Not many teams have a decorated history early in their first seven seasons like the Vegas Golden Knights. What are the three best moments in team history?
Tell your friends that Vegas Golden Knights hockey is a month away. Tell the village, tell your family, and tell your dentist. Fans will flock to T-Mobile Arena to see superstars like Jack Eichel skate around the ice. The whole world must know that the greatest season in sports is around the corner, with the regular season starting two months from now.
Fond memories of the team’s past successes come with that anticipation, Watching past legends like Marc-Andre Fleury make a ridiculous save or Jonathan Marchessault score a clutch goal brings a smile to many faces in Las Vegas. It’s also led to postseason success, including a Stanley Cup in the hollowed halls.
The historical success fosters some contempt and awe from fellow hockey fans. Some people admire what the Golden Knights have done during their team history, following their success with admiration. Others are jealous of their achievements, wishing they could be like them. Whatever the case, the Golden Knights have ruled their kingdom.
Of course, the jealousy crowd have relished in some of the bad moments of Vegas’s short history. That includes a 3-1 lead blown against the San Jose Sharks and a controversial major penalty called on a cross-check. However, Golden Knights fans think more about the blissful times than the bad moments.
Why wouldn’t they? Vegas has built a winning culture turning the team into a regular Stanley Cup contender. They’ve done this by finding diamonds in the rough via trade, free agency, and even the Expansion Draft. These players have created such moments, bringing excitement and leaving behind a legacy. With that, here are three of the best overall moments in the Golden Knights’ history.
3.) Marc-Andre Fleury wins the Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is one of the most prized achievements in the NHL. It honors the spectacular work of a goaltender during a season, parallel to a baseball pitcher winning the Cy Young. It’s awarded to a specialty position that serves a greater purpose to the team’s success.
When the Vegas Golden Knights drafted Marc-Andre Fleury with the 29th pick in the 2017 Expansion Draft, the expectation was that he’d be the starting goaltender. The team wanted a stable player in net and the former first-overall draft pick proved his worth with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he would go beyond the call, leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in the inaugural season.
But 2020-21 was a special season in itself, with Fleury posting a GAA of 1.98 and a save percentage of .928. Despite the shortened season, the “Original Misfit” won the first Vezina Trophy in franchise history. It cemented his place in Golden Knights history, making him the best goaltender in the franchise.
2.) The Vegas Golden Knights acquire Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres
Before the 2021-22 season, the Vegas Golden Knights were in a peculiar position. They were a good offensive team that could score goals on any line. The problem was they didn’t have a game-changing center with staying power. Max Pacioretty was supposed to be that guy. While he was great with the Golden Knights, he was just above the other players.
However, Jack Eichel was that player, serving as the forward version of Marc-Andre Fleury. He was a game-changing player who could fool defenders and make highlight-reel moves. That’s why Vegas acquired him and a conditional draft pick from the Buffalo Sabres, trading Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, and two conditional draft picks.
Overall, the trade was a resounding success, with Eichel winning a Stanley Cup. He scored six goals and 20 assists during that postseason, establishing himself as one of the better centers in the NHL. He’s scored 72 goals and 87 assists during his three seasons with his new team.
While Tuch has been a decent piece for the Sabres (even having a better 2022-23 season), Krebs has lagged. The former first-round pick only scored 20 goals and 45 assists since the 2021-22 season started, making it a clear victory for the Golden Knights.
1.) The Vegas Golden Knights making the Stanley Cup Final twice (and winning once)
Both Stanley Cup Final trips for the Vegas Golden Knights have been memorable for the fans. In 2017-18, nobody expected an expansion team led by Marc-Andre Fleury to make the championship round in the first season. 2022-23 was different, with people becoming aware of the team’s capabilities.
But let’s go back to that inaugural season when the Las Vegas community was reeling from a deadly mass shooting. The city needed something to heal from the traumatic event. The Golden Knights became instant successes, healing a wounded community with hockey.
However, the story would get its happy ending when the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers in five games. They would win their first Stanley Cup, capping off a story fit for Hollywood. It was fitting for a team nobody believed in to finish the story, delivering a title victory capped off by a heart-shaped photo.
The Golden Knights wouldn’t have been relevant without that inaugural season run. They would’ve been another expansion team wallowing in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup. Still, Bill Foley set the standard of immediately becoming competitive, fulfilling his promise of a championship in six seasons.
