The Henderson Silver Knights have been a complete abomination this season. They're ninth in the Pacific Division with 32 points (15-27-2) and have been one of the league's worst teams throughout 2024-25. Not many people were expecting them to have much representation during the AHL All-Star Weekend in Coachella Valley. After all, isn't that for, like, rich people?
However, the Silver Knights did have one representative during the AHL Skills Competition. His name? Grigori Denisenko. The Vegas Golden Knights prospect has 10 goals and 14 assists in 40 games this season, making him one of the most important players on the team.
Of course, that's a low bar to set if you're Henderson. You're the illegitimate child regarding successful hockey teams in Nevada. Obviously, there are the Vegas Golden Knights who have 68 points and are near the top of the Western Conference. There's also the ECHL's Tahoe Knight Monsters, who have 54 points (25-15-3-1) and are in the thick of a playoff race themselves.
But let's pivot back to the former first-round pick for a second. After all, Sunday was his night. How did the Russian forward do for the Western Conference? Did his team steal the competition and prove that "East Coast" (or rather, Eastern Conference) bias is a myth in hockey?
Grigori Denisenko's results in the AHL Skills Competition
Grigori Denisenko participated in three different events: The Inglasco Puck Control Relay, Fortune Tires Rapid Fire, and Upper Deck Breakaway Relay. Overall, he didn't do much for the Western Conference, who lost the competition, 19-13. Still, there were some interesting notes regarding the events.
First came the Inglasco Puck Control Relay, where he was paired with Austin Watson (Grand Rapids Griffins) and Cole Guttman (Rockford Ice Hogs). Their opponents? Simon Nemec (Utica Comets), Dalibar Dvorsky (Springfield Thunderbirds), and Trevor Carrick (Charlotte Checkers). The team of Nemec, Dvorsky, and Carrick won this competition, but the Western Conference won this round, 3-1.
Next was the Fortune Tires Rapid Fire, where he was paired with Curtis McKenzie (Texas Stars). The opposing goaltender was Dennis Hildeby, a 6'7" (!) goaltender for the Toronto Marlies. Hildeby stopped eight of 10 shots for the Eastern Conference, who won the event. It's tough to win when you have a literal mountain in front of you, ya know?
Finally, there was the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay. Do you like seeing players get their one shot to score? Well, Denisenko didn't do that here as he was stopped by Michael DiPietro (Providence Bruins). The Eastern Conference won the competition, 6-5, as the Western Conference came up short. At least the former first round pick had fun. That's all that matters if you're playing for the Henderson Silver Knights, right?
Sadly, it's back to reality for the Russian forward as his team fights to stay out of the Pacific Division basement. Still, a little representation on the Vegas Golden Knights side doesn't hurt anyone, especially if it's more than one player. Luckily, the Golden Knights aren't just sending Jack Eichel to the mid-February tournament known as the 4 Nations Face-Off. That's the perk of being on an excellent hockey team in the thick of a Stanley Cup run.