Not many people have heard from Noah Hanifin this season. He's played only one game in 2025-26, giving ample playing time to Ben Hutton. That's because he's been out with an undisclosed injury. According to Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, that stay appears to be much longer than anticipated.
VGK have recalled goalie Carl Lindbom and defensemen Jaycob Megna.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) October 22, 2025
Noah Hanifin has also been placed on IR.
With that, his availability in the next week is in doubt. In turn, Carl Lindbom and Jaycob Megna have been called up, giving them an ample opportunity to play.
Lindbom is the highly-touted goaltending prospect who shined with the Henderson Silver Knights last season. In 36 games, he posted a GAA of 2.65 and a save percentage of .912, adding three shutouts to the mix. Golden Knights fans waiting to see what the young netminder can do will get their first glimpse.
As for Jaycob Megna, well, he's big. We're talking about the 32-year-old standing at 6'6", bringing an imposing stature in Vegas's blue line. Watch for him to potentially make an appearance and add size to the Golden Knights.
The latest Noah Hanifin update hurts the Golden Knights even more
Losing Mark Stone to a wrist injury doesn't help the Golden Knights in any capacity. He had 11 assists before being hurt and is tied for second in points (13). You've lost your leader and have now lost your key defenseman.
The good news is that Hanifin's eligible to come off IR when healthy. That means he shouldn't be out too long, giving the Golden Knights more reinforcements through the rough months. However, you can't deny that losing the Boston native has a negative impact.
He's a big body who adds an offensive touch to Vegas's game. Hanifin scored 10 goals and 29 assists last season, making him one of the franchise's most valuable offensive weapons. Now? You don't have that for the upcoming gauntlet, which complicates matters.
Still, the Golden Knights have shown they can adapt without their biggest names. The best example came on Monday when they ended the Carolina Hurricanes' undefeated season. A battle-tested unit should handle the upcoming road trip much easier than people think.