Evaluating Jonas Rondbjerg's role with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2025-26
Jonas Rondbjerg has been in a weird state of flux with the Vegas Golden Knights. He's a regular on the ice, only he's not. He's played 76 career NHL games, with 13 games coming from last season.
The 2024-2025 result? Zero goals and zero assists. It's a rough world not having a consistent roster spot in the NHL (or any sports league for that matter).
...Except life isn't all that bad for Rondbjerg. He gets to represent Denmark in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. In fact, he was named as one of the roster's first six players to represent the Nordic country. Now that's pretty good for someone at the professional level.
Still, let's be honest here. Rondbjerg isn't getting a roster spot with the Golden Knights this season... at least, not a starting spot among the 12 forwards. You see, the forward group has become the team's biggest strength. That's especially true at the wing, where you have a Top Five winger in the NHL.
So, what will make the Danish winger special this season? What is his integral role on the Golden Knights? Believe it or not, he's going to be more than a mere warm body on the team this season.
Why Jonas Rondbjerg is critical to the Vegas Golden Knights success
One thing that makes Rondbjerg stand out as is his hockey IQ. He can read when the next play will happen and knows how to defend. That's what makes him a key fourth-line player when he's called up to the main roster.
Granted, he's not the most skilled player on the ice. He won't wow people with his offensive capabilities and score a lot. However, the Danish forward doesn't need to be the flashiest player on the ice. All he needs to do is make the right plays and be in the right place.
Heck, the Golden Knights winger has no issue playing against the biggest stars in the league. That's why Bruce Cassidy loves playing him on the roster whenever he has a chance (according to SinBin.vegas).
"Rondbjerg has done a good job down where he is. He played the other night (January 2024) against Crosby's line. We have no issues with having him out there against top people. He's an excellent checking forward, and we're trying to build his offensive game. Maybe that will come with more reps at this level. Right now, we want him to check well and kill."Bruce Cassidy in January 2024
What else does Rondbjerg bring to the table?
Cassidy also mentioned the Danish forward's strength on the penalty kill. That's where his intelligence and awareness come into play, where he sniffs out the puck and makes successful exits.
Cassidy can also use him to get an advantage match-up wise. The lowest percentage that he's had regarding starting shifts on the fly is 61% (2023-24), according to MoneyPuck. Here, he can catch his opponents off-guard and use his on-ice intelligence to his advantage.
Obviously, getting more from him offensively is key. Scoring three career goals and seven career assists isn't cutting the mustard. That's especially true when you play 76 career games.
Still, fans can't overlook Rondbjerg's role on the Golden Knights. He'll serve as the proverbial fill-in player when a star goes down. That carries plenty of significance in itself, especially when you're trying to win another Stanley Cup.
Don't cry for him! He's still alive!
