Fansided

One free agent every NHL team should sign this offseason

By C.L. Kohuss

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Patrick Maroon #17 of the New Jersey Devils heads out to play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – MARCH 31: Dan Hamhuis #2 of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild at the American Airlines Center on March 31, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Hamhuis
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 31: Dan Hamhuis #2 of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild at the American Airlines Center on March 31, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dan Hamhuis /

Vegas Golden Knights: Dan Hamhuis, Defenseman

We’ve talked plenty in other articles about how different the Vegas Golden Knights could look with David Perron and James Neal ready to hit the market and with them having to sign William Karlsson long-term. It isn’t going to work resigning everyone. Even with $30 million, tough choices will need to be made.

But let’s say that Vegas retains a core of Neal, Perron and Karlsson while still having Jonathan Marchessault and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. At most, you’re down to $12 million to keep upgrading and keep the team contending through 2019.

Mentioned earlier was how Dan Hamhuis would be a good veteran fit for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it’s no different here. Vegas has to decide whether or not to retain Luca Sbisa and Clayton Stoner. If it doesn’t, Hamhuis could slot in on the top pair to give it a boost from the blue line. He’s 35, but he has a lot of game left after leading Dallas’ top pair to seventh in goals against. The money works as well. He’ll probably make around the same as this season at $3 million, which is what Sbisa and Stoner were making.

It also makes sense in that the Golden Knights shouldn’t worry about rebuilding. They just came into the league after all. They need to stick with solid veteran pieces to match the teams around them. This of course is assuming they are able to keep Perron and Neal. If not, they should look at an option like Evander Kane or James Van Riemsdyk. Someone young to take the place of a loss in scoring depth.

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