If there's one thing Las Vegas is known for, it's risk-taking. That theme is prominent throughout Sin City, highlighted by the various casinos and slot machines, where you'll even find them at the airport.
Heck, that's why the city is big in the first place. You can't have an entertainment capital without taking a risk or two, you know? That's the beauty of being the apple of everyone's collective eye: it carries a certain sex appeal and extravagance.
The Vegas Golden Knights have carried that legacy and put it in ice form. They've done this through various means, whether it's the Vegas Vivas, the Belles, or the Drum Line. Oh, and winning a Stanley Cup and making two Stanley Cup Finals doesn't hurt, either.
With the NHL Draft coming up, that leaves room for one particular gamble. His name? Tomas Poletin. He could be what the doctor ordered for a depleted farm system needing forward talent.
What makes Tomas Poletin worth the gamble for the Vegas Golden Knights?
The Lahti Pelicans left winger is an aggressive player in all aspects. He makes an effort on every play and brings a physical edge to the forecheck. Poletin also creates chances out of the steals he generates and thrives in high-stress situations.
That's why the Czech Republic native excelled during international competition at the junior level. He scored 13 goals and seven assists this past season and made his mark at the World Junior Championship. Here, Poletin scored two goals in five games.
That comes with being an excellent finisher in front of the net, where he excels the most. He can pounce on rebounds and feeds, firing a blistering shot past the goaltender. These highlights? They're living proof.
Imagine having someone like Tomas Hertl in front of the net in the future, pouncing on loose pucks. He makes the lives of goaltenders miserable, finishing everything in front of him.
It's like Joey Chestnut at a Las Vegas buffet, only he gorges on loose pucks instead of pizza and hot dogs. That could serve the Golden Knights well, giving them a hungry player for the future.
What must Poletin improve?
Now here's the part where the gamble comes into play. He tends to misplace the puck and create turnovers, leading to odd-man rushes down the other way. His decision-making is akin to going all-in in Texas Hold 'Em, where you either cash out big or crash out.
There's also his limited foot speed, where he lacks explosiveness. A major part of why he can be found in front of the net is that he takes longer to get into transition. It makes life miserable for a team looking to defend, where they must account for Poletin.
Finally, he's not the most accurate shooter. While his offensive style of play is exciting and he can finish, his style also leads to numerous misses on net, leaving fans frustrated. That's something that could also hurt a team in later moments, costing them the game.
Still, Kelly McCrimmon has a habit of taking the occasional risk or two in the NHL Draft. He did that with Trevor Connelly last season, taking on a player who was a red flag for past character issues. Why not take a flyer on a high-flying player who can finish pucks?