Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Cole Schwindt’s life was turned upside down Tuesday.
The 23-year-old forward, who has spent the last two seasons with the Calgary Flames organization and had just signed a one-year extension with the team, was suddenly buying a one-way plane ticket from Calgary to Las Vegas on Tuesday.
He was placed on waivers by the Flames and claimed by the Golden Knights less than 24 hours before both teams began their seasons.
Luckily, Schwindt didn’t need to worry about moving as his parents and uncle packed up his apartment in Calgary and made the 1,300 drive to Vegas for him.
“They’re going to get in this afternoon, and hopefully, they’ll get to see the game tonight,” Schwindt said at Friday morning practice.
Thrown on the fourth line with Tanner Pearson and Keegan Kolesar as Brendan Brisson was reassigned to the Henderson Silver Knights, Schwindt wasted no time introducing himself to the Vegas faithful.
In the second period, a slap shot from Schwindt from the top of the left faceoff circle was padded away by Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, but the rebound was picked up by Shea Theodore and put in the back of the net.
The Golden Knights held off the Blues for a 4-3 win, and Schwindt was awarded the game puck as he recorded his first point with Vegas and his first career NHL point.
“I’ll probably just give it to Mom,” Schwindt said when asked what he’d do with the puck. “She’ll probably put it on the bedside table and look at it everywhere.”
Since the beginning of the preseason, players have been up and down between Vegas and Henderson, off waivers and then back on.
For example, Raphael Lavoie was placed and claimed on waivers twice by the Edmonton Oilers, claimed by the Golden Knights twice, and placed on waivers by them once before eventually being assigned to Henderson.
However, Schwindt’s journey was different as he came directly to Vegas. The Golden Knights could’ve easily assigned him to Henderson, playing just four games with the Flames last year and 66 with the Calgary Wranglers, but coach Bruce Cassidy praised Schwindt’s “200-foot” style of play. It was one of the reasons why Schwindt made an instant debut in Vegas.
“Our scouts have seen him (Schwindt) a lot, and he’s a pretty reliable player for a younger guy,” Cassidy said following Friday’s practice. “He’s a good 200-foot player, has a heavy shot, so I’d say his number one attribute is being responsible.”
Despite being on the fourth line, Schwindt was the central point for two veterans: Pearson and Kolesar. Conveniently, Schwindt does have a prior connection with one of his linemates, Pearson, who is from Kitchener, Ontario, which neighbors Schwindt’s hometown of Breslau.
That connection has already given Schwindt a step closer to understanding the identity and relationship of the fourth line.
“We’re just going to play simple,” Schwindt said. “Having a relationship with Tanner back home makes playing with him much easier.”
Just a game in, Schwindt is already earning praise from his teammates. Theodore, who picked up Schwindt’s rebound for his first score of the year, talked highly of the newcomer’s “speed and hands.”
“He’s (Schwindt) a great player and it was a great pickup,” Theodore said. “He’s got the speed and hands. I know it can be a little testy sometimes coming into T-Mobile for the first time, but I thought he played really well.”
The Scotiabank Saddledome has been Schwindt’s home rink for the last two years with the Flames and Wranglers. In fact, none of the four NHL games he played last season were on the road.
Friday was his first time in T-Mobile Arena, and he was impressed by what it offered.
“It was just loud,” Schwindt said. “It made it easy just to get legs (speed) and to be up on the bench. Every time there’s a whistle, everybody is up, jumping and screaming. It’s cool.”