John Locher/AP
Vegas Golden Knights’ Brendan Brisson, center, battles for the puck with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jacob Moverare (57) during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Published Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 | 9:39 p.m.
Updated Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 | 10:24 p.m.
There’s 13 seconds left on the Golden Knights’ power play with the first period nearing its end. Defenseman Shea Theodore receives the puck at the blue line and passes to Brendan Brisson at the right circle.
Brisson winds up for the shot, but his blistering attempt is stopped by Kings goalie Cal Petersen. It wasn’t a goal, but that’s Brisson’s bread and butter.
Playing his first game as a Golden Knight, preseason or not, Brisson was eager to show what he could do. The top prospect played 15:13 with two shots on goal in the Golden Knights’ 2-1 preseason overtime loss against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on Monday.
“There’s a lot of good players here, and they’re going to compete their hardest,” Brisson told the Sun on Friday. “Who’s going to be working the hardest? Who’s going to be working the most?”
There’s no pressure from Vegas, or Brisson, to make the Golden Knights’ roster out of training camp. Would he like to get the call up like fellow Michigan teammates Owen Power and Matty Beniers? Of course he would.
But he understands his path to the NHL, at the moment, is an uphill climb with proven veterans up and down the lineup.
Brisson lined up at right wing with Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson for a great opportunity to showcase his game.
At times, he looked fine.
Brisson looked comfortable during the first period on offense, getting away from defensemen and finding open spots around the net.
In the second period, Brisson looked like the rookie that he is. He got knocked off the puck a number of times in the offensive zone and didn’t look comfortable creating space. He looked like a typical young player getting acclimated to the speed of the NHL.
If the NHL was based on goal scoring, Brisson would be a lock to make the team. He knows what he does well.
It’s the things that he’s been working on since he arrived in Henderson late last year for the Silver Knights’ playoff run that will make the difference for him. From the moment he arrived in Southern Nevada, he wanted to improve his defensive game and be more physical on the forecheck.
It didn’t hurt that he had eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games for the AHL club.
“For me, I want to score,” Brisson said. “That’s my game, scoring goals. Playing well defensively, that’s what the coaches are expecting me to do, playing good away from the puck and when I have the puck, make plays and score.”
That’s exactly what coach Bruce Cassidy wants to see from Brisson when he gets into the offensive zone; how well he can evade NHL-caliber defensemen and create opportunities.
The physical elements will be just as important, something that Cassidy and his staff will guide Brisson along for as long as he’s in camp.
“If he can bring the offensive pace and be strong enough to get inside and protect pucks, that’s what we’ll be looking for,” Cassidy said. “That’s the part you have to do if you want to survive in the NHL.”
To say Brisson has been tested early in camp would be putting it lightly. He was part of a group with Jack Eichel, Phil Kessel and Reilly Smith — the early favorite for Vegas’ top line come opening night.
Like most young players, Brisson has been soaking in the opportunity to compete against the stars.
“You watch those guys your whole life, Kessel and Jack,” Brisson said. “Being on the same team as them, competing against them, it’s pretty special.”
The situations are slightly different with Brisson drafted 29th overall in 2020, but Eichel was in his situation once, being the top prospect in an organization. Eichel was happy to have veterans he could lean on when the Buffalo Sabres took him No. 2 overall in 2015.
“Super high-skilled,” Eichel said of Brisson. “[He] sees the ice well. I think he’s got good compete to him. Obviously, he’s a confident player and you love to see that when a young player comes in.”
This won’t be the last time Brisson suits up. He may get another look Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche once the Golden Knights trim their roster for the first round of cuts.
Even in the preseason, Brisson is learning the most valuable lesson of an NHL player: It’s on to the next one.
“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” Brisson said. “I didn’t come out of Michigan for no reason.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
