The Henderson Silver Knights re-signed Brandon Hickey to a one-year deal on Tuesday. He's seen as a depth piece, bringing a careful, yet gritty style to the AHL club for another year. Certainly, Kelly McCrimmon wasn't going to be outdone by the little brother on a quiet Tuesday, right?
That's right, Golden Knights fans. McCrimmon had another move up his sleeve. This time, the general manager brought back Lukas Cormier on a one-year deal. The defenseman has played 139 total games for the Silver Knights and even has some NHL experience to his name.
In 2023-24, he played two games with the Golden Knights, getting an assist on January 4, 2024, against the New York Islanders. That's not bad for a young gun. He also scored four goals and 16 assists with the Silver Knights that season (58 games).
Cormier was picked 68th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft (third round) by the Golden Knights. He's not the biggest defenseman, standing at 5'10" and weighing 190 lbs. However, that doesn't mean he lacks a purpose.
For one, he's shown that he's solid as a shooting blue liner. The 23-year-old also carries a playmaking ability that makes him invaluable. Think of Shea Theodore for his complementary style or Noah Hanifin with his shooting. Think of him as... a hybrid of the two.
Where Lukas Cormier stands in the grand scheme for the Golden Knights
There's a good chance that Cormier will play a role as the seventh defenseman for the Golden Knights this upcoming season. He's a younger alternative to Ben Hutton and carries playmaking capabilities that he doesn't. This should override the size issue the 23-year-old carries, specifically if Vegas shifts to a "shoot-more" mentality.
Of course, he'll spend another season with the Silver Knights this upcoming season, hoping to build off his smaller 2024-25 campaign. Here, he scored nine assists in 19 games, spending minimal time on the ice.
Can he replicate the success of 2022-23, where he scored 10 goals and 25 assists in 62 games? Stay tuned. It certainly seems like a possibility in the future. When you've already added pieces like Mitch Marner to the mix, you're on your way to boosting your numbers.
That's no different for Cormier, who looks to get his feet wet in the NHL. While the New Brunswick native will probably be an AHL resident for the upcoming year, fans will get a taste of what he can bring on a prove-it deal.