Although Vegas bid farewell to some longtime fan favorites this offseason, there is one player who continues to be an integral part of the Vegas Golden Knights franchise. Las Vegas draftee and Stanley Cup winner Nicolas Hague is aiming for a successful upcoming season.
Hague said the team is hungry after a disappointing 2023-24 season following the first-round loss to the Dallas Stars in May.
“For all the guys who were here last year, you can’t forget that… especially the guys who won here, it’s an addictive feeling, so it makes us go back even more,” Hague told The Hockey News. “Anything short of (winning) is a disappointment for our group.”
Hague, who played just under 19 minutes in Saturday’s 6-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks, played a key role in Vegas’ 2023 Stanley Cup victory alongside his line partner , Zach Whitecloud. From rising through the ranks and playing together in the AHL to winning the Cup side by side in the NHL, the duo has been through it all.
“Obviously when you play with one guy for most of your career…we can help each other grow and figure out who we are as NHL players,” Whitecloud said.
Despite their success as a duo, Hague found himself moved late last season after Vegas acquired Noah Hanifin from the Calgary Flames in a three-way deal. The two played 14 games together, syncing up almost immediately.
Regarding this budding partnership, Hague said they are just looking to build on the momentum from the end of last season and he thinks they will just continue to improve as a duo.
The opportunity to continue to grow seems to be a common theme around Hague, as coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned that the Hague-Hanifin pairing provides the team with an opportunity to thrive.
“We would like our back end to be more offensive,” Cassidy said. “He (Hague) would be one of the guys.”
Utilizing his intimidating 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame, the defenseman is known for his powerful shot – the “Haguerbomb” – and his offensive potential that carried him through juniors. Hague led the Mississauga Steelheads in scoring with 78 points in 67 games in his final season before being drafted by Vegas in 2017.
With the partnership with Hanifin, Hague is pushed to play on the non-dominant side, which could help free up opportunities for more shot attempts. If that’s the case, there’s a real possibility that Hague will be an unpredictable force on Vegas’ D-line this season.
