You knew that one of the Original Misfits was going to hold the Golden Knights' record for most games played all-time. It didn't matter if it was Brayden McNabb, William Karlsson, or Shea Theodore. Fans knew one of the tenured Misfits would grab hold of that title.
It just happened to be McNabb, who played 584 games with Vegas. What's more, he did it with little to no fanfare. He played a quiet defensive style that people didn't notice, catapulting him atop the hierarchy.
Yes, way, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone!
Karlsson is close behind with 555 games played, while Jonathan Marchessault sits in third with 514. Shea Theodore isn't far behind, sitting in fourth place with 511 games played with Vegas.
Overall, it's a list of tenured Golden Knights who've been with the team since "Day F*****g One." You have the old guard of players who've led Vegas to glory in their inaugural season, leaving behind a legacy for the fanbase.
So, let's dive further into this incredible accomplishment. Let's go by the numbers and see how McNabb did this as the team's overall leader.
The numbers behind Brayden McNabb's Vegas Golden Knights residency
Let's start with the number of games played in a season. McNabb has three straight seasons of playing all 82 games with the Golden Knights. This dates back to March 30, 2022, when he returned to the ice against the Seattle Kraken.
Overall, he's played 260 straight games with the Golden Knights. He's proven himself to be Vegas's own "Iron Man," stepping onto the ice and racking up the minutes.
The fewest games he's played with the Golden Knights was 41 in 2020-21. Mind you, this was when COVID-19 shook up the league and even sidelined the Misfit himself (health protocols). Here, he scored two goals and six assists, which doesn't stand out among his peers.
McNabb almost played a full season with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018-19, missing only one game. That game happened to be March 30, 2019, against the San Jose Sharks.
Fans should give McNabb his flowers for sticking with the team and continuing to play at a high level. The 34-year-old doesn't get enough appreciation for working hard as a defenseman and creating more moments with fans.
There's an old saying that goes a little something like this:
"Keep on truckin'." That's what McNabb should live by every day.