Vegas Golden Knights fans noticed a familiar face on the ice on Tuesday. Yes, Colton Sissons was there after a short stint away. However, Noah Hanifin made his return after being away with a lower-body injury.
The last time fans saw him was on "Opening Knight" against the Los Angeles Kings, where he disappeared into the ether. It must've been Thanos's work because I swear I saw Jack Eichel jump into the multiverse to save his buddy. But in all seriousness, the Boston native was back for Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings.
With that comes the fanfare of a big return. No, it isn't the VGK Drumline joining Chance, the Vegas Vivas, and the Belles while rolling out the red carpet. Instead, it was Hanifin impacting the game in a 1-0 win.
It's not as boisterous and loud as a big welcoming party. But I don't think Hanifin would have it any other way. After all, he was soaring across the ice all night, doing whatever it took to help Vegas get two points.
But what did he actually do on his return on Tuesday? Was he as impactful as he was trying to be? Or did he get in everyone's way and was an absolute nuisance? These are big questions that must be answered in November.
You know what time it is, dear reader. It's time to grade Hanifin and what he did great for the Golden Knights. Let's look at what went right and what went wrong throughout Tuesday's game against the Red Wings. After all, returns like this are bigger than usual.
Grading Noah Hanifin's return for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Detroit Red Wings
If we're being 100% honest, the only reason why Hanifin doesn't get an "A" is because he didn't get a point. No goals, no assists. Nothing to show for his hard work. However, that isn't too much of a detriment for the returning defenseman, considering he was strong in other areas.
For example, he had three shots on goal and a takeaway against the Red Wings. Hanifin was back to being the usual offensive initiator, whether it's playing defense or going on the rush.
It's a promising sign to see one of your better defenseman return to initiate the offensive attack. All night, Hanifin came in like a heat-seeking missile and barraged the Red Wings. It didn't matter if he was forechecking or shooting the puck. The Boston native made a difference.
It's part of why the Golden Knights had a better first period than other games. Sure, they didn't get any goals. However, they were the aggressors throughout the game, scoring the first goal because Ivan Barbashev was relentless in scoring on a rebound.
As mentioned, you want your big guns to return if you're the Golden Knights. You want players like Hanifin and Stone to return, giving you that offensive juice (don't ask me to shorten it, please). Once these players return, fans can expect a fully functioning unit to take over the league.