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Golden Knights Alumni: Neal, Perron, Haula Impressive in 2019

November 25, 2019, 3:55 PM ET [0 Comments]
Jeff Paul
Vegas Golden Knights Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


With James Neal and the Edmonton Oilers coming to town this past Saturday evening, it got me thinking about other inaugural Golden Knights. What are these original Vegas Golden Knights up to? Where are they? How are they playing? What's the scoop? After a wildly successful first season, culminating in a Stanley Cup Final visit, the roster underwent both major and minor changes. Since you'll never find a consensus on the success of those moves, here is your VGK OG update.

David Perron, W



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-18
New Team: St. Louis Blues (1st Central)
2019-20 Stats: 24 games, 10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points, minus-1


After a magical first season, the Golden Knights chose to cut bait with a few of their veterans on expiring deals. Perron is about as consistent as they come, plays in all situations, and has visible puck skill but it wasn't enough to earn him a new contract. The then 29-year-old winger ended up signing back with his former Blues and ended up a 2018-19 Stanley Cup champion.

Perron's four-year contract isn't gaudy carrying an AAV of $4 million, but the Golden Knights had younger, flashier guys who needing extensions in the near future. Ability was less of a factor than age and finances in the team's decision to split with their former assistant captain. He currently leads all Blues in points and has his team sitting pretty in first place, even in the absence of superstar Vladimir Tarasenko.

James Neal, W



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-18
New Team: Edmonton Oilers (1st Pacific)
2019-20 Stats: 26 games, 14 goals, 3 assists, 17 points, minus-12


James Neal has had an interesting post-VGK life. Neal originally signed a free agent deal with the Calgary Flames, back in the 2018 off-season, but eventually landed in Edmonton. He struggled out of the gate with the Flames - at times serving as a healthy scratch - and was flipped to the Oilers for Milan Lucic in a surprising one-for-one deal.

Now alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Neal gets his fair share of scoring opportunities and he's finishing them. His 14 goals through a quarter of the schedule have already surpassed his 2018-19 total of 7 in 63 miserable games. A ramped up off-season workout regimin combined with superstar linemates has Neal buzzing and the Oilers looking like geniuses in a trade for the first time in a very long time.

Erik Haula, C



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-2019
New Team: Carolina Hurricanes (3rd Metro)
2019-20 Stats: 16 games, 8 goals, 3 assists, 11 points, even +/-


Injuries continue to derail the potential of Erik Haula. Haula missed a large portion of the 2018-19 season due to a knee injury suffered early on and he has sadly found himself in the same predicament this season. He was on his way to a career year with the Hurricanes - averaging a goal every two games - prior to an apparent knee ailment. Head coach Rod Brind'Amour said the forward is "going to be out for a while".

Haula has the speed, skill, and hockey sense to excel in the NHL, but his recent bad luck will surely impact his pending-UFA status. It's imperative for Haula to get well and give the Hurricanes the depth they need to take the next step in their organizational progression. If he's able to return, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the team lock him up at a low cap hit, before his on-ice production skyrockets his value.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, C



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-2019
New Team: Colorado Avalanche (4th Central)
2019-20 Stats: 22 games, 4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points, plus-2


If one man could be the heart and soul of a hockey club, that man would be Pierre-Edouard Bellemare for the Vegas Golden Knights. Belly was the guy most looked to for a calming voice, insightful perspective, and a boost during both good and bad times. He was unanimously revered in the locker room and the absence of his personality and general demeanor this season has been felt.

His departure was extremely evident in one of the Golden Knights worst games of the season, a 6-1 Colorado Avalanche win. Bellemare won the opening faceoff of the game and scored when Mark Stone sent an errant pass his way in the high slot in front of Marc-Andre Fleury. Despite the goal, the former leader was honored with a thank you video during a television timeout, along with a standing ovation from the fans in attendance.

