Life is good when you've clinched the Pacific Division. You have home-ice advantage for two rounds minimum and can rest your superstars. That's where the Vegas Golden Knights stand after winning their fourth Pacific Division title.
Now, you can reap the rewards and give your superstars some well-deserved napping time. No more playing everyone until the last game. No more looking behind you and seeing your divisional rivals creeping up on you. Those days are behind you (at least for this season).
But who will get the call? That's the big question. You can rest for the Stanley Cup playoffs while giving key prospects time at the NHL level. It's something Golden Knights fans haven't been accustomed to throughout their franchise history. That's what happens when you have one of the best front offices in the league.
Be sure to send your regards to Kelly McCrimmon and company for their hard work, too. They've put plenty of time into ensuring the Golden Knights win the divisional title and make their seventh playoff appearance in eight seasons.
Let's get back to the prospects for a second, though. Three names come to mind regarding such a call-up. They could serve a vital role in the team's future, whether it's in the net or as a forward. There's even one that deserves a call-up as a symbolic gesture for the Las Vegas hockey scene! With that, here are the three players who deserve a call-up to play in Western Canada.
1.) Akira Schmid
Bruce Cassidy has kept a three-goaltender rotation in the past week. It consisted of the two usual players in Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov, along with... Akira Schmid. But there's a good reason why the 24-year-old should be considered for ice time.
Schmid was actually an integral part of getting the Vegas Golden Knights the Pacific Division crown. How? He stepped in for the injured Samsonov and got three points for Vegas. He has a GAA of 1.66 and a save percentage of .934 in April. The Swiss netminder is trending towards getting some ice time with the Golden Knights in the future. Why not get him some ice time in Western Canada?
2.) Tanner Laczynski
Believe it or not, Tanner Laczynski is signed to a two-year deal with the Golden Knights. He's spent most of his time with the Henderson Silver Knights this season in a productive campaign. The former Flyers prospect scored 15 goals and 22 assists in 41 games in 2024-25.
There could be a fourth-line role for Laczynski next season. He's due $775,000 in 2025-26 and almost made the roster this season. Kelly McCrimmon has proven he doesn't mind low-cost players in the right roles. That could be something Golden Knights fans see in the next two games.
3.) Gage Quinney
This one might come as a shocker to many Vegas Golden Knights fans. However, Quinney is a local hockey player. The 29-year-old has only played three games for the NHL club in his hockey career. He even got an assist during his brief stay. In 2024-25, he has nine goals and 27 assists in 50 games.
This isn't about giving him a prominent future role on the team as much as it is honoring the hockey scene's growth in Las Vegas. Quinney represents the determination and persistence of Las Vegas hockey, doing whatever it takes to achieve his hockey dreams.