Watch for Brett Howden to prove himself in 2024-25

When your NHL roster looks completely different from last season, you're hoping other players can pick up the slack. The "next man up" mentality has made legendary teams such as the 2000s-2010s New England Patriots successful. Their ability to replicate winning hinges on another guy replacing the predecessor and adding more production. The Vegas Golden Knights are tasked with doing this for the 2024-25 season.

Everyone knows that Jonathan Marchessault is gone on a countrywide tour. However, losing players such as William Carrier are also impactful, specifically on the lower lines. They brought a physical edge to the lower lines when healthy, adding a nice scoring touch. Names like Brett Howden, Tomas Hertl, and Keegan Kolesar are expected to step up in his absence.

After all, the Golden Knights will need that "next man up" mentality to win another Stanley Cup. You can assemble an entire team of superstars and pay them high salaries, only to fall short in the playoffs every year. Look at the Toronto Maple Leafs as a perfect example. They have questions about their "Core Four," given their salary cap crunch. They also have no Stanley Cups in the past decade to show for it, with questions about the group's championship viability lingering.

So what makes Brett Howden a key Vegas Golden Knights player?

Everyone knows Tomas Hertl has lofty expectations as a part of the Vegas Golden Knights this season. He was the shiny new acquisition in March, adding another big body to the team. Fans will focus on how the trade deadline pickup will do in a full season with Vegas. However, he won't be the only player to watch for.

Brett Howden brings plenty of solid attributes to the Golden Knights. He's a fast, defensive player who uses his skill to chase down pucks. He's also a decent player away from the puck, delivering hard checks and generating takeaways on the forecheck. Here's a perfect example of what he brings to the table for Vegas.

He's able to outspeed the opposing Carolina Hurricane for a juicy opportunity on Antti Raanta. He puts it top-shelf for a nice goal, bringing the Golden Knights within a goal. That breakneck speed gives him a nice setup that catches Raanta off-guard, allowing him to leave the goaltender on his stomach. In turn, it led to a nice goal which started a two-goal second-period that game.

Howden doesn't need to rely on stats to shine

Fans won't notice much of Howden on the stat sheet. He's a quiet player who relies on playing solid away from the puck. However, that's where he shines best, for he doesn't worry about being the flashiest star. The forward brings more to the Vegas Golden Knights, whether he's on the bottom six or on the penalty kill. That's what having incredible speed and physical attributes gets you.

There's been chatter about a potential "Triple H line" for the Golden Knights this season. That consists of Howden, Alexander Holtz, and Tomas Hertl. The line could be entertaining for fans, given there's a healthy balance on the line. You have a nice dose of speed, strength, and scoring acumen, with the players playing perfectly off each other's strengths.

Fans could see Howden shine more in this regard, seeing the forward at his best. That would be great news for a Golden Knights team hoping for another Stanley Cup this season. Add in the fact that the center's in a contract year and he has plenty to prove this season. That could help the "next man up" mentality instilled in Vegas in 2024-25.