Golden Knights Defenseman Lukas Cormier to Make NHL Debut Tonight Against Islanders
Cormier was drafted 68th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft; will also play on first power-play unit.
Andy Abeyta -- The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK - Golden Knights Defenseman Lukas Cormier to Make NHL Debut Tonight Against IslandersDefenseman Lukas Cormier will make his NHL debut for the Vegas Golden Knights against the New York Islanders.
“It's a moment I've been waiting for,” Cormier said. “It's gonna be a lot of emotions today. I just gotta be ready to play my regular game.”
Cormier found out that he was going to be in the lineup when he got to City National Arena this morning.
He said his parents will be in attendance to see his first regular season NHL game.
Cormier has one goal and 11 assists in 27 games with the Henderson Silver Knights this season. He will be paired with Brayden McNabb, who tends to play with younger players initially.
“He’s great. He’s great to me giving advice,” Cormier said. “He’s a guy that my game complements his game, too. So it’ll be fun to play with him.”
He will make his debut due to the glut of injuries the Golden Knights have suffered at the blue line.
Cormier will also be on the first power-play unit due to his puck movement ability and offensive prowess.
“They're all they're all great guys. Some of them I grew up watching,” Cormier said. “it's fun to be part of that, and hopefully I can contribute in a good way.”
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy isn’t asking Cormier to be Shea Theodore, Ben Hutton, or Kaedan Korczak on the power play. He wants Cormier to simply be the best version of himself and try to help a struggling special teams unit.
“It’s an opportunity for him to bring one of his strengths to an area of need for us, that’s why he’s in,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It happens to be a puck-moving issue, and this is what he does well, so we’ll see. We want to see what he can do in the league he wants to be in. We’re not going to over evaluate on one game, but there is an opportunity to play in situations that should work to his advantage.”
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