Look, I know that times are tough for Vegas Golden Knights fans entering Wednesday. The team was on a bad slide before their game against the Vancouver Canucks, losing seven of their last eight games. However, it appears that good news is on the horizon in the form of a returning Misfit.
It's in the form of defenseman Brayden McNabb, who's expected to return once the Olympic break wraps up, per Bruce Cassidy. While fans are still waiting for William Karlsson to return, the news still helps the Golden Knights on the back end.
Directly out of the break, Cassidy says McNabb is expected to be back. Saad and Sissons might be back and are closer than Karlsson and Howden who are both still considered week-to-week. Hart still needs to get back on the ice before he'll know more.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) February 4, 2026
This season has been relatively quiet for McNabb offensively. The Golden Knights defenseman only has two goals and an assist in 38 games. However, his bread and butter doesn't come from the offensive side, but rather, the opposite end of the spectrum.
McNabb has 98 blocked shots and 63 hits this season, making him one of the most important stay-at-home defensemen for the Golden Knights. He also has 13 takeaways, adding more to his defensive profile.
The news comes as a pleasant surprise for Vegas heading into the Olympic break. The team has suffered an array of injuries, losing players like Colton Sissons, Brandon Saad, and Brett Howden. Now? They're getting more players returning, starting with McNabb getting back with the team.
Why Brayden McNabb matters to the Vegas Golden Knights more than people realize
The Vegas Golden Knights have had issues with taking space away from their opponents. They've been limited in keeping them from crashing into the slot, leaving the goaltenders exposed to aggressive attackers. Brayden McNabb does an excellent job at deterring this.
He constantly has his stick out and is terrific at anticipating plays. The 35-year-old also carries a solid hockey IQ, reading plays before they unfold. It's what the Golden Knights have missed in January, leaving their defensive units suddenly vulnerable to breaking down.
One player who will greatly benefit from having him back is Shea Theodore. The defenseman has done a terrific job with his fellow Misfit in the mix. They've acted as one of the league's best pairs, offering a defensive prowess and great puck-moving capabilities.
McNabb's return comes at the perfect time because Vegas has a daunting five-game road trip ahead. With the Los Angeles Kings getting Artemi Panarin and the Eastern Conference teams being in the playoff mix, Vegas needs as much defensive help as it can get.
While it stinks that William Karlsson isn't returning any time soon, don't sleep on McNabb coming back into the mix. Vegas isn't one to shy away from getting reinforcements to come in, especially when they join a solid defensive group with Rasmus Andersson.