Henderson Silver Knights forward Matyas Sapovaliv has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) through 53 games. PHOTO CREDIT: Kaylie Phillips, Jades Media

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Golden Knights have always counted on their forwards to play a 200-foot game.

Offensive skills aside, it's about making things happen in the defensive zone and being able to help create rushes through the neutral zone while setting things up in attack mode.

But for prospect Matyas Sapovaliv, who has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) through 53 games with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights, he's ready to bring his offense up to speed, to match his defensive abilities.

Drafted 48th overall by the Golden Knights in 2022, the second-round choice has been using his hockey IQ and defensive skills while honing in on his offensive game this season with the Silver Knights.

"He came to us a smart player," Silver Knights coach Ryan Craig said. "He's valued from below our goal and all the way to the other end. And I think that's something that you don't always see at a young age like that. He's earned the trust of his teammates and his coaches."

To his credit, Craig added, Sapovaliv already has the size of an NHL center, one who can cover space and who can handle exceptionally physical play when needed.

It took some offseason training and a lot of eating, Sapovaliv said, to build upon his 6-foot-4 frame.

From heavy lifting with compound movements - squats, deadlifts and bench press - to accessory movements that complemented his secondary muscles.

As for the nutrition, Sapovaliv laughingly said he lost count of his caloric intake.

"It was crazy sometimes," said Sapovaliv, who brings a solid 205 pounds to the ice. "I don't really know the calories off (the top of) my head, but it was too much."

Aside from building size, one of the biggest things Sapovaliv is proud he's improved upon is skating. Though he's played hockey most of his life, there are nuances of the simple task of skating that he wanted to get better at, including speed.

Henderson Silver Knights forward Matyas Sapovaliv spent the offseason building muscle behind heavy lifting that included compound movements of squats, deadlifts and bench press. PHOTO CREDIT: Kaylie Phillips, Jades Media

"I just kept working on it (and) there's still space to get better," he said. "But I feel pretty confident now. I feel heavier on the ice and even faster than I was."

He also said that his overall growth has made him a better facilitator.

"I just like this role of being good on face-offs and playing kind of two-way game," he said. "I got more defensively when I turned pro, and now is the time to do something more offensively. But I really like my details defensively, and that's what I've been good for this team."

Craig said as Sapovaliv continued to adapt to the system, excelling in the defensive zone became natural.

"There's a lot asked with our centers, but his offensive game has started to take off," Craig said. "We've seen confidence with the puck, getting inside, finding ways to use his shot, but he still values that part of the game defensively, which has allowed him to play in all situations."

Now, it's just a matter of putting things together before one day getting the call he's waited for his entire life and making the move to the NHL.

"I'm trying to watch Brett Howden right now because he's kind of a two-way forward, too, playing lots of penalty kill; I feel that I can do something like he's doing," Sapovaliv said. "It's almost there, but Vegas is still a long way away. So just keep working on it, and keep playing my game and still showing them that I can (get) to the NHL level."