Raphael Lavoie was the AHL Player of the Week and one of the many young forwards on the Silver Knights, leading them to contention
The Henderson Silver Knights have won seven of their last 10 games, allowing them to slide into sixth place in the Pacific Division. The surge in the standings is highlighted by Rafael Lavoie’s strong play as the forward scored five goals and three assists in his last four games, allowing him to earn this week’s AHL Player of the Week.
Lavoie is a “tweener” or, at 25, a player who isn’t a veteran per se but not a prospect either. It’s players like Lavoie who have turned the Silver Knights season around at the right time and made them an intriguing team heading into the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Lavioe Finally Rounds Out His Game
Lavoie has always stepped up at the American Hockey League level. Drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2019, he has 199 points in 278 games and is notably a scorer in a bigger 6-foot-4, 217-pound frame. The Silver Knights have seen firsthand the value he brings to the forward unit in each of the past two seasons.
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This season, Lavoie has hit his stride as a scorer. He has 22 goals and 19 assists in 34 games to help fuel a Silver Knight offense that averages 3.62 goals per game. It’s put him on pace for a career year as he can pass the 50-point mark for the second time in his six seasons in the AHL.
Looking ahead, Lavoie is the type of player that the Silver Knights will love to have come playoff time. Goals are hard to come by, and the game slows down and becomes heavier. Power forwards like Lavoie make a big difference, and he might if the team sneaks into the playoffs.
The Trio of Tweeners Fueling The Offense
The leader of the offense is long-time AHLer Tanner Laczynski. He’s also in his sixth season and took time to develop, so at 28, he has a team-leading 19 goals and 41 assists. After him, the offense is led by a group of players who are still developing but aren’t prospects.
Lavoie is the recent standout while Kai Uchacz and Lukas Cormier have combined for 22 goals and 66 assists. Both players are in their early 20s, and Comier, as a defenseman, opens things up at the point with his playmaking ability.
This group allows a rookie like Ben Hemmerling to slide in and find plenty of scoring chances, as the Vegas Golden Knights top prospect has 21 goals this season. This group also allows the Silver Knights to come at teams in waves, especially with their forward group. The team is coming together at the right time, and it’s made them a tough out in the Pacific Division.
This Group Helps Out The Vets
Around the AHL, teams are giving up early on these “tweener” players. They see them as too old to develop, even though they are still learning the game. A handful of teams are betting on these players. The Providence Bruins come to mind in the Eastern Conference and they boast the best record in the AHL. The Silver Knights are one of these teams in the Western Conference.
These types of players grow with the prospects. They round out their game just as the younger players are learning it, and it’s a formula that works. These players allow the top prospects to join a team and build on their development, whether it’s from college or junior hockey.
It’s teams that build this culture that help their prospects take steps forward. The Silver Knights are clicking at the right time thanks to this group, and in the process, these players are making the case to join the Golden Knights at some point.