Paul Cotter

November 2022 – Following a slow, steady rise through the Vegas system over the past few years, the Knights 2018 4th-rounder is finally making a name for himself on the big club in 2022-23. Having played seven games at the NHL level last season, scoring twice, the 23-year-old forward was able to earn himself both an extension on his entry-level deal (a three-year contract set to kick in next season and pay him $775,000 a year through 2026) and an extended look in the preseason. Since then not only has Cotter shown that his skill game can translate to the NHL, and that the patience, hustle and pro mentality that got him to this stage are not going away anytime soon. Do not anticipate Cotter being much more than a depth piece on this year’s squad, especially given his inexperience and the Knights status as a contender. At his age, with his tools and with his team-friendly contract, Vegas fans should get used to seeing Cotter line up in their bottom-six. Taylor Davis

November 2021 – Cotter capped off a prolific week by not only making his NHL debut on November 9^th and scoring his first NHL goal on the 11^th, but also registering goals in his next two games with the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights. His brief, two-game stint with Vegas featured predominately fourth-line work and roughly eight minutes of TOI per game, but considering he has five goals in 12 combined NHL and AHL contests this season, Cotter may be in line for further scoring chances with the Knights, who have been decimated by injuries early in 2021-22. Kevin Wickersham

September 2018 – As a natural centre, Cotter has played a minimal role in some of the Detroit areas top programs with the Compuware and Little Caesars before ending up with the Lincoln Stars in the USHL last season. Out of the 39 points he picked up in the 51 games he played in, 18 of those were goals. In fact, he’s always had a good knack for finding the back of the net, and will look to hone those skills next year where he’s committed to play with Western Michigan in the NCAA. It’s difficult to tell how high Cotter’s fantasy upside is going reach because early on it was expected that he’d be more of a two-way depth player, but in the past couple of years he’s shown an increased ability for finding the score sheet. It’s his solid mix of skill, speed and grittiness that may eventually land him in the NHL as a secondary scorer, but it will take a couple more years in the NCAA to paint a clearer picture of what his long-term potential is. Mason Black