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Rookie Spotlight: Dylan Coghlan

March 15, 2021, 5:51 PM ET [0 Comments]
Jeff Paul
Vegas Golden Knights Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT


Approximately halfway through the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, the Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in first place, atop the Honda West Division. They’ve done this all with one goalie (for most of the season), numerous line juggles on offense, and a defense featuring three first or second-year players.

To say they’ve been impressive is an understatement. They have rolled as a team despite multiple flaws that could really handcuff a club. Their first place ranking is especially impressive because of the youth on their blue line.

Coghlan


One third of that youth is Dylan Coghlan, the greenest member of the Vegas Golden Knights defense corps. He’s an offensively gifted defenseman, with above average skating ability, both of which have shone in his first season with the big club.

It wasn’t a straight shot to the NHL for Coghlan. No first round draft selection, no big cameras and bright lights. This hidden gem was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent by the Golden Knights, quickly made an impression in the minor leagues, and got his call to the NHL. From Juniors, to the minors, and then two years later at the NHL level: Dylan Coghlan has been a fun player to follow.

Juniors (WHL):


Coghlan-WHL

As you can see, Coghlan’s first two seasons in the Western League were an adjustment period. Skill of the competition improves and the truly elite quickly improve with the jump. Soon enough, Coghlan began to assert himself, finding his offensive game. His last two seasons in Tri-City were stellar and showed that he was ready to make the jump to the American League.

Chicago Wolves (AHL)


Coghlan-AHL

Coghlan, together with Nicolas Hague and Zach Whitecloud, got much needed seasoning in Chicago (AHL) under Head Coach Rocky Thompson. Those three gave the Golden Knights’ AHL club a real solid blue line, coming extremely close to a Calder Cup. All three have spoken to how much better they got working at the American League level, while battling for a call to the big club. With so many important developmental years behind him, he is showing that he’s ready to be a full time National Leaguer.

Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)


The 23-year-old now has 14 games of NHL experience and is gaining confidence by the shift. He’s asserting himself, especially in the offensive zone and thanks to his skating, he’s holding his own defensively. He’s no slouch, at 6-foot-2, 190lbs either. His job in his own end is easier, with the defense-centric Brayden McNabb on the other side, but Coghlan has been no liability in his own zone. They just may be the perfect fit.

Brayden-Mc-Nabb

“I always thought I’d be a good fit (as a partner) for Cogs (Coghlan).”

“I give him the puck as much as I can, especially in the offensive zone.”
- Brayden McNabb



Coghlan’s numbers shine in his time on ice with McNabb as his partner. He’s spent significant time with three defense partners and below you’ll find the data. It’s clear to see that he has an ideal partner in McNabb.

Nick Holden:
TOI w/ - 80:13, TOI w/o - 18:40
CF% - 50.0%, CF% w/o - 58.33%
Holden’s CF% without Coghlan: 37.74%

Nic Hague:
TOI w/ - 47:25, TOI w/o - 151:04
CF% - 43.59%, CF% w/o - 58.3%
Hague’s CF% without Coghlan: 49.35%

Brayden McNabb:
TOI w/ - 39:57, TOI w/o - 10:43
CF% - 66.18%, CF% w/o - 69.57%
McNabb’s CF% without Coghlan: 23.33%

Coghlan-Goal

Small sample size, but wow! McNabb generates much more offense when paired with Coghlan. Same goes for Coghlan. Coghlan’s numbers improve without the other defenseman in all three cases, while at the same time, those defensemen’s numbers plummet when they lose him. All signs point to Coghlan being the difference-maker.

His huge hat trick on March 10, while the VGK were being handled by the Wild, gave his team a rallying point and a legitimate chance to win. It was a great time for his first-ever NHL goal, immediately erasing the Wild lead. Then to follow it up with two more, late in the third? It was hands-down one of the best moments of the season despite the loss.

Coghlan was thought to and is proving to have the skill set to be a bona fide game-changer. His dynamic skating and transition offense give the Golden Knights a unique and valuable wrinkle to add to an already stellar roster. One that includes another young defenseman with a similar skillset, with future Norris Trophy candidate Shea Theodore.

Coghlan

Clearly, his 20% shooting percentage won’t hold at that high of a clip, but if last week’s slate of games proved anything, it’s that Dylan Coghlan is here and he should be here for good. If Alex Pietrangelo misses an extended period of time, which is likely, Coghlan will go from just another 6/7 defenseman, to one of the most important players on this Golden Knights team, trying to live up to Stanley Cup expectations.

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