The Henderson Silver Knights are a stark contrast to the Vegas Golden Knights. They sit in last place in the Pacific Division with eight points and a record of 4-9-0. The Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division with 24 points. There haven't been many NHL-ready players to call up for the main club, which looks like a major problem.
However, Cal Burke and Mason Morelli were called up on Tuesday. That was surprising news to some considering there's a former first-round pick in the Golden Knights system. His name? Brendan Brisson.
But there's good reason behind that. Brisson has scored one goal and two assists in six games this season for the AHL club. He hasn't impressed scouts or coaches within the organization much, leaving him as an anonymous figure.
When you don't have elite skating speed or a suitable size in the NHL, that's part of the problem. Brisson must rely on his skill and finesse to carry him throughout an NHL game. He's shown he can be reliable in the neutral zone, carrying the play in the transition.
However, there's a concern about whether he can translate his game to the NHL level. He hasn't put the pieces together and is still lagging. Should fans be concerned about the player's downfall? Does he have another chance left in him?
Why should fans be concerned about Brendan Brisson?
The preseason was the most telling part about Brendan Brisson's game. He committed bad penalties throughout the session, ranging from a tripping call against Macklin Celebrini on September 22 to dumping the puck over the glass against the Los Angeles Kings on September 25.
These penalties hurt the Golden Knights in different ways, putting them on the penalty kill. If you know anything about the unit this season, it hasn't been the best. They rank 19th in the NHL with a percentage of 78.4%. Plays like that will get the team in trouble, especially during the playoffs.
What happens if Brisson commits a costly penalty early or even late in a playoff game? What if it's Game 7 and a sudden tripping penalty on Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon puts them on the penalty kill? Such plays will put a team at a massive disadvantage, ending their season along the way.
The good news for Brisson is he still has some time. He's waiver-exempt and can still develop his craft at the AHL level. However, he should start making the necessary adjustments now to avoid being cast aside or even traded.
That's especially true with a franchise that hasn't hesitated from trading former first-round picks. Zach Dean and David Edstrom are shining examples of this, which should serve as a warning to the young forward. If he doesn't straighten his game out, he could end up becoming like them.