[GDT] Welcome. Vegas Golden Knights.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Just think how Florida feels right now. Granted, a lot of their woes are self inflicted, but two of Vegas' top scorers are 26 year olds who they got to poach from the Panthers and are having excellent years with 31 and 26 points respectively. Meanwhile the Panthers have to watch Vegas sit up in the top 5 of the league standings while FLA toils down near the bottom.

At least all we lost out of the deal was a 35 year old Deryk Engelland.

The Panthers basically gave the Knights their head coach too.

[red sky]

I don't buy into the notion that teams are partying hard the night before games. From the games I have watched, they have the record they do because they are a fast, hard working team with good goaltending when needed.

I don't think they will end the year with the same winning percentage that they have now but they will occupy one of the 3 pacific division spots for sure.

They are an exciting team to watch and I look forward to seeing how the Flames stack up against them.

[Jetfire]

I'm not sour that they're ahead of us at all, though of course I want us to pass them. That team is just such a perfect storm for unexpected success, nobody would have foreseen Florida's ownership selling the team's soul to Vegas for peanuts, nor nearly all of their expansion draft choices panning out. If they're ahead of us while running our own former number 5/6 Deryk Engelland on their top pairing at times, all the power to them. Gallant is a hell of a coach and McPhee has done generally pretty well managing them, with a few mistakes as to be expected. It seems to get forgotten that despite the success this is a team built largely off of the 3rd and 4th liners, some young unproven prospects, and only a couple older players they were fortunate to grab.

There's some luck of course, this is a lightning in a bottle team like the Avs a few years ago, or the Hartley Flames a couple years ago. There were no expectations on this team whatsoever, just like the two teams mentioned above, so they've been going out night in and night out, having fun playing the game, and that's been a winning formula for them. I've watched or listened to every game the Knights have played thus far, and I can't help but laugh they're just such a fun team, they can be trailing in almost any game and they're virtually never out of it, because with a single goal they seem to storm right back like they did against the Lightning yesterday.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jetfire

There's some luck of course, this is a lightning in a bottle team like the Avs a few years ago, or the Hartley Flames a couple years ago. There were no expectations on this team whatsoever, just like the two teams mentioned above, so they've been going out night in and night out, having fun playing the game, and that's been a winning formula for them. I've watched or listened to every game the Knights have played thus far, and I can't help but laugh they're just such a fun team, they can be trailing in almost any game and they're virtually never out of it, because with a single goal they seem to storm right back like they did against the Lightning yesterday.

Or as Rhett would say:

[Jetfire]

Actually just ran into this today too, The Players' Tribune is so good. This one is David Perron talking about the whirlwind of a season so far for that team, some things he speaks of are relevant to the discussion over the past couple pages.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/da...olden-knights/

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jetfire

Actually just ran into this today too, The Players' Tribune is so good. This one is David Perron talking about the whirlwind of a season so far for that team, some things he speaks of are relevant to the discussion over the past couple pages.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/da...olden-knights/

Great piece for sure.

goes to what i was saying earlier, GM knew what he was doing even as armchair QB's all over the world were chiding him. I doubt even he knew they would be as good as they have been, but no question in my mind that between him, McCrimmon and Gallant, they knew they would be a good club.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Great piece for sure.

goes to what i was saying earlier, GM knew what he was doing even as armchair QB's all over the world were chiding him. I doubt even he knew they would be as good as they have been, but no question in my mind that between him, McCrimmon and Gallant, they knew they would be a good club.

The crazy part is, I don't even think he took the best players he possibly could have. He picked some lesser players in exchange for draft picks with an eye on the future of the club.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

The crazy part is, I don't even think he took the best players he possibly could have. He picked some lesser players in exchange for draft picks with an eye on the future of the club.

That seems to get overlooked. You're right. He chose picks over talent in order to build through the entry draft, it makes this whole thing even more remarkable.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

The crazy part is, I don't even think he took the best players he possibly could have. He picked some lesser players in exchange for draft picks with an eye on the future of the club.

I thought he had a choice - put together a sort of decent team of the best available guys or assemble a lot of picks, good prospects and ice a crappy team. And I also thought he went with the latter but didn't do an especially good job.

[GirlySports]

Most sportsbooks had the over/under on VGK wins for the season at 24.5. So if you're holding an "over" ticket, you still need 1 win in their final 47 games.

[TenaciousC]

Vegas 18-2-1 at home, just amazing. I know they are playing well, but does anyone doubt that teams go out on the town before they play them? That's some mighty home ice advantage

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by TenaciousC

Vegas 18-2-1 at home, just amazing. I know they are playing well, but does anyone doubt that teams go out on the town before they play them? That's some mighty home ice advantage

It would be interesting if this information ever comes out but I really doubt it. I think maybe after the first year or two the attraction and excitement of going to Vegas will wear off of these guys. At least I hope so if this is the case.

We still have 4 games against these guys? nuts.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TenaciousC

Vegas 18-2-1 at home, just amazing. I know they are playing well, but does anyone doubt that teams go out on the town before they play them? That's some mighty home ice advantage

Now I dont want to see a Flames game in Vegas.

[Buff]

Well, Lou Lamoriello had the Leafs stay at a hotel 20 minutes away from the strip to stress that they were there for business and not for fun. Either he did that because where there's smoke there's fire and teams are indeed staying up late in Vegas, or it was just Lou being Lou... Business is business and hockey is their business so be business like.

Either way, it didn't work and the Leafs lost in Vegas.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Locke

Now I dont want to see a Flames game in Vegas.

I do. When I'm there the first week of May.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Buff

I do. When I'm there the first week of May.

With their home record it looks like a guaranteed loss.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Locke

With their home record it looks like a guaranteed loss.

He's saying the western final, I think.

[Toonage]

Jim Hughson had an interesting take on NHL Network Radio yesterday. How teams can't practice at the T-Mobile Arena, so they're all seeing the ice surface for the first time and are unsure of how nuances like how lively the boards are, etc.

He also brought up the obvious, how there are so many distractions, such a unique city/venue etc.

Made me think that while some teams will look poor their first time in, its very much a fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me scenario. If we're waiting for things to even out, it will come with familiarity from visiting teams/players.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Jim Hughson had an interesting take on NHL Network Radio yesterday. How teams can't practice at the T-Mobile Arena, so they're all seeing the ice surface for the first time and are unsure of how nuances like how lively the boards are, etc.

He also brought up the obvious, how there are so many distractions, such a unique city/venue etc.

Made me think that while some teams will look poor their first time in, its very much a fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me scenario. If we're waiting for things to even out, it will come with familiarity from visiting teams/players.

I suppose the "new rink" would explain the Oilers success last year too?

[Joborule]

Is it really that much more distracting than playing in New York or LA? Plus, many of these players may have already been to Vegas during the off season. Especially since the awards are hosted there. So I'm not sure I buy the distractions argument.

I think it's the case of the Knights just riding a very hot home ice advantage. They started the season off on an emotional high with the shootings, and now they're playing the season with the highest confidence since they've been yielding results.