This season has been a back-to-business deal of sorts for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. They currently have a record of 9-5-1 (19 points) and sit atop the ECHL Western Conference. You can point to many factors leading to the Knight Monsters sitting atop the ECHL throne again. However, one constant is still around: Sloan Stanick.
The wily forward has 11 goals and eight assists in 15 games this season, bolstering a potent Knight Monsters attack. That includes two shorthanded goals, making him a dangerous special teams threat. Let's just say that the 22-year-old is picking up where he left off last season.
He had a breakout campaign with the Knight Monsters last season, scoring 29 goals and 50 assists (70 games). That included five power play goals and two shorthanded goals. Again, this guy's an absolute special teams threat and shouldn't be taken lightly.
But that's not all he's doing for the Knight Monsters. He's providing more to the team than just goals. He's also digging into the ol' intangibles and making magic happen. You gotta love it when a player has unexplainable qualities that make them a likable superstar.
How Sloan Stanick has evolved his game with the Tahoe Knight Monsters
Remember when Stanick was all about distributing the puck to his teammates for nifty scoring opportunities? He would rely on players such as Simon Pinard to carry the load, giving Tahoe an offensive bite. But what do you do when your team's structure changes, specifically with Pinard gone?
Why, you start taking charge in terms of shooting the puck. That's what the 22-year-old has done, leading the Knight Monsters in goals scored. He's projected to score 53 goals and 38 assists this season, with the goals shattering an all-time high for Stanick.
In fact, he's never scored more than 31 in his entire hockey career. His career-high came with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2022-23, where he scored, well, 31. Could we see a changing prospect on our hands?
Whatever the case, it's helped the Knight Monsters get to the top of the ECHL. It also shows that the winger can change his game for the better. Such adaptability will make him desirable amongst the Golden Knights organization, specifically if he wants a roster spot.
Who knows? That might come sooner than expected. There has been an influx of Golden Knights prospects leveling up their games in recent memory. Why not Stanick?