The injury bug hasn't been too kind to the Vegas Golden Knights in recent weeks. It's taken away big names like Mark Stone and Nicolas Hague, leaving the Golden Knights depleted. So what's a team to do in this scenario? Play with a short-handed group?
I'm afraid not, dear reader. If that happened, the Golden Knights would be at a disadvantage every game.
Instead, they called up forwards Mason Morelli and Cal Burke from the Henderson Silver Knights. Burke has two goals and four assists in 11 games with the Silver Knights. Morelli has four goals and five assists in 13 games with Henderson.
Per the NHL media roster, VGK have called up forwards Cal Burke and Mason Morelli.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) November 19, 2024
It's that time of year again. The Silver Knights have their players called up, bringing reinforcements for the NHL club. They're in the wake of the injury bug, which has wiped out numerous players in prior seasons. Thus, it shouldn't surprise Golden Knights fans that names like Burke and Morelli are called up.
So let's meet the prospects. What do both players bring to the table? What makes the AHL stars unique in the Golden Knights landscape? Could we see more of the duo in the future? Here's a peek at what fans can expect from the two forwards.
Meeting Mason Morelli and Cal Burke
Let's start with Mason Morelli, an undrafted forward from Minot, North Dakota. Not much has come from the region, so he carries the torch of representing his hometown. The 28-year-old spent time with the NAHL's Minot Minotauros (two seasons, 13 goals, 17 assists) and the USHL's Fargo Force (two seasons, 18 goals, 20 assists).
Morelli graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, playing four seasons with their hockey club. Here, he scored 37 goals and 40 assists during his four-year career. The forward is a good complimentary piece who can score goals when needed. He has a nice shot and sets up scoring chances well.
As for Cal Burke? The 27-year-old is also undrafted, hailing from Boxborough, Massachusetts. He spent four seasons with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, scoring 36 goals and 52 assists. Burke does have NHL experience with the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche, playing a combined three games in the last two seasons.
Like Morelli, Burke has some nice offensive attributes to his game. He handles the puck well and is a mobile player. Fans can expect a good running mate on the lower lines, specifically on the attack.
Is there a future for Burke and Morelli?
The NHL dream is one that countless hockey players in North America aspire to achieve. Unfortunately, the average player is competing against millions of other hockey players fighting for that same dream. Therefore, the odds of making an NHL roster are slim.
That's especially true for Cal Burke and Mason Morelli. They'll be temporary pieces while roster mainstays Mark Stone and Victor Olofsson return to the lineup. Once they're back, they'll be back to the minor leagues.
Still, it's fun to imagine if they get that shot. Scoring goals and being an impact player is always a fun thought, especially if you want to be in the NHL. For Morelli and Burke, they can hope of eventually reaching that goal one day.