Ladies and gentlemen, I have some news for you.
No, not that kind of news. You can sit down Wade Barrett. I've got some good news for you!
The Vegas Golden Knights are inching closer to the regular season, with the last preseason game on Friday against the San Jose Sharks. After the Baby Sharks (doo doo doo doo doo doo) come to town, it'll be time to attend the VGK Fan Fest and enjoy the regular season.
There's plenty of excitement surrounding this season, too. Obviously, you know about that Marner kid coming to Las Vegas. He looks to make Ontario flood with a wave of salty tears that could strike the state of Michigan. Gotta feel for those in the Wolverine State. At least they have four Stanley Cups since 1967.
With that, let's celebrate another preseason wrapping up. How are we going to do this, you ask? You can go to T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday for the regular season opener. However, there's another way.
Let's look at three preseason standouts for the Golden Knights. These players set themselves up nicely for future success, putting them in better positions for roster spots. What better way to celebrate hockey being back than honoring these three players?
1.) Alexander Holtz
Holtz entered the preseason on a PTO, leaving some people speculating if the winger was going to last with the Golden Knights. The prior season of scoring four goals and eight assists was underwhelming enough to deter some fans. However, the Swedish forward showed promise during the preseason.
He showed signs of offensive brilliance, displaying incredible handles and on-ice awareness throughout the preseason. While he might have some things to work on during the season (i.e. one-on-one matchups and back-checking), the preseason showed that the 23-year-old has upside to his game. That should be enough for Bruce Cassidy to not give up on the youngster yet.
2.) Joe Fleming
Much was made about whether Joe Fleming would handle the transition from being a defenseman to a forward. Well, it appears that the prospect is handling the transition just fine.
The legend of Joe Fleming grows 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3TWC8TcW6k
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 1, 2025
He's shown that his offensive handles transition to the forward position perfectly. On top of that, he looks confident in his new role, making him a viable contender for a future Golden Knights role. That should help McCrimmon and company with replacing the older players if they want to cut salary cap costs.
3.) Akira Schmid
You could also make a case for Carl Lindbom since he looked strong against NHL-ready players. However, there's more on the line for Schmid regarding where he stands in the backup goaltender position. The Swiss netminder held his own against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, stopping 21 of 22 shots for a save percentage of .955.
There is some concern about whether he's viable for the long haul as Adin Hill's backup. That's why they're looking at goaltenders at the moment. However, Schmid should be a reliable option should the Golden Knights lose Hill or want to give him some rest.