Are you ready for some Olympic hockey? That doesn't have the same ring to it as Monday Night Football does. However, Milan is just as big a sports hub this month as San Francisco is. That's right: the Olympics are back in town and the NHL's partaking in the fun.
That means we get roster freezes and tune-ups before the festivities start. The Vegas Golden Knights got more than that on Wednesday as they throttled the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2. They took care of business against a weaker opponent, building confidence before the break starts.
Let's be honest for a second: Vegas desperately needed the break, too. Heading into Wednesday's game on a horrible stretch of losing seven of your last eight games isn't anything to sing home to. In fact, it leaves your fans worried about whether you're a good hockey team or not.
So, let's review the week that was and see what stood out for Golden Knights fans. Some news will be cheery and mellow while others, not as much. Here's what dominated the first week featuring February.
Artemi Panarin heads to the Los Angeles Kings in a blockbuster deal
Stuck in no-man's land, the Los Angeles Kings needed to make a big move. They needed someone who could instantly bolster the lineup, specifically on the wing. Enter Artemi Panarin.
He rejects going to the Seattle Kraken and goes Hollywood. The Rangers get Liam Greentree and two conditional picks, giving Los Angeles another goal-scorer to pair with Adrian Kempe.
Will that pose a threat to the Golden Knights for the next few seasons? Possibly. He's sticking around on a two-year extension worth $11 million AAV, making him a potential pain in the butt. However, one man rarely changes a team's fortunes, so it'll be worth seeing where this leads.
Kai Uchacz makes his Vegas Golden Knights debut
In the wake of yet another Golden Knight being injured (this time, Jonas Rondbjerg), Vegas called up Kai Uchacz to the team. He made his NHL debut on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks, registering five hits. Man, talk about making an impact right out the gate.
This season, the forward has helped the Henderson Silver Knights with six goals and 15 assists (39 games). He's known for his Red Deer Rebels tenure, where he scored 109 goals and 100 assists in five seasons. While he was a bit naughty during his WHL years, Uchacz has proven himself to be a viable scorer. Could that translate to NHL success? Stay tuned.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are here!
It's funny that the Olympics are happening while I'm in Europe right now. The thought of watching other nations compete for individual (and team-based!) supremacy in other sports is always a welcome sight, especially when the Vegas Golden Knights are involved.
This season, fans will get the chance to see superstars like Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel, and Rasmus Andersson participate. They'll represent the world's best and do whatever it takes to bring home Olympic gold. If you thought that the 4 Nations Face-Off was crazy, wait until you see what Milan has in store.