This afternoon, Vegas Head Coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters that Shea Theodore is expected to be week-to-week with an upper-body injury, as shared by Sin Bin Vegas. The ailment will sideline the top defenseman for longer than anticipated, however, Cassidy affirmed that it should not affect his prospects for the Olympic Games in February (Team Canada). For the Golden Knights however, Theodore will not travel on the team’s road trip.
Theodore started the season with just five points in his first 15 games, all assists, a step back from his career high 57 points in 67 contests last season. Since then, however, the elite puck-mover really picked up the pace before the injury, right back to high end production.
2025-26 marks year one of Theodore’s seven year extension worth $7.425MM per season. The timing also symbolizes a passing of the torch of sorts; as Alex Pietrangelo is unlikely to play again, Theodore is set to lead the Vegas defense core into his thirties. He, Brayden McNabb, and William Karlsson stand as the only original “misfits” remaining on the team. Despite all the changes on the roster though, the Golden Knights remain elite, currently fifth in the league.
Wednesday’s game against New Jersey marked the first of the campaign without Theodore in the lineup, and Vegas lost in a shootout, missing their top defender who averages 24:01 a game. Thankfully, the team brought back Jeremy Lauzon from injury. A fellow lefty, Lauzon can help alleviate the loss of Theodore on paper, but he is much more of a bottom pairing contributor with major physicality. For now, Noah Hanifin will step into a larger role, an assignment the 28-year-old is certainly capable of. Usually bringing more offensively, he has just six points in 22 games this season. In Theodore’s absence, Hanifin will have more opportunities, especially on the power play, to get going.
In the interest of the Olympics, Team Canada is expected to release their roster on New Year’s Eve. No defender outside Cale Makar has been locked in, but Theodore is considered a near-lock. In the meantime, both Vegas and Team Canada will monitor the elite defender’s status for a early-to-mid January return, leaving plenty of time to ramp up for the Olympics and the eventual playoff push ahead.