[GDT] Welcome. Vegas Golden Knights.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

I'll agree that their success isn't only talent alone...however I'd argue that a lot of their motivation is internal (personal desires to play for the city after the way the season opened, wanting to prove their doubters wrong who left them unprotected, wanting to establish themselves as a star on a new team, or simply the excitement surrounding the whole expansion team thing). Their coach no doubt plays a part in providing additional external motivation, but I'm not sure you can say that their whole success is just good systems play, coach pressing the right buttons, and motivational speeches.

Your argument suggests that the team would at least be moderately successful if it had picked different players and/or a different coach, because it is inherent to the situation. Yet, only one expansion team in the NHL has had a >0.500 win% in their first season, and that was in 1925.

So maybe Vegas had a good read on which players, who were deemed unworthy of protection by their former teams, would respond to that situation. That's possible, but I think the most likely theory is that they have an exceptional coach for the group of players they've assembled. Occam's razor.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by SebC

Your argument suggests that the team would at least be moderately successful if it had picked different players and/or a different coach, because it is inherent to the situation. Yet, only one expansion team in the NHL has had a >0.500 win% in their first season, and that was in 1925.

So maybe Vegas had a good read on which players, who were deemed unworthy of protection by their former teams, would respond to that situation. That's possible, but I think the most likely theory is that they have an exceptional coach for the group of players they've assembled. Occam's razor.

They also had the most favourable expansion draft situation in at least recent NHL history. Really didn't matter who was coaching the expansion teams of the 90s, they weren't landing guys like James Neal, Marchessault or Reilly Smith.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They also had the most favourable expansion draft situation in at least recent NHL history. Really didn't matter who was coaching the expansion teams of the 90s, they weren't landing guys like James Neal, Marchessault or Reilly Smith.

Yes, thank you.

Quite frankly, the fact that Florida gave up BOTH Smith and Marchessault just to do a salary dump drives me insane. Smith is also a very good two way player who had a bad year last year under horrible team circumstances and bad coaching post-Gallant. It doesn't surprise me at all to see him rebound. Neal was quite a steal as well.

This is more a factor of an expansion team arriving in the salary cap era than anything else. These are players that would never normally be available if not for salary cap relief.

That being said, Gallant is a helluva coach and Vegas is lucky he was available.

[JerryUnderscore]

I think it's possible to attribute Vegas' success to more than one factor.

Gallant is a good coach and we can give him credit for the job he's done while also recognizing that the expansion draft rules were drastically different this time compared to previous expansion drafts.

With that said, I'm interested to see how the team responses if/when they experience a slump or extended losing streak. Will they be able to rebound or will it torpedo their season?

[JohnnyB]

They're 11-2-0 at home. I attribute no small part of their success to visiting team Vegas hangovers.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

They also had the most favourable expansion draft situation in at least recent NHL history. Really didn't matter who was coaching the expansion teams of the 90s, they weren't landing guys like James Neal, Marchessault or Reilly Smith.

They were still a team assembled, in theory, from medium-value-at-best players, and thus have no business being as good as they are.

[Jetfire]

Exactly ^ It was also a savvy draft choice picking up William Karlsson, I wonder if GMGM saw that there was way more than a bottom 6 guy in him. Of course I don't think anyone could have possibly envisioned a potential 70 point breakout year coming, but regardless he's another huge unexpected factor that's made Vegas so much of a threat early this season.

[rage2]

If there's a VGK game you should watch this year, last night's Lightning @ Knights game is probably one of them, especially if you are still questioning their legitimacy.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

They're 11-2-0 at home. I attribute no small part of their success to visiting team Vegas hangovers.

Whether or not its hangovers, I am not at all surprised that a Vegas team has a strong home ice advantage. Particularly in year 1.

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by SebC

They were still a team assembled, in theory, from medium-value-at-best players, and thus have no business being as good as they are.

That's the thing, they are all middle pack players. Most other teams have bottom pack players balanced out with high end talent. Combine middle of the pack players with great goaltending, and we are witnessing what is actually an advantage.

Obviously good coaching is playing a major part of it.

[rage2]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

That's the thing, they are all middle pack players. Most other teams have bottom pack players balanced out with high end talent. Combine middle of the pack players with great goaltending, and we are witnessing what is actually an advantage.

That's one thing I've noticed as well, seems like all 4 lines are balanced at the same level, which makes them deadly when matched with other 3rd and 4th lines.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Aaaaannnndddd.....they're now leading the division.

No really. Go check the standings.

They have as many points in as many games as the Predators. This team seems legit.

They only trail the Lightning, who they just beat last night.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Aaaaannnndddd.....they're now leading the division.

No really. Go check the standings.

It's mind blowing really. Looking at that roster it makes absolutely no sense for them to be hanging with the elite teams in the league almost at the midway point of the season. Even some of the better Flames teams over the past 15 years have not been this dominant in a regular season.

[Tron_fdc]

They must have a standing agreement with the Spearmint Rhino to keep the visiting team as long as possible.

Anyone who has been to the Spearmint Rhino can back me up here. It's sooooooooo easy to lose 24 hours in that vortex of libations.

It's the only explanation for that home record

[Samonadreau]

^didn't know what that was..... so I googled it. I will save everyone else from a NSFW moment and say its a strip club.

[Tron_fdc]

People don't know what the Spearmint Rhino is?????

That's a shame, really. It's a bucket list for every male on the planet.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

People don't know what the Spearmint Rhino is?????

That's a shame, really. It's a bucket list for every male on the planet.

Oddly enough, there is a Spearmint Rhino in Boise, Idaho.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's mind blowing really. Looking at that roster it makes absolutely no sense for them to be hanging with the elite teams in the league almost at the midway point of the season. Even some of the better Flames teams over the past 15 years have not been this dominant in a regular season.

Im not surprised they are good...very surprised they are THIS good though. No expansion team has ever had the player availiblity that this club had to choose from. Look back at what a team like the Thrashers had to choose from...complete tire fire. Arguably Mark Tinordi was the best player they took and he retired before the season began.

GMGM did his homework for sure. They were able to scout players for a year and obviously went after a certain type of guy they wanted, and then when Gallant was available GM knew he was the type of coach he wanted for his type of players. Clearly the players are doing what is asked of them and when that happens, you get the results. To me the more amazing part of the Knights is that they have done most of their winning with a bunch of back up goaltenders.

Fun team to watch as well, which most Gallant coached teams will be.

[Chr1s]

Originally Posted by rage2

If there's a VGK game you should watch this year, last night's Lightning @ Knights game is probably one of them, especially if you are still questioning their legitimacy.

One thing you´ll see there is two teams scoring PP goals.

wish we could do that aswell

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

People don't know what the Spearmint Rhino is?????

That's a shame, really. It's a bucket list for every male on the planet.

No, it is not.