Brendan Brisson Is Now a Golden Knight. What Does He Bring to the Table?

In case you've heard the bad news, Jack Eichel had lower-body surgery, leaving him out on a week-by-week basis. With the sea of injuries plaguing the Vegas Golden Knights, reinforcements are desperately needed. Luckily, they have a former first-round pick that can help. His name? Brendan Brisson.

The former Michigan Wolverine comes in on the heels of Vegas losing arguably their most valuable player. Called up on Sunday, Brisson has the chance to showcase what he's made of during his tenure. The Pacific Division isn't getting any easier, either. Edmonton and Seattle are surging, Los Angeles is not far behind, and Vancouver is atop the league. On top of that, Brisson's a depth piece that the Golden Knights desperately need now.

So let's look at the former first-round pick, shall we? How can he set himself apart from Vegas's previous failures? What strengths does he bring to the table? Here's what Golden Knights fans can expect from their newest Clark Kent, who might turn out to be Superman.

1. Brendan Brisson's Background

Our newest call-up, Brendan Brisson has been doing this hockey thing his whole life. Born on October 22, 2001, in the pristine hockey town of... Manhattan Beach, California, Brisson started his career with the Los Angeles Kings 13U AAA team. There, he scored 28 total points in 2014-2015, getting his feet wet for his inevitable NHL career.

But it wasn't until he started playing for Shattuck St. Mary's prep team that he started to take off. In 2017-2018, the winger scored 67 points, bumping his total up to an astonishing 101 points the next season. He also had a brief stint in the USHL, playing two seasons in the league before heading off to college.

There, Brisson became a Michigan Man, scoring 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) during his Wolverine tenure. He was on the Second-Team All Big Ten team and was on the NCAA All-Region Team. It wasn't until he was done singing "Hail to the Victors" that he caught the eye of the Vegas Golden Knights. Drafted 29th overall, Brendan Brisson was ready to start his new journey towards the NHL.

But first, the winger had to make his cut in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. This was where he became a staple on the team in a short time. In three seasons, he totaled 68 points (31 goals, 37 assists), making his impact known.

3. Brendan Brisson's Strengths and Weaknesses

Aside from his hockey IQ, Brendan Brisson is also big on his mechanics. From making the perfect pass to having an incredible shot, the Manhattan Beach native has the template to become a dynamic offensive player.

However, he does have some areas to improve. You can't expect anyone to be perfect, you know. First, he must get bigger. Standing at 6'0" and weighing in at roughly 185 lbs., Brendan Brisson can get pushed around easily.

The winger also doesn't have breakneck speeds, making his offensive efficiency more challenging. He would be better in non-transition situations, preferring to set up plays while picking apart defenses. Still, this is Brisson's domain, which will make him a deadly threat against the competition.

For all of Vegas's past successes, they've rarely had a first-round pick work out for them. After all, most of them have been traded away (Zach Dean and Nick Suzuki). Brisson has the chance to dispel the myth, becoming an incredible force for a team in need of depth. Now that would save the day.