You're Matyas Sapovaliv. You're going into the 2024-25 season feeling good about yourself. You're coming off an incredible 2023-24 season with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit, winning the Memorial Cup.
Not bad, right?
The sky's the limit for you, knowing that you could develop into an NHL-ready player with the Vegas Golden Knights. You have the size, the skills, and the ability to learn, making you an attractive prospect. On top of that, you had a decorated amateur career, adding to your value.
All's good, right?
Well...
Last season, Sapovaliv scored 11 goals and eight assists with the Henderson Silver Knights. One might think he faced a wave of injuries in 2024-25. Certainly, he might've pulled a tricep trying to flip a pancake, right?
Nope. He played 71 games for the Silver Knights last season.
Suddenly, expectations are ramped up for the center heading into 2025-26. He's in a position where it's do or die for his NHL career. You can't afford another dud because you won't join Lisa and play with your friends. That's a fate nobody wants in life.
So... What happened?
What happened with Matyas Sapovaliv in 2025-26?
Well, one thing that immediately jumps out is the number of assists. Getting only eight assists with the Silver Knights isn't good at all. It's a far cry from when he notched 43 with the Saginaw Spirit the season prior, marking him as a promising puck distributor. That prowess was also why the Spirit won the Memorial Cup that season, gaining an offensive edge over their opponents.
Now, that can be chalked up to a couple of things. One, the Czech native was adjusting to the faster pace of AHL hockey. Going from the amateur scene to minor league hockey tends to be a bumpy ride, whether you're a center, a defenseman, or a goaltender.
However, that doesn't explain how many goals he scored. While with Saginaw, he scored 19 goals in his last season. Last season? He scored 11. That's a nice number considering the drop-off is generally larger than eight goals.
What Sapovaliv must do to get back on track with the Henderson Silver Knights this season
For one, he must return to that facilitator role that got him drafted. Being drafted in the second round (48th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft) carries plenty of responsibility. That starts with understanding how the AHL game works and adapting to it.
That starts with slowing the game down to his pace. That way, he can evaluate the play in front of him and taking the right course of action. It doesn't matter if it's letting lanes form or coordinating a teammate to cut into the slot. Slowing down the game to his level gets him further while throwing his opponents.
2025-26 will be a telling year for Sapovaliv as a prospect. If he has trouble adjusting to the AHL's faster pace, he'll be in deep trouble regarding his hockey career. That's not a great place to be, especially when you've shown plenty of promise within the Golden Knights organization.