2024-25 season prediction for Zach Aston-Reese

Zach Aston-Reese and Tanner Pearson are in the middle of an epic battle. They are fighting for their NHL careers and hope to make the Vegas Golden Knights' opening roster. They use everything they have, including their bodies and their shots. It's a war that will last until October, when the season begins, and will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

On one side, you have Pearson, the former first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings. He has a proven offensive history with two 20+ goal seasons (2016-17 and 2019-20). The former Canadian from Vancouver can also play alongside any player and acts as an ideal addition to the bottom six. Can he turn his PTO into a roster spot? Stay tuned.

On the other hand, there is Aston-Reese, who is not as strong offensively as Pearson. However, he is a good forechecking player who takes his opponents out of the game with hard checks. He is the type of player Bruce Cassidy needs on defense because he has a reasonable size (1.85 m and 90 kg). The forward could work well with Keegan Kolesar and Brett Howden, which would make the fourth line a tough line defensively.

Let’s take a look at the latter and see what the 2024-25 season has in store for him. Let's say the former Pittsburgh Penguins player snatches the final spot from Pearson and Brendan Brisson isn't ready for the NHL level yet. What does the new ice hockey year have in store for the striker? How will he fare in Bruce Cassidy's system if he finishes last? Let's dive into Aston-Reese's future and predict the upcoming regular season.

How Zach Aston-Reese fits into Bruce Cassidy's system

Bruce Cassidy's defense system consists of numerous layers. One of these is the element of lane blocking, where each player has to take away shooting and passing lanes. This means following the puck and moving accordingly. Defenders and strikers must work together to give the goalkeeper an open look and make life easier for the goalkeeper. The other component is the physical part, which is what Zach Aston-Reese does best.

He uses his body to incite his opponents and deliver devastating blows. In fact, he has 821 hits in his career, making him a formidable opponent. The former Pittsburgh Penguins star can also move up and down the ice to keep up with the game. Yes, Aston-Reese won't score as many points as Tanner Pearson. However, he makes up for this with his defensive strength, which allows him to score turnovers and win puck battles.

The only problem with Aston-Reese is that his style can lead to injuries. It's nice to attack like a wrecking ball and hit the opponents. However, this wears down the body and leads to further complications. That could happen to the striker this season and keep him out of action for some time. Given that the Vegas Golden Knights haven't been able to avoid injuries all that much, having another injured body doesn't help matters either.

2024-25 season prediction for Aston-Reese with the Vegas Golden Knights

Let's be clear: Zach Aston-Reese isn't going to score many goals. In fact, he'll probably score fewer goals than Brett Howden if he secures the final spot on the fourth line. Let's say he will play 55 games and score four goals And five assists. These should be enough for a forechecking player should he make it into the Vegas Golden Knights' first 12 forward group.

As for defensive numbers? It should compile 140 hits during the season, giving the Golden Knights more bite on the fourth line. The Staten Island native should also block 36 shots and have 19 takeawaysmaking him an important contributor to the forecheck. Again, he won't contribute to the offensive attack in the same way as Tanner Pearson. However, these numbers should satisfy Bruce Cassidy, especially if Aston-Reese sticks to his hard-hitting approach.

The battle for the final spot on the fourth row will be exciting to watch. The Golden Knights have numerous options for Cassidy, which creates more excitement for fans. If Aston-Reese gets the last spot, they can expect a chaotic game that could benefit Vegas defensively. That's everything fans want at the start of the new hockey year.