Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Keegan Kolesar’s sudden spike in play hasn’t been a surprise for Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy.
He saw flashes of it during fall training camp and knew he had a scoring touch when he played for the Seattle Thunderbirds in juniors.
“If you’ve done some of the steps along the way, then you can certainly say, ‘Is it in him (Kolesar)?’ and ‘Can we get it out of him?’ and ‘Can he do it at this level,’ Cassidy said.
In two games, Kolesar has accumulated two goals and two assists, jumping his season total up to nine goals and six assists. Last season, over 79 games, he had just eight goals and 10 assists.
He had three multipoint games last season. Over 33 games, he’s already matched that total.
Kolesar’s second straight two-point performance was huge in the Golden Knights’ 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. He credits the team’s shared mentality for the performance.
“We’re all professionals. We’re all competitive guys. One of us doesn’t feel good about this game going into the break or sitting on every three days, and it’s going to eat away at you,” Kolesar said.
“Maybe it’s human nature, but for us, we hold each other accountable, and we knew that we had to get this win and not look too far ahead.”
From the perspective of his teammates and coach, a handful of things have stood out in Kolesar’s game this season. William Karlsson said that Kolesar’s speed and forecheck have elevated his game.
“It’s been a pleasure to play with him (Kolesar),” Karlsson said. “He’s very good on the forecheck as well. He’s low-key fast, too. He gets up there. It’s been a real treat.”
During his time as a Golden Knight, Kolesar was a staple on the fourth line, but his recent success has made it hard to place him in one spot on the lineup.
He’s paired well with Tanner Pearson, who scored off a Kolesar pass against the Ducks. However, with how well Kolesar is playing, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him move up in the lineup.
“We’ve always used our fourth line a certain way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t produce in that role,” Cassidy said. “You’re going to get your minutes. Just don’t lose the shutdown game with physicality. He’s found a way to balance it.
“Now he’s up in the lineup a little bit when guys are out, and it’s going to be hard to drop him back down.”
Kolesar’s Christmas gift came a few weeks earlier, before the Golden Knights game against the Winnipeg Jets, when he received a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension.
Kolesar said he didn’t take the extension for granted.
“You never know until you sign the paper,” he said in a prior interview with the Las Vegas Sun. “I just got off practice, got the call, and I was thrilled.”
There’s a lot for Kolesar to be happy about right now, but just days before Christmas, he has been accused of being a “Scrooge.” During off-ice lifting, Kolesar went out of the way to turn off the Christmas music.
Once he was accused, Kolesar had a rebuttle.
“He (Cassidy) has been playing Christmas music every day since Dec. 1,” Kolesar said. “I’m not listening to Mariah Carey when I’m trying to get a lift. I got to listen to the (Red Hot) Chili Peppers or something. Sorry to him.”