There's one quiet move that you're not thinking about that the Vegas Golden Knights made this week. They picked up Marc Gatcomb after he was cut loose from the New York Islanders, adding him for two years with a cap hit of $875,000.
That's usually not Kelly McCrimmon's MO. He's usually making noise with the biggest names in the land, whether that's with Rasmus Andersson or Mitch Marner. Heck, you go back to Jack Eichel being a big name (albeit a gamble at the time) as another shining example. Therefore, it's mandatory that he go after big names like Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck.
But this could be a move that unfolds nicely for the Golden Knights. McCrimmon's been known to find some good players with value to their names, with Victor Olofsson coming to mind. Just think about what the returning Golden Knight will do on the power play once he comes back.
Gatcomb has the potential to fall in this category himself. I know what you're thinking here: how is a 26-year-old cut by the Islanders able to contribute to the Golden Knights in 2026-27? Well, my friend, let me take you through a few reasons why that'll be the case.
Why Vegas Golden Knights fans will fall in love with Marc Gatcomb
The first thing that sticks out with the 26-year-old is that he is pretty big. Gatcomb stands at 6'2" and weighs 200 lbs, making him a sizable center. He can use that size to deter oncoming defenders and keep possession of the puck, which is where he's growing by the day.
He also has a right-handed shoot that he uses well, especially in transition. Take this goal against the Philadelphia Flyers as a shining example of what he can do.
Marc Gatcomb first career goal pic.twitter.com/TCfanSjSNj
— Isles Videos (@IslesVideos) May 25, 2025
His north-south style will help the Golden Knights on the rush, especially if he's on the lower lines. Gatcomb scored eight goals in his rookie season with the Islanders, including a game-winning goal. Ironically, he scored a goal against the Golden Knights last season, helping New York defeat Vegas in a shootout on December 9 (on one shot, mind you).
Gatcomb also hits... a lot. We're talking about 341 hits in two seasons combined, along with an 82-game average of 318. People were worried that Keegan Kolesar's grit was lost after he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. But you have a younger, cheaper option to work with in terms of his $875,000 cap hit.
Granted, there are some things that he can do. While he's decent at finishing, the former Islander could stand to create more scoring opportunities for his teammates. He only has one primary assist during his NHL career, mainly feasting on secondary assists during his short tenure (four).
The good news? He's got plenty of time to grow. If Gatcomb cracks the bottom-six, he'll get plenty of opportunities to shine offensively. That's great news for a Golden Knights team that went through a dramatic overhaul on their roster.
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