Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
People are using a LOT of hindsight in regards to Vegas. Was there some great management and player assessment? Absolutely. But no one - NO ONE (including Vegas mgmt) - expected to see what actually happened. Here are the top 19 players, by points, on the Knights in their prior season, then their first season with Vegas (player, 2016-17, 2017-18):
Karlsson:....... 25... 78 *
Marchessault:. 51... 75 *
Perron:.......... 46... 66 *
Smith:........... 37... 60 *
Haula:........... 26... 55 *
Neal:............. 41... 44
Miller:............ 13... 41 *
Tuch:............. 0..... 37 *
Schmidt:........ 17... 36 *
Theodore:....... 9.... 29 *
Eakin:............ 12... 27
Engelland:...... 16... 23 *
Hunt:.............. 6.... 18 *
Bellemore:....... 8.... 16 *
Nosek:............. 1... 15 *
McNabb:.......... 4.... 15 *
Carpenter:....... 4.... 14 *
Sbisa:............. 13... 14
Leipsic:............ 0.... 13 * (in 44 games)
16 of the 19 had career years (up to that point, a couple have since had better years)
13 of the 19 more than DOUBLED their prior career high
9 of the 19 more than TRIPLED their prior career high
In total, those 19 guys put up 676 points, compared to 329 points the year before
No one expected that, including Vegas mgmt.
It was lightning in a bottle. It was pure magic. And it will not happen again.
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... except that largely the same group has done it again, and again.
I am not at all convinced that something similar couldn't materialize for Seattle. Vegas did a great job picking guys who were hungry for opportunity, that's why they all exploded when given bigger roles and more of the reigns. They were told they were the rejects, but also told that they had the opportunity to prove those #######s keeping them down in their rosters who is who. They have done that.