The Rookie Faceoff is taking over El Segundo, California, where the prospects of tomorrow show their skill sets. It's also the first taste of the new hockey season, where fans can see the different dekes and toe drags involved. That means October is nearly upon us and Vegas Golden Knights fans are anticipating October 9.
Still, fans can settle for the appetizers, with the Golden Knights defeating the Los Angeles Kings, 2-0. Behind a solid goaltending performance from Jesper Vikman and Carl Lindbom and a strong power play, Vegas's prospects got the new season started right. Things are looking up, guys. 2024-25 is going to be fun.
But that game also saw a strong performance from Sloan Stanick. The undrafted winger didn't score a goal in that 2-0 victory. However, he had strong shifts where he looked solid, giving the Golden Knights several scoring opportunities. It's a promising sign for someone without a chance despite having a great amateur career.
Who wouldn't pass up a player who scored 30 goals and 54 assists in 68 games with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders last season? In fact, he had 31 goals and 33 assists in 67 games the year prior, raising eyebrows amongst hockey fans. He's taken those talents to the Rookie Faceoff, where he's taken his game to the next level.
How Sloan Stanick is helping the Vegas Golden Knights with his offensive acumen
One major calling card of Stanick's is his ability to see the play unfold and act accordingly. He knows his surroundings and how to set up the next play. Having incredible on-ice vision makes such players keepers, which could help the Golden Knights prospect become a regular NHL forward. There was one instance where this was the case.
In the third period of Friday's game, Stanick took the puck and stormed down the ice for an odd-man rush. With the team up 1-0, he had an opportunity to put the game out of reach with a well-timed goal. He toe-dragged the defender and blasted one past the goaltender's glove side, scoring a goal that was called off. Still, his puckhandling and skating raised eyebrows at the challenge, making such a play look seamless.
But it's not the first time he's done this. Look at this hat trick he had against the Regina Pats.
A common theme in these goals is his decision-making. Stanick knows how to fire a shot and where to shoot. The third goal is a perfect example, where he heads down the ice in transition. He fires a wrist shot at the top corner to put the Raiders up, 4-1. It was an NHL-worthy goal that would look great while playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights have become well-known as a franchise that finds diamonds in the rough. They know how to pick up little-known players and turn them into, well, gold. That includes names like William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson, who helped Vegas win their first Stanley Cup in 2023. That could be what the future holds for Sloan Stanick, who's already drawing attention from front office personnel.