In the not-too-distant future, the Golden Knights will have former players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Most notably, VGK’s #1 overall expansion draft pick Marc-Andre Fleury will undoubtedly be inducted into Toronto’s hockey cathedral after he hangs up the goalie skates. Last week Sportsnet composed a list of active NHL players that are Hall of Fame locks. The 2021 Vezina trophy winner was one of the names on Sportsnet lists.
What active NHLers are a lock for the Hall of Fame? 🔐
Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler shares her picks. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/F7XcmaxVGT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 2, 2024
The list above is accurate and allows little room for arguments. However, the list is light and is missing several current NHL’ers, including another former Golden Knight. To dive deeper, there are active players on VGK’s roster that are deserving of a Hall of Fame nod. Let’s make a case for two current and three former Golden Knights.
Alex Pietrangelo
2008 – 4th Overall Pick, 16 Seasons, 1016 Games Played, 604 Points, 3x All-Star, 2x Stanley Cup Champion
After the 2019-20 season, the Golden Knights were down on their luck. The team had a goaltending controversy, was recently handed a five-game conference finals defeat, and had many decisions to make. That’s when the organization turned their focus on free agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. The former St. Louis captain had already built himself an elite resume, highlighted by captaining the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship. Without a true number-one blueliner, Vegas dealt away Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny so they could raise their bid for Pietrangelo’s services. From that moment, the Golden Knights have consistently been one of the best defensive teams in the NHL.
Alex Pietrangelo’s first Stanley Cup ring was looking lonely, so he decided to get a second one.
Pietrangelo is #⃣9⃣ on our Top 20 Defensemen list! @GoldenKnights | #VegasBorn | #NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/gHFz2aRWA6
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 25, 2023
The 34-year-old took some time getting comfortable in a Golden Knights uniform but once he did, he became one of the club’s most reliable players. The emotional decision to leave St. Louis and expensive price tag offered by Vegas paid off in June 2023.
Most Hall of Fame evaluations compare Pietrangelo’s chances to HoF’ers Scott Niedermayer and Scott Stevens. The 2008 fourth overall pick is projected to be enshrined with classmates Drew Doughty, Roman Josi, Erik Karlsson and Steven Stamkos. Also known as one of the deepest defensive draft of all time.
CHILLS! Jack Eichel with a vintage snipe for a shorthanded goal, tying it up at 2!#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/LFpFkyd80m
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 28, 2024
Jack Eichel
2015 – 2nd Overall Pick, 9 Seasons, 539 Games Played, 514 Points, 1.13 Points Per Playoff Game, 1x Stanley Cup Champion
It’s still much too early to make this call, but the pace is there. Before playing Vegas, Eichel was on pace for a below-expectations career for a second overall pick. Since his reemergence, the 27-year-old is back on track. The 0.95 point-per-game player has become the Golden Knights’ best asset in the regular season and the playoffs.
The 2015 first overall pick Connor McDavid is a rare case. The 27-year-old has 982 points in 645 games and is the definition of Hall of Fame lock. Only 103 players in NHL history have reached that plateau and he’s just about to hit his prime. Although many people do it, it’s unfair to compare Eichel or anybody to McDavid. He’ll pick up his points, but the Cup-winning center’s future postseason success will push him over the edge. If he remains healthy through his later years, Eichel will hit the proper thresholds to make a strong argument. If he goes on to win another Stanley Cup his chances rise exponentially.
On June 4, 2012, Jonathan Quick set an @LAKings‘ playoff record for most shutouts in the postseason (3) by shutting out the Devils, 3-0, in Game 3. Alec Martinez scored his first career playoff goal, and the #LAKings gained a 3-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final.#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/G0sXu55H0L
— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) June 4, 2023
Jonathan Quick
2005 – 73rd Overall Pick, 780 Games Played, 764 Games Started, 393 Wins, 2.47 Goals Allowed Per Game, 1x All-Star, 2x Jennings Trophy, 3x Stanley Cup, 1x Conn Smyth
It’s astounding Quick was left off of Sportsnet’s HoF list. Doughty and Kopitar are listed but the 2012 Conn Smythe was ignored. The reality is Quick is a sure thing Hall of Famer. His hardware and numbers prove it. While his stay with Vegas was short, Quick played a role in the franchise’s first league championship, enough to have his name etched into history for the third time.
Phil Kessel
2006 – 5th Overall Pick, 17 Seasons, 1286 Games Played, 992 Points, 413 Goals, 3x Stanley Cup Champion
The Iron Man is a borderline Hall of Famer. He has his NHL consecutive games played record and has three championship rings. However, he never received MVP votes over 17 seasons. Kessel has had an excellent career and will go down as one of the top American-born players in NHL history. Again, he’s no longer connected to Vegas outside of 2023-24 but he broke the league record in a Golden Knights uniform.
Jonathan Marchessault
Undrafted Free Agent, 11 Seasons, 638 Games Played, 487 Points, 230 Goals, 1x Stanley Cup Champion, 1x Conn Smyth
The former Original Misfit will never reach the amount of games, goals or points that most Hall of Fame forwards average in their careers. However, Marchessault is in a unique position. If the displaced Golden Knight wins another Stanley Cup and has his name engraved on the Conn Smythe trophy for a second time, he’d have a real case. It’s highly unlikely, but he’ll have his place in the Golden Knights’ future Hall of Fame.
