Vegas Golden Knights First Half Report Cards: Forwards

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JANUARY 7: Erik Haula #56 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the game at T-Mobile Arena on January 7, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Erik Haula has impressed me all year long and had adapted to becoming a more than serviceable second line center. He brings a ton of speed, skill and loves playing under Coach Gallant. But no one expected him to come in the clutch seemingly every time.

Out of Erik Haula’s 15 goals, ten of them have come in the third period. That’s a fascinating number for a player who was an unknown on the bottom six for the Minnesota Wild. It also helps when he always centers a line that has James Neal and David Perron.

However, there have been kinks in his game as of late. Sometimes he could look lost in his defensive zone and turns pucks over. But I’ll take the good with the bad from the Pori, Finland native any day.

He comes up huge in crucial situations, and that’s an essential component to have for a hungry playoff team. He’s one of the most exciting players to watch going forward. If Haula takes off and keeps playing well as the number two center, the Golden Knights will be in excellent shape come playoff time.

Grade: B

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