Red: preseason schedule dropped
Red: we play colorado oct 12
Joel: Japan. Grand Prix assignment.
Red: right
Red: what about september
Joel: I have a week. Late September. Between choreography sessions.
Red: i could fly out
Joel: Or I come to you.
Red: vegas is risky
Joel: I'll get a hotel. We don't have to go anywhere.
Red: september 22? i have three days
Joel: Done.
Red: just like that?
Joel: Natalia handles logistics. I handle wanting things.
The Athletic — August 28
THE FACE OF VEGAS: INSIDE ROBERT PIPER'S RISE FROM AFTERTHOUGHT TO FRANCHISE CORNERSTONE
A few years ago, Robert Piper was an undersized AHL center with a bad hip and no path forward. Now his jersey outsells every other player on the Vegas roster.
The transformation has been swift and deliberate. Piper's on-ice production—113 points across two seasons, plus 11 more in last year's playoff run—tells part of the story. The rest lives in billboard campaigns, charity galas, and a recent endorsement deal with athletic wear giant Lynx that positions him alongside Olympic-level talent.
"He's become the heartbeat of this team," GM Jack Hollistan said. "Not just what he does on the ice. It's who he is in the room, in the community. Kids in this city wear his number."
The Aces have taken notice. Extension talks are expected to begin this fall, with sources suggesting a deal in the $7 million AAV range—significant money for a player drafted by no one.
But visibility cuts both ways. Piper has grown noticeably guarded with media, offering polished answers that reveal little. He declined several interview requests for this piece.
"He's private," one teammate said. "Keeps his circle small. But when it matters, he shows up."
Whether the pressure of being Vegas's most marketable player affects his game remains to be seen. For now, the Aces are betting their future on a 5'6" center who keeps proving the doubters wrong.
September 3, 2:18 AM
Red: thinking about the pool
Joel: Which part.
Red: the part where you cheated to catch me
Joel: Strategy isn't cheating.
Red: keep telling yourself that sparkles
Joel: I will.
