The junk drawer is where you throw everything you can’t find a place for, so these articles will have a little of everything: Some statistics, some prospects, some opinion, some information, and anything else Vegas-related I feel like you all need to know. If there is anything you’d like to see in The Junk Drawer just let me know in the comments.
Cleaning out the junk…
The Vegas Golden Knights 2024-25 season is a few weeks old, and the Knights have a 6-2-1 record after nine games. Vegas has won 3 in a row, and the Knights seem to be regaining their form. The Knights have been streaky this year, a 3-game win streak followed by a 3-game losing streak and another 3-game win streak.
Here are Vegas’ league ranks after the team’s first nine games (6-2-1):
Goals For: 42 (1st)
Goals Against: 28 (17th)
Assists: 74 (1st)
Shooting Percentage: 16.28% (1st)
Power Play Percentage: 36.0% (4th)
Penalty Kill Percentage: 76.2% (21st)
Penalty Minutes: 42 (4th)
Looking at the stats, Vegas’ offense output has been outstanding, the defense and penalty kill need to be improved, but with the talent in goal and on the backend, I think it’s only a matter of time before these areas improve.
Ivan Barbashev has been a tremendous addition to the Golden Knights since coming over from the St. Louis Blues during the 2022-23 season. Barbashev is on pace to equal or better his career highs in goals (26), assists (34), and points (60) that were achieved in the 2022-23 season while Barbashev was in St. Louis. The rugged winger has 12 points this season with Vegas (7g, 5a) in 9 games, all of his points have come at even-strength which leads the league.
Tomas Hertl faced the San Jose Sharks for the first time on Saturday night since he was traded during the 2023-24 season. Hertl had 2 assists in Vegas’ 7-3 win. Hertl has been hot during the Knights’ recent 3-game-winning streak with 7 points in 3 games (3g, 4a).
William Karlsson returned to the Vegas lineup with 2 points (1g, 1a), including the game-winning goal, after missing the first 8 games with an undisclosed injury. Karlsson skated 13:58 in the game as VGK eased him back into the lineup.
Per Vegas PR: Tomas Hertl’s 83.3% (25/30) faceoff percentage over the last 2 games is the highest in team history for a two-game span.
The Fortress continues to be just that for the Golden Knights, a stronghold that other teams have a difficult time breaking into. The Knights remain unbeaten at home with a perfect 6-0-0 record.
In the Minors:
The Henderson Silver Knights have started the season 2-5-0. Forward Gage Quinney is leading the club with 7 points (4g, 3a). The leading scorer among defensemen is Robert Hagg, with 6 points (1g, 5a) in 7 games.
Other Notable Silver Knights:
Tanner Laczynski has three goals and four assists in 7 games.
NHL.com Top 5 prospect Matyas Sapovaliv has two goals and one assist in 6 games.
21-year-old AHL Rookie Goaltender Carl Lindbom is 1-1-0, with a 3.50 GAA, and a .911 SV% (72 saves on 79 shots).
Vegas Prospect In the NCAA:
Knights’ 2024 first-round draft pick (19th overall) Trevor Connelly has 1 assist in 2 games with the Providence College Friars to start his collegiate career.
Vegas Prospect In the QMJHL:
Center Mathieu Cataford, the QMJHL 2023-24 Player-of-the-Year, has had a strong start for the Rimouski Oceanic with 25 points (8g, 17a) in 12 games after being traded in the off-season by the Halifax Mooseheads.
Vegas has started the season unbeaten at home and winless on the road. A little bit of a statistical anomaly, as Vegas had a winning record on the road a year ago (18-17-6).
Week ahead:
Monday, October 28 – Calgary at Vegas
Wednesday, October 30 – Vegas at Los Angeles
Saturday, November 2 – Utah at Vegas
Season 4. Episode 42. New and Improved Sway. – Bruins Benders Podcast
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