Sask.-born McNabb gets ready for Vegas Golden Knights debut

Friends and family in Davidson, Saskatchewan will be cheering on their hometown boy as the NHL’s newest team hits the ice for the first time ever on Friday night.

Defenseman Braydon McNabb said the Vegas Golden Knights have had a chance to “gel” during training camp and chemistry is starting to show.

As a rule, odds makers don’t usually give expansion teams the edge, but the Golden Knights are expected to dress a very competitive team this year.

“We’re preparing for each game like we’re going to win it. And we’re going to work our tail off. I think we’re going to surprise some teams for sure,” McNabb said.

The Golden Knights will be on the road in Dallas on Friday night, for their season opener.

Their first home game will be Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes.

McNabb expects the home opener to be an emotional night given Sunday’s shooting in Las Vegas, which claimed the lives of 59 people and injured 515 others.

“We were actually on the strip having dinner, we were on lockdown, so we were kind of stranded there,” he said.

“It was scary moments. Everyone is still trying to wrap their heads around it.”

McNabb added he and his team have been doing whatever they can in the community as the city tries to heal.

He said players have been making appearances at blood donor clinics and have been meeting with first responders.

“They were happy to see us, just to try and get their minds off it a little bit. Whatever we can do to help we’re more than happy to do it,” McNabb said.

McNabb spent the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Kings after being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009, amassing 50 points and 219 points over his 238 games in the NHL.