It's easy to forget that there will be Vegas Golden Knights hockey once the Olympics are over. When you're done seeing superstars like Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner dominate on the ice, you yearn for more Olympic-sized action. Who doesn't like to see Marner and Stone create some on-ice magic with Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid?
Of course, it's also easy to forget that other players play on the Golden Knights. Fans have seen the consequences of a top-heavy team and how far that group can go. That group was stonewalled twice by the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, keeping the most prized trophy in sports in the United States.
But let's go back to the other players for a second. Fans always want to watch Eichel and Pavel Dorofeyev score goals and light up the scoresheet. After all, that's what sells tickets in Las Vegas.
Still, don't forget about these three names once the Olympic break's over. These three names might not be Olympic superstars in Milan (well, except for one). But their impact on Vegas will be paramount to the team's success, especially if they wish to go on a Stanley Cup run.
1.) Brayden McNabb
Vegas Golden Knights fans remember when Brayden McNabb was taken out of commission by Michael Bunting in a New Year's Eve clash against the Nashville Predators. It was a painful loss that left the back end vulnerable to opponents.
Golden Knights fans saw the consequences of not having McNabb around. Opponents grabbed the slot like it was free real estate and abused the goaltending. The Golden Knights couldn't keep up whenever they turned the puck over.
As a result, Vegas struggled to defend... and win games by January's end and February's beginning. Fans shouldn't forget about the Original Misfit's impact once he steps back into the lineup. The stay-at-home defense will improve significantly once he's back in the fold.
2.) Keegan Kolesar
Kolesar has been a proverbial staple of the Golden Knights fourth line. He forechecks well, he hits people, and he provides ample scoring. He has five goals and 10 assists this season to go with 193 hits, making him a staple of Vegas's lower units.
Watch for Kolesar to continue providing hard-hitting play for the Golden Knights after the Olympic break. Considering that Vegas is expected to get McNabb back soon, it'll add more bite to go with the native of Brandon, Manitoba.
3.) Akira Schmid
The Swiss Olympian has been surprisingly effective when called upon this season. Schmid has a GAA of 2.53 to go with two shutouts, making him Vegas's most reliable netminder. Life should get much easier with the aforementioned reinforcement coming in, taking away shooting lanes at every turn.
Watch for him once the Golden Knights start getting players back, especially on the back end. Life should become more bearable once the Swiss netminder gets more people taking away shooting lanes. That way, he can use his size more liberally and take up space without much pressure.