When the Vegas Golden Knights selected Artur Cholach with the 190th overall pick (sixth round) in the 2022 NHL Draft, there wasn't much hope for him. Sure, names like Mark Stone (178th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators) brought some hope and inspiration. Still, Cholach had an uphill battle ahead of him.
However, that hasn't deterred the Henderson Silver Knights from giving him a new deal.
In fact, that's what the AHL club did on Wednesday, giving him a one-year bump in his current deal. Not bad for someone who scored seven goals and 16 assists with the upstart Tahoe Knight Monsters last season (54 games).
✍️ The Silver Knights have re-signed defenseman Artur Cholach to a one-year AHL contract for the 2025-26 season! https://t.co/zyHfe2XAZ5
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) July 23, 2025
Mind you, he also played five games with the Silver Knights last season. However, he didn't register a single point, leaving the 22-year-old without any relevant impact on the AHL club. Still, that should change as he dabbles in his first major foray into the AHL league.
So let's get our diving suits on and see what the Ukrainian player can do. Will he make the big leap to Henderson and make an impact? Or will his shortcomings hinder him and keep him mired in the minor leagues?
What makes Artur Cholach special on the Henderson Silver Knights?
Last season, Cholach scored one assist in four games with Ukraine in international competition. He can be a physically imposing player who dominates his opponents, winning puck battles and getting involved in every play.
Standing at 6'1" gives him an advantage over plenty of peers, too. He can impose his game on other players compared to someone like Lukas Cormier (5'10"). He can bolster that advantage if he adds more bulk, though (198 lbs.). Still, he's in a good place.
However, he must put that together on a consistent basis. That means doing this during training camp. That means doing this during the Rookie Showcase. That means doing that with the... Henderson Silver Knights.
If he doesn't do this consistently, he'll have a problem regularly impacting the game. He must also improve his skating abilities. Otherwise, he'll be mired in the minor leagues permanently and never move up to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Fortunately, the 22-year-old has plenty of time to make the necessary fixes. The faster pace in the AHL gives him the chance to adjust and make him better. A mundane Silver Knights team is looking for anybody to make an immediate impact. That could be the Ukrainian defenseman, who's ready to pounce on an open opportunity.