3 Vegas Golden Knights names you should know at the Rookie Faceoff
There are Vegas Golden Knights to watch for and players that are vital to the team's future success. Here are three more names you should know.
I'm watching old clips of Bill Nye and he's talking about carbon being everywhere in our system. The scientist discusses it being in the trees, air, and even the cows. Now, Mr. Nye is a passionate speaker about numerous scientific topics, whether it's an atom or the molecular breakdown of oxygen. However, his speech on carbon struck me as interesting.
Why, you might ask? Because the passion felt in that speech was something I (and many passionate hockey fans) could resonate with. He was enthralled in his talk about carbon the same way many fans are about their own teams. Whether you like him or not, it shows how intimate we can become with our biggest loves.
That's especially true with the Vegas Golden Knights, where fans will rejoice at seeing (or hearing) the Rookie Faceoff starting September 13. It doesn't matter if they listen to Dan D'Uva on the radio or travel to El Segundo. What matters is that hockey is back and fans are getting a beloved pastime back into their lives.
Speaking of the faceoff, there are three names that fans should learn about for the upcoming event. Fans already know about what Mathieu Cataford can do and are in awe of the incredible goaltending prospects the Golden Knights have. But fans should know what the future has in store, starting with the prospects on the ice.
Who are these mysterious names that have the fanbase intrigued? What makes them special for the Golden Knights as they try to win more Stanley Cups? It's time to learn about the fascinating names and faces behind the Vegas farm system (Jett Jones, anyone?). Here are three players you should know about for the upcoming competition (no, I didn't pick these based on their names).
Be afraid of Bear, Bear Hughes in the forest
Mind the infamous Ilya Bryzgalov quote for a second and learn about the forward known as Bear Hughes. He's a big center who carries so much strength in his game, fending off defenders with his frame. He wins from disadvantage positions and easily shakes off checks, making him a tough matchup for his opponents.
But that's not the only thing he can do to fool defenders. He also misdirects his opponents and leads them astray, creating open looks and opportunities. Mix in great skating and a nice forechecking ability and Hughes can become a solid offensive threat for the Vegas Golden Knights. He could fit in within Bruce Cassidy's current system and become a contributing team member.
His presence wasn't felt much last season, where he played one game with the Henderson Silver Knights and five games with the Savannah Ghost Pirates. However, he was a solid scorer in 2022-23, scoring 23 goals and 36 assists in 66 games with the South Carolina Stingrays. His production can add to the Golden Knights, turning them into a stronger offensive group.
Jett Jones is set for takeoff
Now, Jett Jones won't score as much as Bear Hughes does in a single season. That's especially true with him scoring four goals and seven assists in 67 combined games last season (he played for the Savannah Ghost Pirates and Henderson Silver Knights). However, the forward serves a vital purpose within the Vegas Golden Knights organization.
The co-captain for the Lethbridge Hurricanes can shrug off opposing defenders with the puck. He uses his body to maintain possession and control the play, similar to what Hughes does. Having a large frame will make this easy, especially since he's 6'3" and 215 lbs. Watch how he scores this goal against the Calgary Hitmen in WHL competition.
He uses the boards to his advantage and skates quickly to avoid the check, creating enough separation to score the goal. His skating stride might not be the most efficient. However, it gets the job done and can develop in the minor leagues. That's good news for a Golden Knights team looking for younger talent to take over their farm system, with the Rookie Faceoff being the first step.
Let's learn about Sloan Stanick, shall we?
Sloan Stanick is similar to Jonathan Marchessault in many ways. Both play the left wing and were undrafted, hoping to make their NHL dreams come true. Both also share a connection with the Vegas Golden Knights, with Stanick being a prospect and Marchessault being, you know, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner and holder of various franchise records.
However, that's where the similarities stop. The native of Brandon, Manitoba, is a taller body than the "Original Misfit," standing at 6'0". He also has an impressive pedigree with the Prince Albert Raiders, scoring 61 goals and 87 assists in the past two seasons. He's a playmaker who sees the play unfold and makes necessary judgments on the ice.
Sloan Stanick is also a terrific shooter from a range, whether it's the middle or the point. His shot has some bite to it, making him a scoring threat at every juncture. While he might be slightly different from Jonathan Marchessault in some respects, he has stark similarities with the iconic franchise winger. That includes his scoring acumen, where he can dominate from long-range.
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