The Vegas Golden Knights may be on the verge of hoisting the Stanley Cup, but a troubling development on Monday has sent shockwaves through their locker room and raised urgent questions about the team’s depth. According to multiple sources close to the situation, two key defensemen—Noah Hanifin and Brayden McNabb—were conspicuously absent from the team’s scheduled practice session ahead of Game 4.
SinBinVegas, a well-connected outlet covering the Golden Knights, reported on X (formerly Twitter) that neither Hanifin nor McNabb took the ice with their teammates. While official word from the team remains vague, speculation is rampant about what this could mean for Vegas’s lineup in what is shaping up to be a pivotal clash against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
McNabb’s Gutsy Game 3 Performance Raises Concerns
Brayden McNabb, who took a frightening slap shot to the face from Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers in Game 2, somehow played through the pain in Game 3 while wearing a full cage. Insiders say his absence from practice could be a sign that the injury is more severe than initially disclosed. One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that McNabb’s ability to even finish Game 3 was “nothing short of a miracle,” but added that the team is “reportedly worried” about the swelling and vision issues that could keep him from being effective in Game 4.
McNabb logged the second-highest ice time among all Golden Knights in Game 3, trailing only Shea Theodore—the hero who netted the double-overtime game winner. Despite the visible discomfort, McNabb still managed to tally an assist on the winning goal. Over the course of the postseason, he has been a physical force, averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time, recording 33 blocked shots, and posting a plus-10 rating. His role as a shutdown defender has been critical in neutralizing Carolina’s speed.
Hanafin’s Absence Adds to the Mystery
Noah Hanifin’s absence is perhaps even more puzzling. The former Hurricanes defenseman has been a steady presence for Vegas, skating in all 19 games this postseason and dishing out seven assists. He’s averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game, making him one of the team’s most relied-upon blue-liners. Sources indicate that Hanifin was not seen limping or showing obvious signs of injury during Game 3, which has led to chatter among fans and analysts that this could be a maintenance day—or something far more ominous.
“No one is panicking yet, but if both players are out for Game 4, that changes everything,” one insider whispered to us. “The Hurricanes just spent two periods proving they can rally from a four-goal deficit. If Vegas has to roll a depleted lineup, this series could turn on a dime.”
What This Means for Game 4
The Golden Knights remain up 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final after a breathtaking 5-4 double-overtime victory in Game 3—a game that saw Vegas jump out to a commanding 4-0 lead, only to watch Carolina storm back in the third period and force extra hockey. Every puck drop from here on out carries monumental weight. If McNabb or Hanifin are unavailable, the Golden Knights will be forced to rely on less experienced defenders or shuffle their pairings—something that could be exploited by a desperate Hurricanes squad.
Game 4 is set for Tuesday evening. All eyes are on the Golden Knights’ medical staff and the final roster decisions that could make or break Vegas’s championship dreams. As one league observer put it: “We’re about to find out just how deep this team really is.”
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