There's nothing more riveting than going on a long journey to your desired destination. You've put so much time and effort into making your dreams happen that you're envisioning of coming true. It's akin to a Disney movie, only it has a soul.
For Jordan Gustafson, he's working his way up to becoming a Vegas Golden Knights staple. Originally from the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Lethbridge Hurricanes, he makes his way to the Henderson Silver Knights next season to provide much-needed scoring.
The center certainly knows a thing or two about that. In six seasons in the WHL, he scored 61 goals and 75 assists (162 games). Granted, it hasn't been easy for Gustafson, specifcally when it came to last season. He only scored six goals and three assists in a shortened campaign with Lethbridge in 2024-25.
But that doesn't mean he's void of talent. The Canadian forward still has an opportunity to shine despite being hurt and not living up to expectations. What can he do to earn his spot? Where do his biggest strengths lie as a hockey player?
Breaking down Jordan Gustafson's game
Gustafson brings plenty to the table for the Silver Knights. The former third-round pick is active in all three zones and has a 200-ft. game. If there's one thing Bruce Cassidy loves among his players, it's two-way players. The 21-year-old brings that to the Golden Knights.
He can also eliminate threats in the offensive end set up the incoming attack. The center does this by closing passing lanes and intercepting incoming plays. He can even move attackers off the puck and create turnovers for his teammates.
As an offensive player, he can dash into the slot and make plays. With this, Gustafson fires off a perfect shot that leads to, well, a goal. This is done by catching defenders napping and feasting on openings.
Overall, he can be a viable piece if he puts it all together consistently. If he's on the ice more, it'll prove to be valuable to his development as a hockey player. Of course, that'll mean he gets his shot with the Golden Knights in a beleaguered forward unit from the farm system.
Where could Gustafson project to land on the Vegas Golden Knights roster?
As it stands, the 21-year-old will be a bottom-six forward at best. His injury past and consistency must improve to get more ice time. Otherwise, he'll be stuck in an eternal loop with the Silver Knights. That's a place he'd obviously prefer not to be.
If everything goes well, he could bump himself up to the middle of the lineup. That could mean leading a line once William Karlsson leaves town (if he's lucky). Again, this is contingent on whether the young center can be a consistent player with some luck in his health.
Let's face it. As much as McCrimmon doesn't care too much about prospects in the long term, it could help Vegas. An emerging player always helps the organization figure its plans out for the future. Just look at Tuomas Uronen and where his development's heading.
As for Gustafson? Next season will be the ultimate opportunity for him to shine. He can overcome his injury woes and contribute to a lowly Silver Knights team at a high clip. At this point, they can use whatever help they can get. Why not a third-round pick from the 2022 NHL Draft?