Vegas Golden Knights’ Bubble Boys

Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon finalized the Golden Knights roster for the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The “bubble boys”, as named via the VGK Twitter account, have left for Edmonton, Alberta on July 26. Fans will get the chance to send off the team in their vehicles at the Las Vegas Ballpark. This has been a tradition since the team’s first playoff appearance in 2018 where they also made a historic run to the Stanley Cup Final during their inaugural season.

Here are the “bubble boys” that are going to play in the qualifiers and playoffs. Roster is subject to change.

Bubble Boys

Forwards

Patrick Brown: C/RW

William Carrier: LW

Nick Cousins: C

Reid Duke: C

William Karlsson: C

Keegan Kolesar: RW

Peyton Krebs: C/LW

Jonathon Marchessault: C/LW

Tomas Nosek: LW

Gage Quinney: C

Max Pacioretty: LW

Ryan Reaves: RW

Nicolas Roy: C

Reilly Smith: RW

Paul Stastny: C

Chandler Stephenson: C

Mark Stone: RW

Alex Tuch: RW

Defenseman

Dylan Coghlan

Deryk Engelland

Nicolas Hague

Nick Holden

Alec Martinez

Brayden McNabb

Jon Merrill

Nate Schmidt

Shea Theodore

Zach Whitecloud

Goaltenders

Oscar Dansk

Marc-Andre Fleury

Robin Lehner

The Golden Knights have one exhibition game before the round-robin games against the Arizona Coyotes on July 30. The Coyotes are the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference and will play in a best-of-five series against the No. 8 seed Winnipeg Jets.

In the meantime, let’s predict and break down the potential lines the Golden Knights will use throughout the qualifying round and playoffs.

Line 1

Smith-Stastny-Marchessault

Vegas Golden Knights left winger Reilly Smith set a career high in goals with 27 and needs to keep scoring during the round-robin games and Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the Golden Knights get back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Image courtesy: John Locher

• One of three scoring lines
• Not the biggest of the four lines but they can be slick
• Use size to their advantage on both ends of the ice
• Smith can make plays without the puck and score
  • Scored a career high 27 goals this season
• Stastny is a playmaker any team would want
• Marchessault may be small but can find his spots on the ice to get the best possible scoring chance

Line 2

Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty leads the team with 32 goals and looks to continue to score more goals during the round-robin games and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Image courtesy: Stephen R. Sylvaine

Pacioretty-Karlsson-Stone

• Most dynamic line out of the four
• Most skilled and experienced
• Two of three scoring lines
• Pacioretty is the first player to not let score on this line
  • Leads the team with 32 goals and 66 points this season
• Karlsson hasn’t had the season he had during the Golden Knights inaugural season and needs to show out during the round-robin and playoff games
• Stone can play the center if he wanted too
  • Leads the team with 42 assists this season

Line 3

Stephenson-Cousins-Tuch

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch is coming off from an injury and needs to prove that he’s still a threat on the ice during the round-robin games and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Image courtesy: John Locher

• Cousins and Stephenson both joined the team during the season but have made immediate impacts in their respective debut games
• Tuch is coming off an injury and has used this pause to recover; he has to prove that he can score at will utilizing his size and speed
• Stephenson can play any forward position which makes him very versatile
• This line can technically be considered the last scoring line though Tuch is the only player on the line that can effectively score.
• A complex line that can be changed with any player at any time
• Don’t be surprised if Roy gets put on this line as a center

Line 4

Carrier-Nosek-Reaves

• Recently dubbed the “meat grinders” and “meat line” by Reaves
• The heavy-hitting line
• Don’t score much but can spark energy to upstart the team
• Utilize their size to intimidate their opponents
• Not afraid to fight for a loose puck on the low slot and top of the crease
• Don’t be surprised if Roy gets put on this line as a center

💻 Reaves: We’re calling our line the meat grinders. We’re the meat line. We play a heavy game. pic.twitter.com/Zg6cCi4i9Q

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 24, 2020

The Golden Knights have posted a series of videos called Training Camp Bulletin for every Golden Knights practice during phase three of the Return to Play Plan.

Training Camp Bulletin 7/24 presented by @stationcasinos – Follow along live as the Vegas Golden Knights approach the end of training camp & prepare for the playoffs https://t.co/grJYpdNPin

— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 24, 2020

Vegas is the current third seed in the Western Conference and one of four round-robin teams. They will compete against the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues during the qualifying rounds to determine seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.