3 Vegas Golden Knights that would make great Savannah Bananas
The Vegas Golden Knights and the... Savannah Bananas? Believe it or not, it'd be an entertaining premise.
Nobody thinks about the Vegas Golden Knights and the Savannah Bananas together. For one, they're two completely different sports, playing in opposite settings. Hockey is played inside a cold arena, with two teams who start six battling it out in a frozen coliseum. On the other hand, baseball is played in the beautiful outdoors, taking place in a breathtaking ballpark.
With one sport representing the character-building aspects of winter and the other representing the fun-filled wonders of summer, you'd think both sports couldn't come together (unless that happens to be Ilitch Holdings, which owns the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers). That is, until now.
Playoff Hockey, @TheSavBananas style 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wKkmofvYOK
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 15, 2024
That's right, the Savannah Bananas have brought winter's pastime and added the American Pastime to it. Instead of a catcher calling strikes, there's a goaltender stopping baseballs. Replace the pitcher with a forward shooting baseballs at home plate and the Savannah Bananas experience is in full effect. It's a part of the fun-filled experience that has captivated everyone recently. Granted, that's been the zeitgeist for baseball's version of the Harlem Globetrotters, entertaining families with their hilarious antics. That's why it's exploded in popularity in recent years.
So what does this have to do with the Golden Knights? Well, let's have some fun and imagine which Golden Knights would be a good fit with the Bananas. After all, they might need some good hockey players to stop the Party Animals from winning. Can't let baseball's version of the Washington Generals win games while on tour, you know?
That's why these players would be excellent for helping Savannah march their way to victory (By the way, the tour stops by Las Vegas on June 21 and 22 at Las Vegas Ballpark). Here are three Golden Knights that would be the perfect fit for the Bananas.
1. William Karlsson
William Karlsson being on the Savannah Bananas is because of his memorable speech during the Stanley Cup parade festivities. The author behind the infamous "Day F****** One" speech would be an entertaining piece for the Bananas, standing on the mound and slinging pitches. It'd be a better bonus if the forward would pitch baseballs with his hockey stick, making the catcher retrieve them.
What would make this experience even better? If Karlsson was drunk and shirtless, lobbing pitches. It would be a humorous callback to his dedicated speech to Jonathan Marchessault, when the winger won the Conn Smyhe trophy. Okay, maybe not too drunk. But it'd still be funny to see the Swedish star hurling baseballs to opposing batters with a brewski in his hand.
Regardless of what Karlsson does, he's always good for entertaining the crowd. The forward has made himself at home in the Las Vegas community, becoming one of the more tenured "Misfits". That comes with scoring 30 goals and 30 assists this season, marking a return to Vegas hockey stardom.
Of course, there's also the 78-point season, where Karlsson had a franchise-high 43 goals. But the Swedish star is a fun time wherever he goes, delighting fans with his fun-filled persona... and drunken speeches. If Karlsson does come to a Bananas game, he better bring Marchessault with him.
2. Mark Stone
There's no single Vegas Golden Knights player more expressive than Mark Stone. He showcases his emotions in big moments, showing his passion for hockey. That would translate well into the Savannah Bananas world, where he would entertain the masses with his incredible personality. In fact, there's a Twitter account dedicated to the forward's intensity during key moments.
That's part of why he's been the Golden Knights captain. His dedication and passion for hockey stand tall over the rest, making him popular within the community. In turn, he's become the face of the franchise, representing the winning ways that the Golden Knights have been accustomed to since their inception. Nobody wears their heart on their sleeve like Stone,
However, some people will say he belongs to the Party Animals. Lacerating the spleen isn't as life-threatening as people believe, with Stone just, well, partying on the sidelines. However, the Captain would be an excellent fit for the Bananas for his energy and infectious persona. Besides, he has plenty of time to party with the Party Animals after the game.
3. Logan Thompson
Of course, the Savannah Bananas experience wouldn't be complete without a good goalten-I mean, catcher. If the Bananas are looking for a good backstop to help them, look no further than Logan Thompson. After his incredible game three performance against the Dallas Stars, there's good reason to believe he'd save the day.
Take it from his stats this season, which paints a good picture. Thompson had a 180-degree from his subpar December month, posting a save percentage of .915 since January 6th. He's also allowed an average of 2.53 goals since that date, making him a great backstop.
This would also work well with Adin Hill, who's been identical to Thompson since the start of the new year. So don't be surprised if Hill makes a surprise appearance with the Bananas. But right now, the focus is on the 27-year-old, who's making progress throughout his young NHL career.
If the Calgary native continues his terrific ways, he can become a formidable future goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights. Of course, that starts with building his confidence and staying healthy. If that happens, watch for Thompson to make an appearance or two with the Bananas.
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