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Summer Series: The Defining Moments of the Vegas Golden Knights

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Hockey and sports in general can be broken down into moments. Some moments are bigger than others and chart the course of a franchise and an entire league. These moments can define a team’s destiny for years to come. For this installment, we bring you the defining moments of the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Golden Knights Defining Moments

The Golden Knights joined the NHL for the 2017-18 season. Hockey came to Vegas and has enjoyed immediate success. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first season in the league, becoming the first team to do so since the St. Louis Blues in 1967-68. The Knights have reached the Western Conference Final in four of their seven series and have only missed the playoffs once. Furthermore, the Golden Knights captured their first Stanley Cup in 2023.

It has been a successful seven years for the franchise, but which moments define them?

The Expansion Draft

Owner Bill Foley committed to winning a Stanley Cup within the first six years of the team’s existence. However, the Golden Knights were not expected to be a contender when they were first announced to the league. Many thought it would take a bit of time before the team would be considered a serious contender.

The Run Up

Like all expansion teams, the Golden Knights would use the expansion draft to construct their first roster. The organization would be able to choose a player from the other 30 NHL teams. Likewise, each NHL team would be able to submit a list of protected players whom the Golden Knights could not select. Teams could protect seven forwards, three defencemen, and a goalie. Or, they could protect eight skaters and one goalie. Vegas could select the unprotected players.

Once the lists of protected and unprotected were finalized, many noticed the quality players available for Vegas. It seemed Vegas would be able to construct a decent roster for their inaugural season.

The Moment

Vegas had a successful expansion draft. It was not just because of who they picked, but rather, who they did not pick. Vegas made deals on the side with other teams, accepting players, picks, and prospects in exchange for agreeing to pick or not pick a particular player. For example, the Minnesota Wild did not want to lose defenceman Matt Dumba or Marco Scandella. The Golden Knights agreed to draft forward Erik Haula in exchange for prospect Alex Tuch. Likewise, the Columbus Blue Jackets offered two draft picks in exchange for the Knights not taking certain players. As a result, Vegas selected William Karlsson.

Instead of just constructing a roster, the Golden Knights obtained draft picks and other assets they were able to use to improve the team. However, not all selections included a side deal, but that did not mean those players were any less effective in Vegas.

The Florida Panthers left forward Jonathan Marchessault exposed, despite leading the team with 30 goals the previous season. The Golden Knights selected him. In addition, the Knights added goal-scorer James Neal, as the aging forward was left unprotected by the Nashville Predators. However, the biggest ad came from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury, a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, joined the Golden Knights and immediately became the face of the franchise.

Aftermath

The Golden Knights found success right away in the NHL. They won the Pacific Division and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, where they fell to the Washington Capitals. However, the Golden Knights had perhaps the best season ever by an expansion team. Furthermore, many of the players they got in the expansion draft played significant roles for the team. Marchessault scored 27 goals that season and would later win the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023 with Vegas. Tuch scored 15 goals and would later be involved in a franchise-altering trade we will get to shortly. Fleury would go on to play four seasons with Vegas, and while he did not win a Cup with them, he did pave the way for the franchise to have success.

Foley’s six-year plan started wonderfully. The 2017-18 season may not have ended with the Stanley Cup, but it gave fans hope that the six-year plan was realistic.

Other Vegas Defining Moments

Franchise-Altering Trade

The Golden Knights have never been afraid to make big moves. During the 2021-22 season, the organization sent Tuch and others to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Jack Eichel. The team was seeking an elite goal scorer who could help them get over the hump in the playoffs.

After recovering from surgery and only playing in 33 games in 2021-22, Eichel’s first full season in Vegas was a success. Eichel scored 27 goals. Behind Eichel, the Golden Knights won the Pacific Division. In the playoffs, Eichel scored six goals and led the league with 20 assists. Furthermore, Eichel finished second in Conn Smythe voting for the Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights.

Eichel’s next two seasons were just as productive, recording 68 points and 94 points, respectively. The Golden Knights were legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in each season, with Eichel being a key part of the team’s success.

Eichel helped Foley’s six-year plan come true. Furthermore, the Golden Knights are in a prime position for more.

Jackpot!

On June 13th, 2023, the Golden Knights defeated the Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in their fifth year of existence. The Knights became the fastest team to win the Stanley Cup, surpassing the 1984 Edmonton Oilers. Captain Mark Stone recorded a hat trick as the Knights cruised to a 9-3 clinching victory.

Marchessault became the first undrafted player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy since Wayne Gretzky in 1988. Marchessault, William Carrier, Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, Reilly Smith, and Shea Theodore were the only members of the inaugural Golden Knights team from 2018. The “Original Misfits” were the first to receive the Stanley Cup from Stone.

The following season, the Golden Knights banner-raising ceremony consisted of the banner being raised from a casino slot machine—a fitting way to commemorate a Vegas championship.

Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie- Imagn Images

The post Summer Series: The Defining Moments of the Vegas Golden Knights appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.