Preseason primer: Prepping for the first Vegas Golden Knights preseason game

Vegas Golden Knights hockey is returning in the form of preseason games, where the team will try out different players for their roster. The goal? Get the 12 best forwards, two best goaltenders, and six best defensemen for the team. That way, you can compete for the Stanley Cup. Getting the second championship is something the Golden Knights want, specifically with their championship window open.

This time, they have new faces playing in their first full season. That includes Tomas Hertl, acquired from the San Jose Sharks at the trade deadline last season. He aims to act as a big body to deflect pucks in the net. He's also an excellent two-way center, playing both ends of the ice well. He's the ideal Golden Knights forward, providing quality offense and defense.

Speaking of the Sharks, they're a sharp contrast to Vegas. They don't have superstars like Jack Eichel on the team, for they're a rebuilding club. However, they have the first overall draft pick in Macklin Celebrini, accompanied by prospects such as Sam Dickinson and Yaroslav Askarov. These players will provide the foundation needed for San Jose to succeed.

But what should Golden Knights fans know about the first preseason game? What storylines will captivate the audience as both bitter rivals play against each other? Hockey is coming back sooner than people realize, so it's time for fans to get their foam fingers and jerseys on. Here's what you need to know for the first preseason game.

What to know for the first Vegas Golden Knights preseason game against the San Jose Sharks

The first preseason game happens on September 22 at the SAP Center in San Jose. The Vegas Golden Knights will play the San Jose Sharks to kick off the unofficial journey to winning another Stanley Cup. Of course, that means identifying who the best players are for the upcoming season. So what should fans watch for?

First, names like Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin will play their first full season with the team. The two major trade deadline acquisitions from last season are expected to bolster the offensive output for Vegas. Both are power play assets brought in to bolster the historically mundane unit. But there's more to watching the game than these two.

Macklin Celebrini will be a key player to watch. How will he perform in the preseason? Will he mesh well with younger players such as Igor Chernyshov and Sam Dickinson? They will be key to the Sharks' rebuild being successful as the franchise hopes to win their first Stanley Cup. Tanner Pearson will be a name to watch on the Golden Knights side. He played with the fourth line to start training camp, so that he could get into the lineup. His veteran presence and scoring touch could bolster the team.

Fans can listen to the Vegas Golden Knights on 98.9 Fox Sports Las Vegas and 1340 AM this season. They can also watch the games on Scripps Sports and KnightTime+. The team is excited to return to the ice, carrying a chip on their shoulder. Nobody expects the Golden Knights to do much this season. However, beating the San Jose Sharks could be the first step to proving them wrong.