[OOT] August 18, just three games.

[3rd liner]

Damn, hawks playing for their lives now down one. And Vegas isn't sitting back either, continuing to forecheck.

I REALLY wish the flames had landed Stone. He has all the tools.

[Ashasx]

i hate how vegas has had more success in 3 seasons than my team has had in the last 31 years.

[hwy19man]

It is the final countdown for the Blackhawks. It is now 5-3.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

i hate how vegas has had more success in 3 seasons than my team has had in the last 31 years.

Just wait until Seattle is doing the same thing...also in our division.

[hwy19man]

No goal, it remains 4-3.

[dino7c]

"Tough draw"
Lol Oilers

[3rd liner]

Reaves comes on to celebrate not even sweating. Has been sitting on the bench for the entire third period.

[getbak]

Good. That should mean no more afternoon games for the Flames.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Just wait until Seattle is doing the same thing...also in our division.

It is not going to go as well for Seattle

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It is not going to go as well for Seattle

The flat cap might give them the chance to do just as well.

[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.

[Enoch Root]

Those players, with their 2016 numbers, are a horrible expansion team.

Those same players, with their 2017 numbers, are a solid division winner.

[Monahammer]

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.

... 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.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

... 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.

Not really. Because these guys weren't stars, they were relatively cheap. So Vegas had piles of draft picks, as well as cap space, to build out from there.

They have since been able to add Stone, Pacioretty, Stastny, etc to solidify the roster.

[DeluxeMoustache]

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.

Kind of funny to see all of these players with such significant productivity increases.

If you take the difference in (points with Vegas) - (points precious season) and sort from highest to lowest, well what do you know?

James Neal is second last, just above Luca Sbisa

I guess Tre didn’t look at it like this

[hwy19man]

The Habs regain the lead in this back and forth game, 3-2 late in the second period. Go Habs.

[Erick Estrada]

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.

Hard to compare pre-Knights stats as a lot of those players were buried in other organizations not getting the same amount of opportunity and ice time. They clearly did their homework on the rosters around the league, looking for high upside players that could possibly flourish if given a larger role. McPhee is no stranger to finding talent and he and his scouts did a phenomenal job. There was some luck involved for sure but for the most part it was simply an amazing job by the organization.

[hwy19man]

The Habs are playing hang on as they continue to lead 3-2 midway through the third period.

[hwy19man]

That was a solid penalty kill by the Habs.

[chockfullofgoodness]

What a great little pass from Drouin. 4-3 Habs.