Golden Knights cap crunch forces fan favorite players off the team

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Graham Montgomery
May 30, 2024 (8:59 PM)

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Vegas Golden Knights forward William Carrier being interviewed immediately after winning the 2023 Stanley Cup

Photo credit: NHL

The Vegas Golden Knights are in a cap crunch of epic proportions this summer after winning the Stanley Cup in 2023 and it looks like some fan favorite players may be the cap casualties.

We'll start with the depth pieces. Original misfit William Carrier appears to be on the outs according to NHL insider David Pagnotta. Carrier has played 372 of his 413 career NHL games with the Knights. He is joined by Michael Amadio, who has been with the team since 2021 and Anthony Mantha, who was added at the trade deadline this year.

Here's what we know so far: forwards Michael Amadio, William Carrier and Anthony Mantha will not be brought back. All three are aware and are planning to test the free agent market July 1. Defenceman Alec Martinez doesn't appear to have a spot on the blueline any longer; he'll be 37 in late-July and word is he's evaluating his options.

That brings us to our next original misfit in Chandler Stephenson. Stephenson has consistently been one of the better forwards on the Golden Knights and played a key role in their Stanley Cup victory last season. However, he is on an expiring contract, and given the team's cap crunch, it appears as though he will be exploring his options in free agency according to Pagnotta.

Additionally, versatile forward Chandler Stephenson will be a hot commodity this summer if he goes unsigned. As I reported in Saturday's column, Stephenson's camp and the Golden Knights are going to speak in the next week or two and go from there. If he prices himself out of Vegas, like many expect, he'll draw a ton of interest and I suspect teams like Boston, Vancouver, Toronto, Washington, Carolina, Nashville and several others will pick up the phone.

Finally, that brings us to the most significant player potentially on the move for Vegas. 2023 Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault. According to the forward himself, he has yet to get a call from the team regarding contract negotiations. Given how close we are to free agency, it would seem rather likely that he will not be re-signing with the team then.

Of course, there is still the possibility that the team could re-sign Marchessault before then, but it is seeming less and less likely every day.

Previously on HouseOfHockey

Chris Tanev spotted wearing walking boot after game five injury

David Pastrnak comments on the Bruins potentially bringing in Leon Draisaitl

Canadian franchise leading the charge to trade for Martin Necas

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30 MAI \| 471 ANSWERS Golden Knights cap crunch forces fan favorite players off the team Do you think the Vegas Golden Knights will make the playoffs next year?
Yes	281	59.7 %
No	190	40.3 %
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