Vegas Golden Knights fans were treated to some delightful sights at Thursday's practice. They saw Adin Hill back as his usual self, chillin' and Hillin'. On top of that, they also got Shea Theodore in a red no-contact jersey. But I bet you know what's coming with the upcoming news bit.
Yep, that's right. The Golden Knights officially placed Brayden McNabb on injured reserve, according to SinBin.Vegas.
Brayden McNabb has been placed on IR.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 8, 2026
No corresponding move has been made at this time.
Golden Knights fans will remember the brutal hit that McNabb suffered in the New Year's Eve game against the Nashville Predators. He collided with Michael Bunting and sustained an upper-body injury. In turn, he's out of commission for some time for the Golden Knights.
While McNabb hasn't done much on the offensive end (two goals and one assist this season), the Original Misfit's bread and butter comes on the back end. He's blocked 98 shots and administered 63 hits in 2025-26 (38 games), making him a trustworthy stay-at-home defenseman.
Say it with me, class: It's one step forward and two steps back for the Vegas Golden Knights with the latest Brayden McNabb news
Having Shea Theodore and Adin Hill return to practice on Thursday was a great sign for the Golden Knights. The team has had trouble with keeping goals off the scoresheet, specifically when they have a lead. That's led to losses to teams like the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks, putting fans in an uncomfortable position.
While the latest news involving Hill and Theodore is enough to make you run through a brick wall, the McNabb news puts a slight damper on the day. You're losing one of your better pure defensemen, leaving you to rely on... Jaycob Megna.
It's no disrespect to Megna since I'm sure he's a terrific person. However, the big defenseman has struggled in his Golden Knights tenure. Fans have noticed that he's been out of position numerous times, leaving opponents to get juicy looks.
It sucks to lose one of your key defenders, especially when you have two important players getting closer to returning. However, it's the harsh reality from a cruel December that Golden Knights fans must reckon with. Here's hoping that he has a speedy recovery and that Vegas can get back to full strength sooner than later.