The reviews are in on Marc Gatcomb in his first preseason game and they're positive

It's funny that people were buzzing about Marc Gatcomb during the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Sure, they were focused on prospects like Viliam Kmec and Jackson Hallum. But Gatcomb garnered plenty of attention from the fans. After all, he got a point!

But that wasn't the only thing that the scrappy fourth-liner was doing. He was also administering hits against the Los Angeles Kings. The former New York Islander even threw some punches at the Kings! How cool is that?

As you can tell, the overall synopsis on the 27-year-old was positive. Golden Knights fans saw a young hockey player who fit in well in the system, doing more than merely score an assist. I know that fans pay attention to the goals and assists on the statboard. However, there was more that the Massachusetts native brought to the table.

Obviously, he was hitting people left and right in Ontario, California. After all, that has been his infamous trademark in his two years in the NHL. He has 341 career hits and an 82-game average of 318. But that wasn't the main thing that fans noticed on Saturday.

It was how he was delivering those hits as the game progressed. Where is his sweet spot for administering his pain? How does his contract help the Golden Knights during this season and beyond? It's time to dive into his performance and see how he did.

What did Vegas Golden Knights fans notice about Marc Gatcomb in his preseason debut?

One thing that Vegas Golden Knights fans noticed about the former Islander was how physical he was. Gatcomb played along the boards and administered some painful hits to the Kings. In turn, it turned Golden Knights fans on to his play, making him a vital fourth-line player.

It's easy to see why. The forward had 192 hits with the Islanders last season, building on his 149-hit campaign in the 2024-25 season. The Golden Knights are already seeing positive results for their young forward and expect him to contribute physically in the lower lines. If he can deliver hits along the boards, that helps the team with setting the standard that Keegan Kolesar and Ryan Reaves set.

But he also added the aforementioned point to the mix, setting up Viliam Kmec's goal in the first period. Mind you that Anton Forsberg was great last season, posting a GAA of 2.57, a save percentage of .910, and three shutouts.

If Gatcomb can use his strength to his advantage, that bodes well for the Golden Knights' lower lines. Vegas traded away their biggest hitter, Keegan Kolesar, during the summer, clearing $2.5 million in cap space. Having $875,000 on the books for two seasons would make this an absolute steal if he performed.

After all, that's been the M.O. for the Golden Knights since Day F*****g One. Kelly McCrimmon and company have always practiced responsible cap management, making them one of the league's best teams. Gatcomb would certainly be a shining example of Vegas's cap prowess if he can build off Saturday's performance.

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