Training camp has officially opened for the Vegas Golden Knights (view the full
 roster and schedule here) and although much of the roster seems set in stone,
there are several interesting battles for a few open spots that will take place
 in the pre-season. Here';s a quick look.Who Lines up with Stastny and
Pacioretty?

The first line is sure to stay together, as it should. William Karlsson returns
 on a one-year, "show me" contract to center Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly
Smith. The trio had remarkable chemistry in their first season together and
buzzed around the opposing defense with their speed, skill, and hockey sense.

Two-thirds of the second line is also penciled in, with prized free agent
signing Paul Stastny set at center and new acquisition, Max Pacioretty, lined
up to his left. The question is, who plays on their right wing? The early
favorite is Alex Tuch, who performed well in his rookie season and seems primed
 for an upgrade. His size and skill would compliment Stastny and Pacioretty and
 he could improve on his goal output of 15 from a season ago.Winger Alex Tuch
will look to avoid the sophomore slump and build on a solid rookie season.
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The other obvious candidate would be Erik Haula who spent most of last season
as the Golden Knights'; second-line center, putting up 29 goals and 55 points,
but received much criticism this offseason for his defense. For his part, Haula
 is determined to remain a center in the team';s top six but it seems likely
he will be bumped down to the third line, setting up the potential for three
solid scoring lines.

However, he would also be an intriguing piece in a deal for Erik Karlsson and
surely Ottawa is looking for scoring. Haula may be especially enticing as his
cap hit is a cheap $2.75 million. If he is unable to find a role that suits him
 in Vegas, he may become expendable.Where Do Haula and Others Fit In?

Fourteen forwards enter camp vying for 12 opening night spots. While coach
Gerard Gallant seems content to rotate depth players in and out of the lineup
to keep his players fresh, they will be giving their all to make sure they hit
the ice on Oct 4.

If Haula is bumped down to line three, there will be a trickle-down effect.
Cody Eakin centered the third line last season and is a good bet to continue if
 Haula is shifted to the wing. Meanwhile, Oscar Lindberg will look to rebound
from a disappointing season and provide some depth scoring in a contract year.A
 big question entering training camp is figuring out where Erik Haula will fit
into the lineup. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Tomas Nosek were reliable on the fourth line and
penalty kill, while Ryan Reaves, with his puzzling $2.775 million salary,
figures to be the fourth-line right winger on most nights. William
Carrier and Ryan Carpenter are also on NHL contracts and will fight for the
remaining places in the lineup.

This makes the third-line right wing spot the most obvious open position
entering training camp, with any mix of the above looking to fill the slot.

Cody Glass (2017 6th overall pick) will also look to crack the lineup but with
a logjam at center and no AHL options, he will likely be returned to juniors
for another season. Should the team encounter injuries, offseason acquisitions
Daniel Carr and Curtis McKenzie will provide depth and be among the first
call-ups, along with reliable goal scorer Brandon Pirri, speedster Tomas Hyka,
and the physical Stefan Matteau.Two Open Spots on Defense

For the moment, the Golden Knights'; blue line has two holes that need to be
filled.

Nate Schmidt is suspended for the first 20 games of the season, and Shea
Theodore remains unsigned. Both were integral to last season';s success and
holdovers Jon Merrill and Brad Hunt will have a difficult time filling their
skates. Initially slated as the seventh and eighth defenseme respectively, this
 could be a "next man up" situation that puts them both in the opening night
lineup.With Nate Schmidt suspended for the first 20 games of the season, the
Golden Knights may be more eager to sign defenseman Shea Theodore to a deal.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Another option is to give younger players a look. Top prospects Erik Brannstrom
 and Nicolas Hague will be in camp and could warrant their up-to-nine game
audition. This also opens the door for prized prospects Erik Brannstrom or
Nicolas Hague (or both) to get at least their nine-game tryout before their
entry-level contracts kick in. I';d expect the Golden Knights to give
Brannstrom a look should the team be unable to come to terms with Theodore
before the start of the season. Hague seems like a candidate for a mid-season
call-up. Zach Whitecloud represents another option, while fellow stay-at-home
defenseman, Griffin Reinhart, and puck-mover, Jake Bischoff provide
depth.Golden Knights Goaltending Set

Marc-Andre Fleury is the starter now and for years to come after signing a
hefty extension this offseason, while Malcolm Subban will look to hold onto his
 backup job and stay healthy this season. Oscar Dansk could push Subban to
backup Fleury but Subban would have to clear waivers to be returned to Chicago
of the AHL and it';s likely that a team would claim him as Vegas did to bring
him to the desert in the first place. Maxime Lagace provides organizational
depth at the position, which, as we saw last season, you never know when you
might need.Outlook on the 2018-19 Season

The Golden Knights are a club with impressive depth for a second-year program
and while the hockey world waits to see if Erik Karlsson is added to the
equation, the team is gearing up to defend their Western Conference title with
or without him. Can they repeat last season';s unbelievable success?

We';ll follow these storylines and more in training camp to see who makes the
cut for the 2018-19 Vegas Golden Knights opening night roster.

The post Vegas Golden Knights Training Camp Primer appeared first on The Hockey
 Writers.

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