Most Surprising Vegas Golden Knights Defenseman: Brad Hunt
Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant admits he likes what he has seen from Brad Hunt thus far.
There has been a sudden emergence of players on the Vegas Golden Knights roster. I’m not talking about the star players either. I’m talking about the players who have recently joined the team and have done an excellent job.
Alex Tuch is the perfect example of that statement. He’s created chaos around the net in the two games he’s played in, and he’s also gotten on the score sheet as well. There’s no doubt that the opposition feels his presence on the ice.
Vadim Shipachyov also fits that category as well. Puck movement seems a little more fluid when he’s on the ice. And not only has he made a difference on even strength, but he’ll become a tremendous asset on the power play as well.
But what about the Golden Knights blue line? Who has stepped up in a big way since the scratching of Jason Garrison and Brayden McNabb? From the eyeball test, Brad Hunt is a player that is indeed turning heads and his coaches attention as well.
Yes, it has only been two games since Hunt was called upon, but it was an outstanding two games for the 29-year-old defenseman. Coach Gallant has given him a ton of power play time and deservedly so with his cannon of a slapshot. Not only does he have a rocket of a shot, but he’s been moving the puck around with a ton of confidence.
Gallant is showing a lot of trust in Hunt giving him almost 20 minutes of ice time in each of his first two games. Hunt only played 35 NHL games in seven pro seasons, but if he keeps this play up, then he might’ve found his niche with the Knights.
Some flaws in Hunt’s game include his size on the back end. It doesn’t mean he cant be an everyday NHL’er. However, he must work extra hard along the boards and the heavy traffic areas on the ice. He usually makes the right decisions with the puck, but he hasn’t been tested much at the NHL level.
Next: David Perron's Recent Play Is A Big Reason for the Vegas Golden Knights Success.
It’ll be interesting to see what the team does when Garrison and McNabb are ready to return to the lineup. Griffin Reinhart also hasn’t played for the big club yet as he’s waiting for his shot to prove himself. However, if the Knights deal one or two of these pieces within a few weeks or so, Hunt may find himself in the lineup every day. And that may not be a bad thing at all.