Ahh, critics. They can come from anywhere, whether it's Kansas City while they're clinging onto Nick Wright's leg or Edmonton. Sadly, there's nothing you can do unless you have a hankering for jail time (which you should avoid at all costs).
That's certainly no different with the Vegas Golden Knights, who are facing some haters from the other side. Some people are chiding Mitch Marner for, well, not being a "playoff performer," despite averaging a point per game last postseason.
I swear, some people can't be pleased.
But three Golden Knights can show they're worth more than people expect. After all, that's the beauty of life. You can make the most of a given opportunity and shove those words back into the critic's mouth.
You can say this about your bosses, your exes, or whoever irritates you. Heck, it could be the rival fan who doesn't see how his team desperately needs goaltending before Connor McDavid walks away for good! They need a good comeuppance once in their lives.
So, let's meet these three players and see why fans should watch them in 2025-26. There will be an obvious name or two because that's what a little bit of fame will do to a person. But the rest are somewhat of a mystery.
1.) Akira Schmid
You'd think that posting a GAA of 1.26 and a save percentage of .944 would sway some people from being frightened of a goaltender. But that's not the case here. Still, there's a reason for that.
He played in five games and started three. Oh dear.
It's on the Swiss goaltender to prove he's capable of carrying a heavier workload in 2025-26. If he succeeds in the backup goaltender position and eases the pressure off of Adin Hill, fans will breathe. Plus, Hill doesn't tire himself out after playing 50 regular season games.
2.) Kaedan Korczak
Like Schmid, Korczak has the classic case of not having enough proof in the pudding. Playing 40 games and getting 10 assists sounds nice. However, fans want more from the 24-year-old defenseman as well.
With a smaller blue line, Korczak must fill the role left from Nicolas Hague and Alex Pietrangelo. The good news? The wily defenseman has shown he's up to the task, digging in on every play and fighting for the puck every time.
The good news is he's that type of player, doing whatever it takes to win. He should fit perfectly into Bruce Cassidy's system, playing at a high level in his first full season.
3.) Mitch Marner
Now, I know what you're thinking here.
"What more does Marner have to prove aside from winning a Stanley Cup? Who else does he need to impress the masses?"
Well, there's a certain group of fans north of the border that think, "HE AIN'T SH*T."
That's the main premise here. The former "Core Four" member must prove he's capable of winning away from Toronto. That way, he can stick it to the naysayers and show that Las Vegas is home to winners (except for the Raiders).