The Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, had a solid 2021-22 season, going 35-28-5 with a playoff berth. Today, the Golden Knights re-signed the Silver Knights’ captain, Brayden Pachal, to a one-year, $750K contract. Pachal was a restricted free agent.
Pachal, 22, has worked his way up the professional hockey ladder since leaving the WHL as an undrafted player, and he finally made his NHL debut in 2021-22. Pachal got into two games for the Golden Knights and played most of the season in a prominent role in the AHL. In Henderson, Pachal played as a top-four defenseman and anchored the team’s penalty kill.
Pachal is a strong, physical defenseman who has quickly endeared himself to the Golden Knights organization and the coaching staff in Henderson. Being a captain of an AHL team at just 22 years old is an impressive feat, and it’s not out of line with Pachal’s history. Pachal was the captain of the Price Albert Raiders in the WHL in 2018-19, leading them to a WHL championship in the one year he wore the “C.”
This one-year deal for Pachal gives him the chance to lead the Silver Knights once again, and he’ll have the opportunity to get even more NHL games under his belt if the Golden Knights’ most relied-upon defensive defensemen, such as Brayden McNabb or Alec Martinez, have injury issues next season.