Kolesar Takes Steps Forward in First Full NHL Season

As Vegas Golden Knights fans watched Keegan Kolesar grow into his own last season, Kolesar saw his role with the team increase while he achieved some major NHL firsts.
After making his NHL debut for the Golden Knights on Jan. 11, 2020, Kolesar spent the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season with the Chicago Wolves and joined the Golden Knights as a member of the taxi squad during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His first full-time NHL opportunity came during the 2020-21 season as he suited up for 44 regular season games and 17 playoff games for the Golden Knights on their run to the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

Kolesar made strides in the right direction as he became an effective piece of Vegas' depth. He made his physical presence felt by finishing third on the team in hits (107) while compiling 13 points (3G, 10A) in the regular season.
The Brandon, Manitoba native compared his first NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues on March 22 to the weight of a mountain being lifted off his back. Kolesar beat Jordan Binnington in the third period of that game and celebrated the moment with an emphatic celebration.

In his first Stanley Cup Playoffs action, Kolesar notched four points (1G, 3A) through three rounds with the Golden Knights. It took until Game 6 of the second round for Kolesar to score his first playoff goal, but the marker was crucial in the Golden Knights' 6-3 victory against the Colorado Avalanche.

While the 2020-21 campaign can be considered Kolesar's first "full season" in the NHL, the 2021-22 season will offer the forward a chance to continue his upward trajectory as a Golden Knight with an 82-game schedule.