3 Vegas Golden Knights who won’t be back next season

May 3, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates with team mates after scoring an open net goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of game one of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 13, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Las Vegas Knights forward Phil Kessel (8) is pictured during a game against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports /

The Vegas Golden Knights were one of the final two teams remaining in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here are three players who won’t be back next year.

The Vegas Golden Knights came into existence in 2017 and nearly won the Stanley Cup in its first season, but fell in five games to the Washington Capitals. Since then, they had tried, but failed, to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final. That all changed this season when they defeated the Dallas Stars to win the Western Conference championship for the second time.

Now, they can call themselves Stanley Cup champions after defeating the Florida Panthers in five games.

With every season, teams are set to lose their players whether by release, trade, or free agency. When a team makes it to the Finals, they are more likely than not going to lose some names.

Here are three Golden Knights players who won’t be back next season.

Vegas Golden Knights who won’t be back next season, No. 3: Phil Kessel, F

Phil Kessel had been in the league for quite some time and has received notoriety as the NHL’s iron man. He had been active for every game since 2009, but this past April in the playoffs, he was ruled a healthy scratch in the team’s first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets. He sat in 18 consecutive playoff games with the Knights.

This year with the Golden Knights, Kessel scored 14 goals and dished out 22 assists in all 82 regular-season games played.

Now, Kessel is set to become a free agent. Considering that he wasn’t placed in the lineup by head coach Bruce Cassidy, and the fact that the team has 14 players hitting free agency (restricted and unrestricted), one has to imagine that Kessel may end up on another team next season.

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