Can Tanner Pearson turn a PTO into a roster spot?

The Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights share many players between rosters. Names like Alec Martinez and Jonathan Quick have been on both squads, winning a Stanley Cup (minimum) in the process. What makes this more interesting is both teams are divisional rivals, yet they share more in common than they realize.

That includes Tanner Pearson, a former first-round pick of the Kings in the 2012 NHL Draft. He's getting a PTO with the Golden Knights, hoping to continue his NHL journey. So far, it's been a solid affair, with the forward scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. Yes, it was an empty-net goal. However, goals are goals and Pearson will take them in any form.

But that's not all he is bringing to the team. It took the former King some time to warm up to the NHL level of play. However, he improved after the first period, playing with more urgency. Sometimes, it takes getting your feet wet again to return to your previous form. That's especially true with Pearson getting a fourth-line spot during training camp.

That raises an interesting question about the 32-year-old. Could he play his way onto the main roster this season? Will Golden Knights fans see more of the journeyman winger in 2024-25? There's such a thing as a modern-day miracle and that could come into play this upcoming season. Let's see what could (and couldn't) help his chances.

How Tanner Pearson gets on the Vegas Golden Knights main roster

Ironically, a major factor in Tanner Pearson's getting a roster spot is Brendan Brisson. It seems crazy to think an NHL rookie could impact a veteran's roster spot. However, some factors play into whether he gets on the team. First, it involves the University of Michigan alumni's play during the preseason.

So far, he hasn't gotten off to the best start with the Vegas Golden Knights. Almost 30 minutes into the first game against the Sharks, he was called for tripping on Macklin Celebrini, putting Vegas at an early disadvantage. He'll have another opportunity to rectify his play against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, adding more incentive to play into a roster spot.

Keep in mind that Brisson is waiver-exempt, with the young forward bouncing back and forth out of the NHL. That opens a chance for Pearson to make the team, putting him on the fourth line. That could also allow players like Nicolas Roy to slot into a right-wing spot, giving Bruce Cassidy more options with his forwards.

As for the former Kings forward himself, it depends on how he handles his slow starts. If he comes out stronger out of the gate and reduces his mistakes, he'll have a roster spot coming. It took him some time to familiarize himself with the NHL game again, leaving him to learn the ups and downs. Part of that can be attributed to injuries, which have slowed him down. However, that won't be an issue if he adapts to Bruce Cassidy's style of hockey.

"Maybe a reset for him, get an opportunity to play on a team that probably suits his game a little more than Montreal... We're in the winning mode right now, and he has that in his back pocket. He did it in L.A., so he knows sort of what we're looking for and what it takes on a nightly basis."

Bruce Cassidy to Dan D'Uva