unit and play on the 3rd line. While the Knights will likely give young forward Brendan Brisson a larger role and the recently acquired Alexander Holtz, if the Knights want a more veteran presence in a 3rd or even 4th line role, JVR could be a good fit.
Marco Scandella- The Knights lost a lot of offensive linemen this off-season in the form of. Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Michael Amadio, Anthony Mantha and William Carrier, but they also lost a key defender in Alec Martinez. After playing the last 5 seasons in Sin City, Martinez signed with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Knights have not added an NHL defenseman to their roster this off-season and appear to be at a disadvantage with currently 7 on their roster at the moment. However, if the Knights want to bring in another veteran on defense, Scandella could be a solid addition. Scandella is a big 6’3′ defenseman who brings toughness to his game and a willingness to put his body in the path of pucks. The addition of Scandella would create competition for the 6/7 role at the back.
Dominik Kubalik- After being part of the trade last summer that sent Alex DeBrincat to the Detroit Red Wings, Kubalik finds himself on the free agent market after just one season in Ottawa. In 74 games last season, Kubalik totaled just 11 goals, the lowest total in his 5-year career. Kubalik has a previous track record as a proven scorer, which could make him attractive to a team like Vegas that is looking for more goals. In his rookie year, during the 19-20 season, Kubalik scored 30 goals. Kubalik is also just one season removed from scoring 20 goals for the Red Wings in 22-23, his final season in Detroit before the trade to Ottawa. There were some reports earlier in the off-season that Kubalik might return to Ambri-Protta in the Swiss-A league, where he played before reaching the NHL, but nothing has come to fruition yet. If he stays in the NHL, he could provide some secondary scoring for the Golden Knights.
