2 Upgrades Vegas Golden Knights Need In The New Year

The Vegas Golden Knights didn't have a Stanley Cup hangover and are a top team in the league again. They have dealt with some unfortunate injuries this season though. If they are to make another run at the Cup, following a similar plan to last season would be smart. They need to add some pieces this season to do that.

Middle-6 Winger

The Golden Knights were forced to trade Reilly Smith away this offseason due to cap reasons after signing Ivan Barbashev and Adin Hill, two key pieces in their Cup run. The hope was that some inexperienced or younger players would step up and fill holes in the lineup. For a while, Brett Howden was given a shot as a winger on the second line. He has since been moved down to the fourth line and Pavel Dorofeyev has hopped on that line. He has been a healthy scratch for half of the season, but the team likes him. Between Paul Cotter, Howden, and Dorofeyev down the left side, the Golden Knights need experience and production added.

Goaltending Depth

The Golden Knights have been known for having health issues with their goalies. Robin Lehner is out for the entire season. Logan Thompson missed a lot of last season and is hurt right now. Adin Hill suffered back-to-back injuries just recently. In the team's last game before the break, they were forced to start Jiri Patera and have Isaiah Saville backup. Vegas added Jonathan Quick at the deadline last season and had four options in net. They would do well to add a third-string goalie for some depth if injuries remain a problem.