It's hard to replace a leader like Bellemare and thus far, the 2019-20 Golden Knights have been the roughest version of the team since their inception. It's very possible that Bellemare's departure may be impacting the Golden Knights more than anticipated. His miniscule cap hit could have been absorbed by the team, if they were willing to give him more than a one-year deal. If and it's a big if, the Golden Knights miss the playoffs, the decision to let Belly walk could be the biggest reason why.

Colin Miller, D



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-2019
New Team: Buffalo Sabres (5th Atlantic)
2019-20 Stats: 18 games, 0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points, minus-2


Just last week, Jon Merrill was asked which Golden Knights defenseman has the hardest shot and he had to look around at names to answer. Last season, the answer was simple: Colin Miller. Miller has a booming slapshot that is sorely missed on the Golden Knights' blue line. He's currently serving as a third pair defenseman for the Sabres, but is also used on the Power Play. His offense is undeniable, although he's yet to net one in his limited time this season.

Miller is in no way a liability in his own zone, but he's known as an offensive-defenseman. If he's not scoring, he's not playing at his best. The Sabres were clearly looking for more scoring options trading for him. He's been a healthy scratch a handful of times and he desperately needs to produce some points playing on a talented defense corps. Miller has the tools to succeed and it's only a matter of time before he gets comfortable in Buffalo after two years with the Golden Knights.

Luca Sbisa, D



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-18
New Team: Winnipeg Jets (3rd Central)
2019-20 Stats: 12 games, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, plus-2


Luca Sbisa was a former first round pick, but his game has declined considerably over the years. He had a solid 2017-18 season with Vegas before hitting free agency the following summer. He eventually ended up with the New York Islanders in a union that ultimately didn't work out. Now getting a second chance to revive his career, Sbisa has been playing regularly with the Winnipeg Jets and has recorded a goal and an assist this past week.

Calvin Pickard, G



USA Today Sports

Years with VGK: 2017-18
New Team: Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL-DET)
2019-20 Stats: 14 games, 2.86 GAA, .904 Sv %


For a guy who was one of the most obvious choices in the Expansion Draft, Pickard has really fallen off from where he was expected to be. Once on the fast track to becoming a legitimate NHL starting goaltender, his selection by and subsequent trade from Vegas seemed to stunt his growth. Following his one camp in Vegas, he has bounced from Toronto to Philadelphia to Arizona, failing to secure a permanent role. He now finds himself back in the AHL, in the Red Wings organization, with a chance to earn an NHL job once Jimmy Howard moves on.

Vadim Shipachyov, C



USA Today Sports

Games with VGK: 3 games
New Team: Dynamo Moskva (KHL)
2019-20 Stats: 31 games, 9 goals, 28 assists, 37 points, plus-18


What hasn't been said about the man they call Shippy? Vegas' first (of two) failed forays into the Russian market was quite the debacle. Whether there were communication issues or effort problems, one thing was painfully clear: Shipachyov was not ready for the NHL. He played sloppy defense, lacked any semblance of exertion and fizzled out quick. A demotion to the AHL and "retirement" put a necessary end to his first NHL attempt.

Shipachyov is now back in the KHL and producing points like he always has. He currently leads his team in assists and points, while serving as the captain of Dynamo Moskva. Now at 32-years-old, another NHL attempt seems highly unlikely, considering how eventful his first journey to America was.
**

Other names such as Oscar Lindberg (2019 trade deadline deal), Brendan Leipsic (2018 trade to VAN), and Brad Hunt (2019 trade) have come and gone as well. There has been a ton of turnover for a team with just two full seasons under their belt. Big trades and signings have taken place, completely changing the identity of the 2017-18 Western Conference Champions.

Looking back, it's hard to deny that their chemistry and magical locker room had more to do with winning than falt out skill. This year's roster has the bigger names and more proven scorers yet they pale in comparison to the 2017-18 team. Finding the winning equation is never easy, but it's not wrong to wonder if they already had it. If the up-and-down results continue, big changes may be on the horizon. Simply put, this is a very important time for the Vegas Golden Knights.

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