Can The Golden Knights Extend Victor Olofsson?

Can The Golden Knights Extend Victor Olofsson?

Kelly McCrimmon has been absolutely cooking over there in the Vegas front office. The Golden Knights have successfully extended impending UFA’s – Shea Theodore (link), Brayden McNabb (link), and Brett Howden (link), and Keegan Kolesar (link). Will Victor Olofsson become the next to join the group?

Olofsson, 29, has been a great fit with the VGK pretty much immediately. He missed some time with a lower body injury but has nine points in 11 games. That really doesn’t tell the full story. Olofsson has seven goals and has been absolutely perfect on the first-unit powerplay.

A lot of people owe this front office an apology. They had the courage to let Jonathan Marchessault walk and it was 100% the correct decision. The powerplay flows better without having to cater to Marchessault, the first line has been better with Stone on it instead of Marchy, and Olofsson keeps scoring in a complementary role. Yes, four out of his seven goals have come on the powerplay but there’s no denying the fit has just been seamless.

Vegas is currently 4th in the NHL with 27.6% success rate. Keep in mind, that’s with Olofsson and Stone missing several games. With them both in the lineup, that group has been virtually automatic.

Last season with Marchessault in the lineup, Vegas was 19th (20.2%) in the NHL in that same category.

It’s not just the scoring either. Maybe this is just an effort thing that getting out of Buffalo does wonders but he’s been more impressive than I thought he would be in terms of board battles and overall defense. Even Bruce Cassidy sees it that way. A coach who is a hardo in terms of defensive structure in the best way possible.

“What I’ve learned is he’s a more conscientious player than I probably would have given him credit for in terms of board work and stick details. That means you can use him in different situations, it’s not just hiding him against certain lines or finding spots for him against other teams weaker defensive pairs. You don’t have to think about that. –Bruce Cassidy“

The thing Vegas has on their side in terms of a possible extension here. A player like this is often grateful that they’re no longer stuck in losing Buffalo. Jack Eichel had great chemistry with him in Buffalo and that’s carried over to the powerplay. Vegas has Olofsson signed for a bargain one year contract. Could something like a 3×3 type of deal be in the cards?

Maybe Oloffson can do better on the open market but having a no-state tax income while playing for this Vegas team… why pass on that?

Olofsson can chase every last dollar and be delulu like Marchy… but how’s that working out for the Predators right now?

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