Golden Knights Face Depth Challenges After Early Playoff Exit

Las Vegas, NV – The Vegas Golden Knights are reflecting on their early playoff exit after being defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in five games. The series showcased the strengths of forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but it also exposed weaknesses in Vegas’s roster depth.

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the game plan focused on limiting McDavid and Draisaitl, who combined for only eight points during the series. Despite this, the Golden Knights struggled, with only six players scoring throughout the five games compared to eleven for the Oilers.

“Credit to the guys for checking well, but it didn’t go our way,” Cassidy said of the team’s performance. Four of Vegas’s leading scorers from the regular season remained off the scoresheet, raising questions about the team’s depth.

The Golden Knights struggled to balance their lines effectively, leading to poor offensive production. During the playoffs, Jack Eichel’s performance also suffered, as he was minus-12 in five-on-five situations without his regular linemate, William Karlsson, on the ice.

To counter their slow starts, Cassidy plans to adjust the team’s approach during the first ten minutes of games. “We need to establish territory and pace,” Cassidy stated. The team’s first period performance was notably poor, dropping from a +18 in the regular season to a -4 in the playoffs.

As they move into the offseason, the Golden Knights aim to address their depth issues and prepare for a more competitive 2026 season after this disappointing exit. “We’ve been pretty good before this year, so we’ll figure it out,” said team captain Mark Stone.