Gage Quinney is having a moment right now. The tenured Vegas Golden Knights farmhand had a spectacular preseason with his new team, the Shanghai Dragons. He was scoring goals left and right, rising like a phoenix (not the Coyote).
But his renaissance has carried over to the regular season, where he's continuing to score.
First of many for @gagequinney in the @khl_eng pic.twitter.com/3oEn5SjXRE
— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) September 6, 2025
All of this led to Shanghai defeating an Igor Larionov-led SKA, 7-4. Mind you, Quinney has two goals and two assists in his first game of the season. According to Elite Prospects, he's projected to score... 136 goals and 136 assists in 68 games.
Indeed. I concur, Ron Simmons.
Overall, the Las Vegas native has had a defined AHL career within the Golden Knights organization. He scored 114 goals and 166 assists in eight seasons, making him one of the most tenured players in the league. He even had a brief stint in the NHL with Vegas, scoring an assist in three games.
Gage Quinney's renaissance as a hockey player proves you don't have to give up on your dreams
Let's be completely honest here. It's near impossible to have a prominent role in the NHL. You must dominate the amateur leagues and continue that momentum past your teenage years. After that, you must rule the minor leagues and become a prominent figure.
Once that's all settled, you must take that dominance into the NHL landscape. The chances of all this happening is... small. It's no wonder most people don't make it to the big leagues in North America.
However, life has a funny way of giving you an alternate path to work with. Sometimes, you can go to the KHL to reinvent yourself and become a prominent figure. That's where Gage Quinney is in his hockey career.
Sure, he didn't get much of a chance in the NHL. However, he's showing he can find new life in other parts of the world, whether it's Russia or China. In a world where we need to celebrate the underdogs more, this is a refreshing story for everyone. Here's hoping that Quinney continues that moment and dominates with the Dragons!