(Credit: NHL.com)

This season the Golden Knights are 5-0-2 and are matching expectations through seven games. Sure, there have been some defensive lapses over the first five contests, but in the last two Vegas has allowed only two goals. Impressively enough, one of those opponents was the league’s last remaining undefeated team. VGK’s team defense held Carolina, who was averaging almost five goals a game to one score on Monday night.

One of the reasons the Golden Knights’ defense has settled in and is beginning to look like years past is their dedication to stopping the puck. While it shouldn’t surprise any Vegas fan, 14-year career defenseman Brayden McNabb is two off the lead in blocked shots. Additionally, another Golden Knights defenseman also cracked the Top 15 in blocked shots this season.

NHL’s Top Shot Blockers

Darnell Nurse (EDM) – 26 Blocked Shots
Brayden McNabb (VGK) – 24 Blocked Shots
Andrew Peeke (BOS) – 22 Blocked Shots
Brett Pesce (CAR) – 21 Blocked Shots
Alex Carrier (MTL) – 20 Blocked Shots
Connor Timmins (BUF) – 20 Blocked Shots
Thomas Harley (DAL) – 20 Blocked Shots
Tyler Meyers (VAN) – 19 Blocked Shots
Adam Larsson (SEA) – 19 Blocked Shots
Jared Spurgeon (MIN) – 18 Blocked Shots
Mike Matheson (MTL) – 18 Blocked Shots
Auston Matthews (TOR) – 18 Blocked Shots
Simon Edvinsson (DET) – 18 Blocked Shots
Shea Theodore (VGK) – 17 Blocked Shots

Surprisingly, Shea Theodore is listed with 17 blocked shots through seven games. At this pace, VGK’s top blueliner is in line for almost 200 blocked shots. It’s unlikely he reaches that mark once the defensive unit is fully healthy. However, he’s way above his average per 60 minutes. Coming into the 2025-26 campaign, Theodore threw his body in front of a puck 3.33 times per 60. Currently, he’s doubled his attempts in each matchup. As for McNabb, he’s astonishingly blocking almost 10 shot attempts per 60.

Overall, the Golden Knights have blocked the 7th most shot attempts since the start of the season.

NHL’s Top Teams In Blocked Shots

Boston Bruins – 143 Blocked Shots
Minnesota Wild – 133 Blocked Shots
Seattle Kraken – 133 Blocked Shots
New Jersey Devils – 132 Blocked Shots
Montreal Canadiens – 132 Blocked Shots
Pittsburgh Penguins – 129 Blocked Shots
Vegas Golden Knights – 119 Blocked Shots
Edmonton Oilers – 118 Blocked Shots
Vancouver Canucks – 117 Blocked Shots
New York Rangers – 116 Blocked Shots

Altogether, Vegas has 17 players with at least one blocked shot this season. More significantly, seven Golden Knights have seven or more blocked shots in seven games. If VGK continues their pace of 17 blocked shots per game, they are set to soundly sail past last season’s total of 1,287 blocked shots.

It’s unlikely that the Golden Knights will reach their high marks for blocked shots under coach Bruce Cassidy. In 2023-24, Vegas blocked 1,506 and blocked 1,494 in 2022-23. Keep in mind, Alec Martinez was still on the roster. The Golden Knights’ most prolific shot blocker led the entire NHL with 244 during the unforgettable 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, Martinez dealt with several devastating injuries due to his penchant for shot blocking.

Hopefully, neither McNabb nor Theodore embodies the former three-time Stanley Cup champion’s fearlessness. Vegas cannot afford to lose any players at the moment, especially the two most reliable d-men on the roster.