Tanner Pearson speaks to media postgame on Jan. 26, 2025 LAS VEGAS -- Vegas Golden Knights veteran Tanner Pearson won a Stanley Cup at the start of his career, scoring 12 points in 24 games to help the Los Angeles Kings hoist the Cup. Now in his 12th season, he feels he's in the best place to win his second. "Like, after winning once, it was the best thing ever, and haven't gotten a sniff since," he said during a one-on-one with The Hockey News. "So it's always a goal to set every year. I won it back in the day, and I think this is a group that I can do it." Vegas is in a first-place tie with Edmonton atop the Pacific Division, both with 68 points, seven back of Western Conference leader Winnipeg. In 52 games during his first campaign with the Knights, Pearson has 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) and is on pace to finish with his highest tally in four seasons. As part of our "SAY WHAT?!" series, here is a little more with Pearson: THN: What have you appreciated most since arriving here and being playing for this organization? TP: I think it's the guys. Like you walk in this locker room, it's so easy to fit right in. Be myself, and it's been awesome ever since I've been here. THN: Who's the one guy you want to play a prank on? NHL locker rooms are notorious for them. Who's it gonna be? TP: Good question. I think when I was Koley (Keegan Kolesar), just because it'll be a trickle down effect. Can fly under the radar and he'll start blaming other people and then pranking them. So I'll go around the room, so I'll start there. THN: What's the biggest prank that's been played on you in your career? TP: I've gotten off pretty good. Haven't had the hotel room done to me, but I've seen that happen. And that was something funny to see. THN: Who's the one guy that you've learned in this room that's going to leave your text message on read? TP: I'll go Schwindty (Cole Schwindt) THN: You're out to eat, you gotta go to the bathroom, who do you know better than to leave your food out in front of? Who's taking your food? TP: I'll go Hertz (Tomas Hertl). THN: What during your career has been your favorite barn to play in? TP: Here is definitely fun. It's better being on this side of the locker room than the other one. We're going to one this week, MSG (Madison Square Garden) is always a cool place to go, so much history there. Gotta say Crypto (Los Angeles) and maybe United Center (Chicago). THN: What's the most valuable lesson that you've learned as a professional athlete to take with you off the ice from veterans you've played with? TP: Teammate-wise, just take care of your business every day, whether it's on ice or off ice. Grew up with some pretty good pros in this league and watching them come to the rink and how they were, how they carry themselves, and then you watch them go home and how they are as dads or husbands or whatnot. So take care of your business would probably be the biggest one.
