Reilly Smith was, quite publicly, the first multi-tenure player to rejoin Vegas in Golden Knights history, returning via trade for a second tenure last March. Perhaps you knew that offseason signing Dylan Coghlan could've been the second had he played during his call-up(s).
But were you aware that there was a third, even less-well-known return this offseason? Well, there was, as Jaycob Megna finally made his VGK debut in the first game of the new year, six years after his original signing with the organization.
Eichel returns from injury and Jaycob Megna makes his VGK debut in place of the injured McNabb. Megna will be the 99th skater in club history.
— Dan D'Uva (@Dan_DUva) January 2, 2026
Hart for Vegas (17-10-11) vs. Hofer for St. Louis (15-18-8).@garylawless and I have the call at 12 on @FoxSportsLV 94.7 FM / 1340 AM… pic.twitter.com/t9ScLEwV50
Megna's prior history with the Vegas Golden Knights
Though the game against St. Louis marked his first-ever game in gold, Megna has played in the organization before. Way back in 2019, just a few months after the not-a-major incident, Vegas quietly picked up the then-San Diego Gulls captain on a one-year deal for the 2019-20 season.
In his first season outside of the Anaheim Ducks' organization, Megna didn't play an NHL game, but posted three goals and seven assists in 60 games for our then-AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season.
Megna played alongside current Golden Knights Keegan Kolesar, Zach Whitecloud, and Jonas Rondbjerg on that Wolves team, as well as other notables like Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague. Following the season, he signed with the San Jose Barracuda on an AHL deal, entering an organization that would ultimately give him significant NHL time.
What does Jaycob Megna bring to this VGK team?
Well, to put it bluntly, Megna is big. Standing at 6'6" and 220 lbs., Megna provides size on the blueline to compensate for the loss of fellow big man Brayden McNabb. He's also a veteran of 194 NHL games over 13 professional seasons, bringing experience to the defensive corps. In particular, he's well-respected amongst his peers, having previously served as captain of the San Diego Gulls and San Jose Barracuda before being named to the same position by the Henderson Silver Knights several months ago.
He also brings a recent Stanley Cup-winning pedigree to an already success-laden VGK lineup. Megna spent last season with the Florida Panthers, playing eight games during their second consecutive cup run. Though his name wasn't ultimately inscribed on the trophy, he did get a lap with it following Florida's Game Six victory over Edmonton.
Finally, he also joins the long line of players to cross between both sides of the Golden Knights-Sharks rivalry. 92 of Megna's 194 NHL games came with San Jose between 2021 and 2023, and they were the first NHL team to give him significant playing time since his multiple tenures on Anaheim's main roster.
Best of luck to the big man! He'll need it, given the shoes he's filling in McNabb's absence.