Ladies and gentlemen, the Vegas Golden Knights' training camp is this week. We also have the first preseason game, as the Golden Knights will take on the Los Angeles Kings in Ontario (California) on Saturday. Time to see what the prospects can do and what the future holds.
That's right, peeps. Hockey is returning and it might not be the regular season. But it's still hockey and it's always good to get the appetizers out of the way. After all, preseason hockey is better than no hockey.
So we all know that people will be talking about the big names. They're fixated on superstars like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Mark Stone. It's easy to see what the expectations are for such big names.
But what about the underrated headlines as training camp rolls around? What are the storylines that'll impact the franchise not only now, but down the road? It's high-time that we explored such headlines and see what can happen this week.
How good will Juho Piiparinen look during training camp?
All eyes will be on the 2026 first-round pick as training camp arrives. The Finnish defenseman will make his way to Las Vegas to get his chops in. The anticipation will be at an all-time high as the 18-year-old will show Golden Knights fans what he's capable of.
While he isn't expected to make the NHL roster this season since he's tied up in obligations with Tappara of Liiga, it'll be interesting to see how he does in the preseason. Can he develop his two-way game further and help the Golden Knights on the defenseman front in the future? Watch for the young Finnish prospect during training camp, especially if he does well.
How good will the young forwards look for the Golden Knights?
Everyone knows how good Trevor Connelly can be for the Vegas Golden Knights. Scoring 35 assists with the Silver Knights last season will get some recognition from your peers. But what about the other youngsters in the system, you ask?
What about names like Kai Uchacz (20 goals and 31 assists), Tuomas Uronen (12 goals and eight assists in 57 games), and Trent Swick (25 goals and 25 assists with the Tahoe Knight Monsters)? Can these players step up to the plate and move closer to achieving their NHL dreams?
Can Alexander Holtz hold onto his job for a little longer?
The Alex Holtz era in Las Vegas hasn't gone exactly as planned. He has been a vast disappointment during his Vegas residency, scoring seven goals and 14 assists over his two years. That's a far cry from his 16 goals and 12 assists in 2023-24 with the New Jersey Devils, where he showed immense potential.
Is there any hope for the winger to do something of substance? Or is he a lost cause for the Golden Knights? That will be front and center as the Swedish winger tries to salvage his hockey career once more.
What can Marc Gatcomb do for the Golden Knights?
The Vegas Golden Knights are banking on the young forward to come in for Keegan Kolesar, who was traded to the Detroit Red Wings during the summer. Last season, he had 192 hits with the New York Islanders and added three goals and four assists in 49 games.
Will he bring more physicality with the Golden Knights? Can he elevate his offensive numbers with Vegas in 2026-27? These questions will come to light when the 27-year-old steps onto the ice this week.
Add us as a preferred source on Google