Can Joe Fleming break through?
For Joe Fleming, he's gone from being an undrafted defenseman to making the Rookie Faceoff roster for the Vegas Golden Knights. It's a similar journey taken by a famous "Misfit" in Jonathan Marchessault. He went from being undrafted to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023, capping off an incredible postseason run.
He's not a prominent goal-scorer, given his position. However, he's evolving into a solid complimentary piece, setting up plays and acting as a good No. 2 on the attack. The blue-liner showed this by scoring 18 assists with the Savannah Ghost Pirates last season. That could bode well for the Golden Knights in the future, especially if they plan on putting him into the regular lineup.
He'll have the opportunity to take the next step in his development journey at the competition in El Segundo. Showing his offensive skills as a complimentary piece will give the Golden Knights hope regarding their defensive prospects and blue-line future. That means it'll be easier to move towards younger prospects or even acquire big names.