The Tahoe Knight Monsters didn't follow in the footsteps of their bigger brothers, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Henderson Silver Knights. The ECHL squad lost to the Kansas City Mavericks in the Kelly Cup playoffs, leaving them well short of the Kelly Cup Final.
No pressure.
After all, it was their inaugural season in the minor leagues. You're almost guaranteed to never win the championship in your first season. Just ask the Golden Knights and the Silver Knights, who tried their darnedest to bring home the hardware.
Still, you can't ignore certain players dominating the landscape. For example, Sloan Stanick was a beast for the Knight Monsters last season, scoring 29 goals and 50 assists in 70 games. He even got a brief call-up to the AHL club, where he played two games in Henderson
Could that be enough for the 21-year-old to earn serious consideration for more playing time with the bigger brother? Believe it or not, his 2024-25 campaign could be a stepping stone towards better things to come. Let's dive into this prospect's profile like we're searching for the Loch Ness monster and see where he improved.
Where Sloan Stanick was the best with the Tahoe Knight Monsters
One thing that stood out to me was Stanick's willingness to become more of a facilitator. He showed that in his last season with the Prince Albert Raiders, putting up 54 assists in 68 games. But he also showed that in his first season with the Knight Monsters, finding open teammates without a hitch.
He also played more disciplined hockey, trimming his penalty minutes down from 46 with the Raiders (2023-24) to 24 with Tahoe. That's a welcoming sign for a player who topped out at 50 with the MMHL's Yellowhead Chiefs in 2018-19 (48 games).
Such adjustments make him even more viable in Bruce Cassidy's system. The Golden Knights aren't keen on taking boneheaded penalties, which was why they were 31st in total penalty minutes (463). When he eventually gets the call-up, he'll fit in seamlessly with Vegas.
Golden Knights must think about who they're replacing in the future
His playmaking abilities would also translate well with the club. Sure, Cassidy's talked about shooting the puck more. That was one of the main problems in Vegas's second round loss to Edmonton. But where are you getting players to set up plays and organize the attack once Mark Stone leaves?
The same can be said for William Karlsson once he's gone. Such holes are vital to fill if you're the Golden Knights. That's especially true with the forward group lacking in the prospect department. Having a player like Stanick emerge keeps the system flowing.
Without viable forwards ready to be called up to the big leagues, it would put the Golden Knights in a difficult position. Fortunately, they have some players who can develop and become better. Stanick could be one of those names, especially if he can build off his incredible season with the Knight Monsters.