It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Deryk Engelland isn’t ready to call it a career in the NHL. After playing 79 and 74 games (plus 27 playoff games) the last two years, the 37-year-old thinks he has at least one more year left in him.
My goal is to play at least another couple of years. As far as how many years we’ll just take it one at a time right now. -Deryk Engelland on The Press Box with Ed and Clay
Engelland spoke to Ed Graney and Clay Baker on The Press Box on ESPN Radio 1100 (listen to the whole interview here) this morning and made it abundantly clear that he not only doesn’t want to be done in the NHL, but he doesn’t want to be done in Vegas either.
Waking up at an older age isn’t always the best feeling, but you still love the game, loving playing it, love being around the guys and there’s no better place to play it than here Vegas so hopefully that all works out.
I did what I can do this season, and now it’s just up to them. I’ll just sit back, see what we hear from them and go from there. -Engelland on The Press Box with Ed and Clay
It’s up to the Golden Knights to decide if they want to keep Engelland moving forward. However, every indication they’ve ever given points to the two parties reuniting for at least 2019-20 season.
Engelland remains one of the best penalty killers on the team, one of the two right-handed defensemen on the roster (Colin Miller being the other), and a clear leader both on and off the ice. Plus, the head coach has used him every time he’s been healthy both years.
If it were to be listed on the William Hill Mobile Sports App, Deryk Engelland to be a Golden Knight in 2019-20 would be a massive favorite.
How’s -1500 sound?
Catherine McGowen
Don’t break up the band now. If not for an unfortunate incident, the Knights were true contenders. Let’s see the same 2019-2020 and prove we’re ROCKSTARS❗
Cody C
I think the plan would be to resign him to a 1.5m deal and he plays about 30-40 games with Hague and Schuldt getting in there a decent chunk and seeing what value they can get out of Colin.
Bill Windsor
I have had the pleasure of meeting and taking to Deryk Engelland multiple times over the years and find him to be funny, serious and engaging. This is definitely the type of leader expected in a teams clubhouse in addition to his humanitarianism, along with his wife, Melissa, with the Vegas Heroes Foundation. Deryk should definitely obtain a one year contract with the Golden Knights before heading upstairs in a management capacity. This organization and city owe Deryk that much respect.
Adrian
As much as I admire Engelland, he was really looking tired in the later periods towards end of the season and against the Sharks. He was having a hard time keeping up with the faster forwards. I would think he would serve better as a healthy scratch and play second or bottom pairing on the D Line when he is in. As we all know, the NHL has become a speed game, and that is one thing that Engelland is not. I also think he should get the bare minimum, since the team needs as much help on the salary cap as possible, and Engelland needs Vegas more than Vegas needs him.
Michael Mas
As a 32-year resident of Las Vegas and a season ticket holder since the beginning, I believe Deryk’s presence and inaugural season opening game speech were iconic.
As a 61-year NHL fan (Blackhawks, Blues, now Golden Knights), however, I believe his on-ice presence is more of a deficit than an asset.
I believe his residence here and fate suggest his greatest contribution to the team would be as a full-time VGK community ambassador.