You might not know that Shea Theodore is having a good Stanley Cup playoff run. But he does have six goals and 10 assists this season, including Game 3's game-winning goal in double overtime. In fact, he added an assist in Saturday's thrilling win, making him one of the most important Vegas Golden Knights not named Mitch Marner.
But he's also valuable for other reasons, such as how he plays on the power play. Theodore is great at using his shot for other purposes, such as banking it off the backboard for a game-winning goal or getting a rebound. He's also great on the power play in this regard, setting up his teammates for success.
In turn, he's provided an offensive spark for the Golden Knights' blue line. Theodore's goals, assists, and points all led the Golden Knights' blue liners during the playoff run, making him the de facto leader in the group.
That could be what the doctor ordered offensively for the Golden Knights to finish the job. That's especially true with fans and critics focusing on the blue line as a whole, criticizing its offensive output. Here's what else makes the Original Misfit important for getting the last two wins of the Stanley Cup Final.
Why Shea Theodore suddenly matters for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Carolina Hurricanes
Believe it or not, Theodore is overachieving with the Golden Knights this postseason. His expected goals sit at 2.3, showing how well he's doing during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Theodore is also doing well in the shot selection department. The Misfit has a Corsi of 50% and a Fenwick of 51%, making him a vital offensive figure. That's great for the Golden Knights if they're looking to have the defensemen finish the job offensively.
But his stats go beyond advanced metrics. He's one goal shy of tying his career-high in playoff goals, which he set in 2020. He's also two assists shy of his career-high (12, also in 2020 and in 2023) and three points short (19, also in 2020). He has the perfect opportunity to shatter those marks and lead Vegas to its second Stanley Cup.
If the Vegas Golden Knights want to finish a pesky Carolina Hurricanes team, they must rely on Theodore's blistering production to help his buddies like Brayden McNabb. That means getting more of those bank shots and having rebounds for players like Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner to feast on. Who wants to see another retro Misfit performance from the defenseman? Me! Me!
