As we covered last week, a significant portion of the Vegas Golden Knights’ forward corps will be in need of new contracts come July 1. Currently, six forwards, who collectively scored 94 goals this season, are set to become free agents, leaving their futures with the team uncertain.
Some players, such as Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson, may seek contracts that the Golden Knights cannot match. Others, including William Carrier, Michael Amadio, and Anthony Mantha, reportedly already know they won’t be returning next season. This situation leaves multiple positions to be filled, and relying solely on talented but inexperienced young forwards like Brendan Brisson, Paul Cotter, and Jonas Rondbjerg may not suffice.
After addressing the potential loss of their own free agents, the focus now shifts to available free agents who could fill these gaps. Here are four forwards who could be possible fits for the Golden Knights:
Elias Lindholm
The Golden Knights will likely need to fill a top-six slot this summer. While high-volume goal scorers like Steven Stamkos and Sam Reinhart are tempting targets, Elias Lindholm makes a lot of sense. Despite a challenging season split between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks due to a mid-season trade, the 29-year-old Swede showcased his value as a versatile center. Although he scored only 15 goals, his lowest in seven years, Lindholm demonstrated elite face-off abilities (58.7%) and strong two-way play. As one of the top forwards in the 2024 free agent class, Lindholm could command a significant payday, but not as much as he could have after his 42-goal campaign in 2021-22.
Tyler Toffoli
Replacing the 94 goals lost will require more than internal development. Tyler Toffoli, despite playing for six teams since the start of the 2019-20 season, has consistently scored between 20 and 34 goals each season and recorded 11 playoff goals. The 32-year-old winger is a reliable scorer and likely to be affordable, having earned $4.25 million last season.
Sam Lafferty
The potential departures of Amadio and Carrier would leave a void in the bottom-six, necessitating depth additions. Sam Lafferty, who scored 13 goals and 24 points with the Canucks despite averaging less than 12 minutes of ice time per game, offers the speed and physicality that the Golden Knights need. The 29-year-old could help replace Carrier’s role while enhancing scoring depth.
Warren Foegele
Warren Foegele had a breakout season with the Stanley Cup Final-bound Edmonton Oilers, scoring 20 goals and 41 points. Though much of his offense came from playing alongside Leon Draisaitl, Foegele’s size (6-foot-2, 198 pounds), physical play, and defensive contributions make him a valuable bottom-six forward. Even without high scoring, his skill set would be highly coveted by the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights, known for their ambitious talent acquisition and preference for trades, will likely need to utilize free agency to address numerous roster gaps and aim for another Cup-contending season. This summer promises to be interesting as they navigate these changes.
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