Cotter looking to build 'consistency' to earn more playing time

23-year old forward scored 13 goals in 5 games played last season.

LAS VEGAS — Paul Cotter understands what he will need to improve on if he is going to play in more games in a Vegas Golden Knights uniform in the upcoming season.

“Consistency,” Cotter said. “Once you get to the highest level and you know you can feel comfortable to an extent, but there's guys, like myself last year, that are coming in wanting to take a spot. So you just got to find a way to do something to stand out to make sure that you're not being taken out of the lineup. For me, it's it's consistency.”

Cotter played in 55 games last season, scoring 13 goals. The problem, however, was his play was inconsistent, leaving him on the bench in some cases. Even worse, once the team traded for Ivan Barbashev, Cotter found himself on the outside looking in.

With that said, Cotter finds himself battling for a roster spot this season again, except this time as the most experienced in Bruce Cassidy’s system.

He is trying to fend off Max Comtois, Brendan Brisson, and Pavel Dorofeyev for one of the two forward spots on the NHL roster.

If there are early indications, Cotter seems to be garnering a little favor for being the most senior member of that group.

Cotter started training camp playing alongside Michael Amadio and William Karlsson, as the initial Reilly Smith replacement, but that spot is not guaranteed according to Cassidy.

“Paul deserves that as he was the most veteran of the guys,” Cassidy said of Cotter starting the camp off in Smith’s vacant spot. "Then we'll see if there's a little bit of internal competition.”

Cotter has played in both preseason games thus far and has had moments, but hasn’t been consistent enough to really make an impact. For every strong play with the puck he makes, there comes a defensive lapse.

That’s part of the growing pains, however.

Cotter will look to build on that in future practices and games, but for now, he remains confident that his experience from last season will carry him.

“I know the coaches. I know the boys so it's a lot different coming in with a little bit more knowledge with what to do,” he said. “So a lot of the times when you come in, you're trying to get a spot will also be walking on eggshells … so that makes it a little easier for me.”