Ben Hemmerling was turning heads at the Vegas Golden Knights development camp. His speed and finesse blazed across the ice during the camp, impressing Golden Knights personnel. He showed that he can be a threat to score at any juncture, making him a potential breakout candidate. That should warrant plenty of attention from Vegas hockey fans and NHL aficionados alike.
After all, who wouldn't want a flashy forward with incredible speed and offensive skills? It conjures memories of superstars like Pavel Datsyuk breezing through defenses while performing breathtaking dekes. It led to numerous goals (314 career goals, to be exact) and highlight reel moments for hockey fans to relish. It's no wonder he's going into the Hall of Fame.
He has proven himself to be a worthy piece in the lower leagues, too. During his time in the WHL with the Everett Slivertips, Hemmerling scored 64 goals and 143 assists in four seasons (199 games). That includes a strong 2023-24 campaign where he scored 30 goals and 61 assists in 65 games. Imagine the type of offense he can put up at the AHL level with the Henderson Silver Knights.
Another Hemmerling clip. pic.twitter.com/shvPwLvZt9
— Matthew Somma (@Mattsomma12) June 22, 2022
While he was an impressive prospect during developmental camp, he does have some things he can improve. The Golden Knights roster has plenty of big names ready to win the Stanley Cup. With original "Misfits" like William Karlsson and new faces like Tomas Hertl, there won't be any room for Hemmerling next season. But here's how the former sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft can set himself up for success with Vegas.
The Vegas Golden Knights love bigger bodies
Some of you have noticed that a player's dimensions get mentioned often in these writings. It's become a motif that highlights what a Golden Knights star can (and cannot) do. For example, Jonathan Marchessault was mainly known as a sniper for Vegas because of his size (5'9"). He sacrifices defensive capabilities for being a solid goal-scorer, which even earned him a Conn Smythe trophy.
Compare that to Nicolas Hague, who has a much bigger body (6'6"). For his size, he's good on offense. But he's not going to light up the score sheet like Marchessault. Instead, he's a mobile defenseman who uses his size for many purposes, including blocking shots and finishing checks. But there's a reason for that, with the Vegas Golden Knights being the heaviest team in the NHL last season (average weight of 207.9 lbs).
Ben Hemmerling stands at 5'11", so he's more toward Marchessault's size. However, he's also light, weighing 176 lbs. He can add more muscle to his frame and become a better contributor to the forecheck. While he's a decent defender who can make sound decisions, adding more bulk will make him a better all-around player.