The Vegas Golden Knights As… Christmas Icons

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: Chandler Stephenson #20, William Karlsson #71, Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Stephenson and Marchessault assisted Karlsson on a third-period goal against Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 12: Chandler Stephenson #20, William Karlsson #71, Jonathan Marchessault #81 and Zach Whitecloud #2 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Stephenson and Marchessault assisted Karlsson on a third-period goal against Dustin Wolf #32 of the Calgary Flames during their game at T-Mobile Arena on December 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
8 of 8

The Golden Knights have also developed a reputation for being a physical team. They love to hit people, which is evident by Paul Cotter ranking fourth in hits (103), while Keegan Kolesar (93) is sixth. That’s a lot of “thumpity thump thump!”

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 19: Keegan Kolesar #55 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in the third period during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 19: Keegan Kolesar #55 of the Vegas Golden Knights skates in the third period during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 19, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Kolesar is a jolly happy soul for the Golden Knights, taking over the toughness role embraced by one Ryan Reaves. He’s not afraid to lay people out and get dirty. While not as famous as Reaves was, Keegan isn’t afraid to ask opponents to “catch him if they can”.

Think of Kolesar as Frosty the Snowman. A player who’s alive on the ice and even puts some magic behind the net, you can count on the right winger to spread some joy for Golden Knight fans. After all, there’s no better Christmas gift than a Keegan Kolesar hit.