It’s easy to talk about underrated players who could be hidden gems on bad or even moderate hockey teams. But the Vegas Golden Knights fit neither category. Instead, this is one of the NHL’s most premier groups and it seems like everyone on the Knights is playing their best hockey.
But, even with one of the NHL’s best, someone has to be putting in some serious work that many among the NHL universe may not always recognize. Three players, to be exact. The first of whom on this list hasn’t even played much this season.
Victor Olofsson
Oh yes, Victor Olofsson made the list and you’re looking at arguably the niche player of niche players so far in 2024-25. Olofsson has played in just 11 games, but that was to be expected thanks to how loaded the Golden Knights roster already was.
And here I was, toward the beginning of the season, thinking this would be Olofsson’s last of any kind in the NHL. Right now, however, it looks like he’s experienced a rebirth, with seven goals and nine points in those 11 games.
Olofsson, known for years as a power play specialist in the NHL, has four goals on the man advantage. Plus, he’s nearing 16 minutes per game of average total ice time when he has a chance to play.
Tanner Pearson
I knew Tanner Pearson wasn’t getting a slew of ice time with the Golden Knights this season, but he’s okay with just being another niche player. So far, he’s done what I would expect, notching five goals and 11 points in 31 games, plus a fair 39 hits.
But Pearson also paces the Golden Knights in on-ice save percentage at even strength, which is a ridiculous 94.3. Yeah, the next player on the list who has started at least 24 games this season at the moment is Brayden McNabb, whose number is nearly one full percentage point under Pearson’s.
Alex Petrangelo
One of the most impactful players on the Golden Knights in recent seasons landed on the list of most underrated players how? Well, there are several metrics at even strength I can point to regarding Pietrangelo, including an under 50 percent Corsi For in each of the past three seasons (including this one), plus the fact he can be on the ice for a lot of goals against.
Then, there’s the fact he’s in his age-35 season and could start slowing down at any time. But that hasn’t been the case, as Pietrangelo continues to knock down over a half-point per game, with 15 in 28 contests so far this season.
While his on-ice save percentage, overall goals allowed while on-ice at even strength, and his Corsi For are still low, Pietrangelo is also on the ice quite a bit when the Knights score. That’s been for 37 goals this season, with an on-ice shooting percentage of 13.1.