Brayden McNabb Continues Making Others Better While Playing The Best Hockey Of His Career Himself

The life of a defense-first defenseman can be a quiet one. Much like referees or offensive linemen in football, the best games for stay-at-home blue liners are the ones in which they aren’t noticed at all.

That’s probably how Brayden McNabb is having the best season of his NHL career, and it’s flying under the radar.

I think his biggest asset is his ability to read the play quickly and make the appropriate play whether it’s with the puck or without it. -Bruce Cassidy

The 34-year-old is averaging 20:12 of ice time a night, the most in his 13-year career, and his +37 is not only best on the Golden Knights by a wide margin (Eichel +28 is second), but it’s just one off the league lead.

He’s certainly of our core pieces. You typically think of the big producers but he’s a guy that’s been a constant back there. We put a letter on his sweater any time anyone goes out of the lineup but he could easily be an assistant captain, or even captain, in my eyes. -Cassidy

All the while, he’s been one of VGK’s most durable players not just this year; he hasn’t missed a game, but over the last seven seasons where he’s missed two or fewer games in five seasons.

He’s found a way, knock on wood, to avoid those injuries. It probably has something to do with the fact that he’s such a smart hockey player. Even though he’s in harm’s way he’s not putting himself in bad spots so to speak. -Cassidy

In just over 1100 minutes at 5-on-5, McNabb has been on the ice for 54 goals for while just 30 against. The only player with similarly positive numbers is Kaedan Korczak (19GF/10GA), who just so happens to be McNabb’s defense partner.

As good as he’s been himself, the best quality he possesses is what he seems to be able to do for whoever is playing with him. Not only on the ice with his D-partner but in the locker room with the rest of the group.

McNabb always makes people around him better. He’s doing it with Korczak now, he did it with Whitecloud earlier. He just has that ability to calm people down, make the right play, and put out fires if need be. I think every player in the room looks up to him when he does have something to say. -Cassidy

As good as he’s been Brayden McNabb deserves his flowers this season. But, in typical defensive-defenseman style, he’s perfectly fine being inconspicuous while his team continues to pile up wins.