Takeaways From VGK Rookie Games In San Jose

(Photo Credit: @GoldenKnights on X/Twitter)

The Golden Knights rookies return from San Jose with a shootout win, a shutout loss, and some accidents after a few hard-fought video games in opposition to the Mammoth and Avalanche. Special groups performed a big half in each video games as VGK allowed all three targets on the penalty kill to Utah after which scored a couple of on the facility play, together with a late one to tie the sport in opposition to Colorado.

These video games are about far more than outcomes, although. The key storyline because the Golden Knights rookies return to Vegas would be the well being of Trevor Connelly and Ben Hemmerling, however listed below are a couple of different takeaways as nicely.

Connelly and Hemmerling injured

In the primary sport, Trevor Connelly was boarded viciously and illegally by Utah 4th spherical choose Gabe Smith. Connelly was down on the ice for some time earlier than strolling off underneath his personal energy. He returned to the bench within the third interval however didn’t take a shift within the sport.

Being a protracted layoff, we didn’t wish to jeopardize something with him, so we pulled the reins on him a bit of. It was good to see him again. He obtained good clearance from our employees so we needed to take it straightforward for Game 1. -Joel Ward, Silver Knights head coach

Connelly didn’t gown within the second sport.

Hemmerling was injured within the 1st interval of Sunday’s sport in opposition to Colorado after taking a giant open-ice hit from Gustav Stjernberg (a 23-year-old defenseman who performed 11 video games within the AHL final season after ending up his profession at Bowling Green). Matheau Cataford instantly stepped as much as combat the large defenseman. Hemmerling didn’t return to the sport. Ward didn’t converse in regards to the damage postgame.

Trent Swick’s arrival

The 6’7” energy ahead, chosen by the Golden Knights within the sixth spherical of the 2024 Draft, had a giant weekend in San Jose. He made a couple of wonderful performs on the forecheck within the sport on Saturday, together with one by which he pickpocketed a defenseman on a breakout after which practically scored. On Sunday, he posted three factors, together with two targets and an help, and did most of his work immediately in entrance of the objective. Ward lauded the truth that Swick is not only a giant physique however has numerous ability, particularly in small areas, which isn’t sometimes the case for the larger guys. He signed a three-year entry-level contract in March of 2025 and dominated the ECHL final season. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how he’s in a position to transition into the AHL (and possibly past) this 12 months.

To a lesser diploma, Swick’s linemate Alex Weiermair did the identical. He was in all probability VGK’s finest participant within the sport on Saturday, regardless of the Golden Knights being shut out. His means to carry the puck in visitors is thrilling. It’s a ability that’s extremely onerous to show; both you will have it, otherwise you don’t, and it seems Weiermair has it.

Mixed bag for younger defensemen

This was the primary probability for 2026 Draft picks Sean Burick and Will McLaughlin to put on Vegas gold, and it was an up-and-down expertise for every of them. It began out fairly tough for Burick as he was blown by a few occasions on an early Utah energy play, main to 2 targets. He recovered properly as the sport went on, although, and appeared to start to regulate to the pace of the sport. On Sunday, he seemed a lot better recovering pucks and utilizing his lengthy attain to maintain higher gaps. He in all probability gained’t look again too fondly at these two video games, however it’s all the time a troublesome ask for an 18-year-old with out a lot apply time to maintain up with guys who’ve been taking part in professional hockey for a couple of years.

McLaughlin actually stood out when the Golden Knights had been on the facility play. He’s a swift skater with wonderful imaginative and prescient by way of the impartial zone. Time and time once more on VGK entries, he’d carry the puck up and both skate it in himself or make the fitting play to get the Golden Knights a simple entry. He seemed assured because the PP QB up close to the blue line as nicely. At 5-on-5, it wasn’t pretty much as good as his decision-making wasn’t as much as the mandatory pace. Add in that physicality being quite a bit greater than what he’s in all probability used to, and there have been some errors that have to be eradicated.

For each Burick and McLaughlin, it’s introduction to the tempo and energy that include these video games. They each have loads of time to regulate, and so they each confirmed sufficient to stay enthusiastic about their futures.

Kmec and Stanick may very well be subsequent up

Before the video games had been performed, I discussed there was a bunch of about eight gamers who may place themselves for an NHL call-up this season. The two who took the largest strides in the direction of that over the weekend had been Viliam Kmec and Sloan Stanick.

Kmec seemed just like the grown-up on the blueline for the Golden Knights. His hole management was sturdy all weekend, he was fast and sensible together with his first contact deep within the zone, and his positioning was strong in entrance of the goalies in each video games. He additionally wired a shot to the nook on Sunday (he hit a put up on one other shot too), standing as the one defenseman to attain for VGK within the two video games.

Stanick was Ward’s option to step in for Connelly on the highest line and he proved that call proper, taking part in a direct, onerous sport. He’s excellent alongside the partitions and is prepared to get to the entrance of the objective within the offensive zone. Plus, he’s dependable backchecking and reloading defensively, which can go a good distance in the direction of incomes minutes on the AHL degree this season.

Don’t count on both of those guys to make a critical run at making the NHL roster out of camp, however they’ll each be within the Silver Knights lineup frequently and a giant begin to the season may have every of them on the precipice shortly.