(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
Over the past few seasons, since the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup, there’s been quite a bit of turnover in the roster. Leaders like Alex Pietrangelo, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alec Martinez have moved on and have been replaced by the likes of Mitch Marner, Tomas Hertl, and Noah Hanifin.
Having won the division last year and currently sitting atop the Pacific once again, there’s no doubt that the hockey skill has continued to translate for the current group. However, there’s one area the coach says has been noticeably different.
It’s a good bench but it’s quiet at times. So, some of the emotion has to come from myself. Sometimes that’s fine and other times it’s not so fine. It’s easier if players are bringing it. Some days we miss some chatter there. -Cassidy
Looking at the names that have left compared to the ones that have come in, it’s not surprising at all that the bench is a lot quieter. Marchessault, Pietrangelo, and Martinez all had major voices off the ice, but even players like Logan Thompson, Paul Cotter, Nic Hague, William Carrier, and if we go back far enough, Ryan Reaves, many of the most boisterous players in franchise history have departed.
For a while there, the Golden Knights were widely known as one of the loudest teams, and there was constantly chatter back and forth between the benches. That seemingly isn’t the case with this team. Instead, they act differently towards each other.
They are very supportive. If something is said then they’ll pick up their teammate right away. If a coach challenges someone or something happens on the ice that doesn’t go their way then they’ll be the first to pick that guy up. So, I like that part of our bench, just sometimes it could be a little more vocal. -Cassidy
Oddly, you can almost feel it while watching the games as a fan. Until something significant like a big hit or an after-whistle scrum occurs, the games hum along without a ton of outward emotion.
It’s hard to say how much chatter on the bench will impact the team positively or negatively. It’s just another item to keep an eye on as the roster continues to transition.
