Ladies and gentlemen, we have hockey this month.
It's been a long, arduous summer filled with melting cars, boring baseball, and an Instagram influencer's plastic body parts melted off. But we're heading closer to the finish line, with the Vegas Golden Knights ready to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Get ready because the party's coming back to T-Mobile Arena.
It started off with college football making its triumphant return to the sports landscape. Now, you can see your crazy Pac-12 games that will end in high-scoring affairs. The only difference is that it won't end in a massive rankings-busting upset that'll leave Larry Scott splashing everywhere.
That also means that the Rookie Camp is around the corner. Names like Trevor Connelly and Cameron Whitehead will sharpen their swords to fight the good fight. You must prepare for the future by taking those first baby steps, you know?
Speaking of rookies, that's what Braeden Bowman was last season. The undrafted sensation went on a tear, establishing himself in the Golden Knights' lineup. Therefore, it's expected that he'll pick up where he left off in 2025-26. Here's why fans should continue buying Bowman's stock.
1.) He has Ryan Craig as his head coach
When Ryan Craig was with the Henderson Silver Knights, he worked on making Bowman an established offensive figure. He wanted him to get into the positioning game and find openings in opposing defenses. Well, guess who's expected to work with him behind the Golden Knights' bench?
Why, that'd be none other than Craig, who takes the reins from the embattled John Tortorella. He'll work with the undrafted forward and develop his game. That's good news for a young player looking to build off a stellar 2025-26 campaign, when he scored eight goals and 18 assists.
2.) With age comes wisdom
It's one of the oldest proverbs (or sayings, whatever you want to call it) in the book. With age comes wisdom, where you learn from past mistakes and grow as a person. It certainly applies in the hockey realm, specifically when you're learning how the game works.
With Bowman, he'll have the special intangible of knowing the offensive system better, especially with the aforementioned Craig behind the bench. What's more, he'll have experienced players to turn to and guide him, which will develop his game further. Speaking of which...
3.) Bowman will benefit from having an experienced center on his line
Now, this is with the understanding that the forward group isn't set in stone. Bowman could have William Karlsson on his unit, which will help him immensely. After all, the Original Misfit holds the single-season franchise record for the most goals with 43 (2017-18).
Or, he could have Tomas Hertl on his wing and have a valuable center in the bumper. Regardless, Bowman will have plenty of guidance and scoring down the middle. That's great news for his development since Vegas is stronger on offense here. Watch for him to shine with an experienced center guiding him.
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