The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled seven players from the Henderson Silver Knights to form their playoff taxi squad.
The Silver Knights fell short of making the Calder Cup Playoffs this season, allowing the Golden Knights to recall seven players to form a taxi squad, who will serve as extra players available if the Golden Knights are ravaged by injuries.
The taxi squad is made up of four forwards: Cal Burke, Tanner Laczynski, Raphael Lavoie, and Matyáš Šapovaliv, two defensemen: Dysin Mayo and Robert Hagg and goaltender Carl Lindbom.
Burke, Laczynski and Lavoie have all played several games with the Golden Knights this season, mostly playing in fourth-line roles. The Golden Knights have Jonas Rondbjerg, Alexander Holtz, and Tanner Pearson currently serving as healthy scratches, leaving a lengthy list of players standing in their way.
Sapovaliv is one of the Golden Knights’ top prospects who completed his rookie season in the AHL this year, scoring 11 goals and 19 points in 71 games. The 21-year-old is known for his defensively responsible game but has not made his NHL debut yet.
Mayo and Hagg are veteran defensemen who can step into the lineup and provide stability if need be. With Kaedan Korczak and Ben Hutton serving as healthy scratches, it’s unlikely that Mayo and Hagg will be needed.
Lindbom, like Sapovaliv, completed his rookie season in the AHL. He played in 36 games, posting a .912 SV% and a 2.65 GAA, shaping up to possibly be the future netminder for the Golden Knights.
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Golden Knights Sticking With Lines That Have WorkedThe Vegas Golden Knights flamed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to the Dallas Stars in large part due to HC Bruce Cassidy’s inability to find the best lines. The blame can’t all be put on him as the Golden Knights were ravaged with injuries and did not have enough time to build chemistry among linemates.
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