GOLDEN KNIGHTS NOTEBOOK

the Knights’ blue line, providing a steadying presence on a team full of speedsters with the puck.

“You go through a lot when you’re a bit younger. You try to find who you are as a player,” Mcnabb said. “It took a little bit of a transition period for me to learn to play the defensive side well. It’s kind of my game now.”

Carrier returns to Buffalo

Bruising forward William Carrier returned to Keybank Center on Monday for the first time since the Knights took him from the Sabres in the expansion draft.

Carrier didn’t make the trip to Buffalo last season because he was injured and he saw how much things have changed in his absence. Since he last skated for the Sabres, the team has a new general manager (Jason Botterill), coach (Phil Housley) and captain (Jack Eichel).

“I think they have a really good lineup now that they’ve made a few moves,” Carrier said. “Jack is one of the greatest players in the league so they’ll be OK for the next few years.”

New No. 1

The Knights got their first look at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft on Monday in Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The Swedish rookie made his presence felt in the first period when he put a hard hit on Knights forward Erik Haula near the center of the ice.

“(He has) a lot of skill, a lot of talent and he’s going to play a two-way game for them,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “He’s going to be a real good player for them.”

Watch party

The Knights will host a watch party at Topgolf for their Stanley Cup Final rematch with the Washington Capitals at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal. com. Follow @Bensgotz on Twitter.