The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled right-winger Braeden Bowman from the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. This is the first call-up of Bowman’s professional career. He earns it after a hot start to Henderson’s season. Bowman leads the club with seven goals, and is tied for the scoring lead with 12 points, through 12 games so far.
His first call-up to the NHL is a major milestone for the undrafted Bowman. He earned a minor-league contract with Henderson out of Vegas’ training camp in 2024, after four years with the OHL’s Guelph Storm. Bowman scored 14 goals and 36 points in 68 games of his rookie AHL season, enough to work his way onto the Silver Knights’ second-line. Vegas bumped Bowman’s minor-league deal up to a two-year, entry-level contract in March, making him eligible for an NHL call-up.
Bowman’s rookie-year growth gave him plenty of runway headed into this season’s training camp. He was a standout once again – flashing a sharp finishing ability, pro-level physicality, and quick hands. Those attributes continued to headline Bowman’s game through the first month of the season, and will now be recognized by Vegas with one more home game before a two-game road-trip.
Bowman could step into the lineup in place of center William Karlsson, who remained absent from practice on Wednesday, per Danny Webster of the Vegas Review Journal. Karlsson sustained a lower-body injury in Saturday’s loss to the Anaheim Ducks and has been designated as out day-to-day. Should that injury stick around, Bowman could earn his NHL debut in Thursday’s match versus the New York Islanders. He’d likely step onto the fourth-line, while Keegan Kolesar and Brandon Saad move up to fill Karlsson’s absence. Vegas could also deploy Alexander Holtz over Bowman. Holtz has no scoring through seven games this season.
Valeri Nichushkin was injured against the Anaheim Ducks early in the third period; we got some updates from head coach Jared Bednar, but his timeline is up in the air
Head Coach Jared Bednar said during today’s practice that Valeri Nichushkin is dealing with a lower-body injury and will miss some time; just how much is unknown.
His injury occurred late in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks, roughly around the 4:15 mark of the period. He has a well-documented history of lower-body injuries, so we hope it’s nothing too major that would cause him to miss a significant chunk of the season.
Joel Kiviranta also went down early in the season with a lower-body injury, precisely October 18, and has started to resume skating during today’s practice as well. Although we can’t confirm it was a concussion since we don’t know exactly what both dealt with and the severity of each issue. However, we can make a rough estimate that if it is serious but not overly severe, Nichushkin could be out for roughly 3-4 weeks.
It’s another injury the Avalanche have been dealt with, as Nichuskin’s play as of recently has really picked up. While his goal-scoring has been down to start the season, his playmaking has been excellent, with four assists over the last five games.
It’s highly unlikely he plays tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, so someone from the Eagles will be called up tonight to fill out the roster unless the Avalanche decides to run 11 forward and seven defenseman. MacKenzie Blackwood is confirmed to start tonight as well.