Don't you just hate being dismissed and counted out? It's something that Mark Stone talked about heading into last season, where not many people believed in the Vegas Golden Knights. Losing an array of centers and wingers can devastate a regular team, leaving their city to look like an atomic bomb dropped.
But that didn't apply to the Golden Knights. You see, they won a Pacific Division title and got 110 points. Now? They have Mitch Marner on board, taking away the mouths of critics and skeptics everywhere.
It's good to be the king. Right, Mel Brooks?
Anyways, amidst the revamped roster are three names that haven't gotten enough love. It's unfortunate because they deserve some respect for their contributions. It's not easy to block shots and sacrifice your body on a nightly basis (pour one out for the homie, Alex Pietrangelo).
So let's see who these three players are. What makes them so unique? What do they have to prove heading into the 2025-26 season? Let's add more fuel to the fire and get these guys riled up before next season hits!
1.) Noah Hanifin
10 goals and 29 assists might not stand out much to Golden Knights fans. However, adding 145 shots and 106 blocked shots makes him far more valuable than people realize. He plays as a viable two-way defenseman who's a solid second-pair guy.
If Vegas adds his former teammate, Rasmus Andersson, to the mix, watch out. The chemistry between the two would be akin to what Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb have. The only difference would be that Vegas would have two two-way defensemen instead of having a yin-and-yang type of dynamic.
2.) Brandon Saad
When Brandon Saad came over from the St. Louis Blues via a signing last season, people wrote him off as washed. They thought the 32-year-old was washed and couldn't do anything. That included not even turning on the shower head!
Well, six goals and eight assists as a Golden Knight will do certain things for you. First, it'll get you a one-year contract extension with a no-trade clause. Second, it adds a chip on your shoulder, allowing you to prove said skeptics wrong.
With a bulldog mentality and a penchant for finding the net, Saad will have more to prove in 2025-26. If he can make the most of his chances in the middle of the lineup, watch out!
3.) Adin Hill
After Logan Thompson was traded to the Washington Capitals last summer, some Golden Knights fans weren't satisfied with Adin Hill as the starter. They hissed and clawed at the poor 29-year-old like he came from Edmonton, trashing him at every turn.
"I MISS MY LT!"
"WhY aDiN hIlL, tHo?"
His playoff performance added fuel to the fire, where he posted a GAA of 2.93 and a save percentage of .887. That'll always provide some bait for the haters.
But! There's always a but.
I attribute that to an increased workload that wore him down (Hill started 50 games last season). Having Ilya Samsonov backing you up doesn't help matters, either. Luckily, he held his own with a GAA of 2.47 (sixth in the NHL) and a save percentage of .906. Did I mention he had four shutouts? That's extremely important here.
Having a more viable backup in Akira Schmid or even Carl Lindbom will help here. He has the load taken off of him.
Perhaps it's time for Hill to get his due. The Calgary native showed he was a steady force when the offense stagnated. Imagine what he can do with another two-way forward in front of him.