Parting is such sweet sorrow, especially when hockey season is over. For the Vegas Golden Knights, they must part with the Stanley Cup and hand it to a new recipient this season. After losing to the Dallas Stars on Sunday, 2-1, it’s a sad reality that both the players and fans must deal with.

Of course, that also means some upcoming free agents won’t be back with the Golden Knights next season. The circumstances will vary from player to player. With some players, they’re getting older. Their skills have diminished and left them without any purpose. Therefore, they must make way for younger talent and give younger prospects a chance to shine.

For others, their skill sets are washed. Some even took home a hefty paycheck this season, hurting the Golden Knights salary cap-wise. For general manager Kelly McCrimmon, most of these choices should be easy to make. There will be some players that employ two or all three circumstances, making them easy choices for not re-signing.

Many Golden Knights fans hope that one Vegas Golden Knight isn’t Jonathan Marchessault. The former Conn Smythe winner had 42 goals this season, good for being tied for 11th in the NHL. Marchessault has proven to be a clutch player for the Golden Knights, scoring 32 game-winning goals during his Vegas tenure.

The good news is that Jonathan Marchessault isn’t on the list. He has valuable talent as an offensive sniper, helping at even strength and power play. Plus, there’s mutual interest in a return for the winger, with the locker room and community loving Marchessault’s presence. Therefore, it would be foolish to put the “Original Misfit” there… for now.

So who are these three Golden Knights that won’t return to Las Vegas next season? It’s likely that McCrimmon won’t bring back the following players for next season’s team. Therefore, Golden Knights fans should get their goodbyes in before these players sign elsewhere.

1. Alec Martinez

When the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Noah Hanifin at the trade deadline from the Calgary Flames, it was an indication that Alec Martinez wouldn’t be with the team next season. With a younger, shinier defenseman to fill the void, there would be no need for the native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, anymore.

Martinez had a fulfilling career in the NHL as a member of the Los Angeles Kings and Golden Knights. The defenseman won three Stanley Cups, where he scored a cup-clinching goal in one of those tenures. He’s also been a vital part of Vegas’s six main defensemen, clogging shooting lanes. However, it seems Martinez’s run as a Golden Knight is ending for a couple of reasons.

One, the 36-year-old spent some time sidelined with injuries this season. Of course, that’s what blocking 677 shots during a five-year tenure with the Golden Knights gets you. He had a lower-body procedure done a couple of months ago, so seeing Martinez go wouldn’t be surprising.

After all, younger defensemen are waiting in the wings for the Golden Knights. Lukas Cormier and Kaeden Korczak will compete for a top-six spot in the Golden Knights lineup. Of course, there’s also Ben Hutton, who’s ready for the next step with the Golden Knights. Vegas has numerous options for replacing the three-time Stanley Cup winner, especially those that aren’t being paid $5.25 millon a year.

2. William Carrier

Another Vegas Golden Knight who won’t be returning to the team next season is William Carrier. The winger only played 39 games this season, scoring six goals and two assists. For the Golden Knights, not having their fourth-line player for the majority of the season hurt them.