Vegas Golden Knights Bring Home Four Trophies At 2018 NHL Awards
The Vegas Golden Knights collected a ton of hardware at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
We all know what kind of season the Vegas Golden Knights had. The team rose from the bottom all the way to the top in a matter of months. Golden Knights general manager George McPhee didn’t have one NHL player on his roster 364 days ago.
Little did we know at the beginning of the season that the group the front office assembled along with Head Coach Gerard Gallant was going to become a Cup finalist. The season the Golden Knights had was unprecedented. And when a team has success like this one, representation will be at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
McPhee, Gallant, William Karlsson and Deryk Engelland all received nominations at this years award show. Additionally, the Golden Knights also brought along Owner Bill Foley for this year’s show. And to say the Golden Knights stole the show is an understatement.
The Lady Byng award is presented to the player who exemplified the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct at a high playing level. Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Barkov, and Karlsson all earned nominations. While all had similar PIM stats, Karlsson put forth the most production resulting in award number one for the Golden Knights.
The Marsta, Sweden native played in all 82 games in 2017-18 and scored 43 goals, 35 assists and 78 points with a +49 rating and 12 PIM. Who would’ve thought William Karlsson would be on a stage accepting an award from when he was expected to be on the fourth line at the beginning of the season?
The Jack Adams award is given to the head coach who adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. Bruce Cassidy, Jared Bednar, and Gallant all received nominations and all very deserving coaches. However, in a year where an expansion franchise wins first place in the division, the winner was obvious.
Gallant won the Jack Adams in a runaway, just like everyone thought. Let’s be real for a minute here. Way back in December, Gallant pretty much already won this award after this team just continued their red-hot tear all the way through the end of the year. Without a doubt, one of the leagues most consistent teams thanks to one of the leagues best coaches.
The 110% hard work and compete level Gallant preached all season long paid off in the long run. The Summerside, Prince Edward Island native, got the absolute most out of his players each game, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why the team beat all expectations. And if you thought the Golden Knights received their last trophy there, then you’ll be sadly mistaken.
The Mark Messier Leadership award is an award that recognizes a superior leader and as a contributing member to society. Blake Wheeler, Wayne Simmonds, and Engelland all got nominations for this prestigious award. But when I think of an on and off the ice leader, how can you not think of Engelland?
Engelland registered five goals and earned career-highs in assists with 18 and in points with 23 in 78 games played. Playing with a youngster in Shea Theodore and showing him the ropes, made him not only a leader in the locker room but a teacher as well.
The General Manager of the Year Award is awarded annually to the top general manager as voted by all 31 NHL GM’s, five executives and five media members. Kevin Cheveldayoff, Steve Yzerman, and McPhee all got nominations for this award. But like in Gallant’s case, in a year where an expansion franchise accomplishes first place in the division, the winner was obvious.
McPhee won the GM of the year award, and there was no real argument against him. He built the team last year at this time and made this team into a Stanley Cup Finalist. McPhee believed in his squad from the start of the season. The Golden Knights mastermind always knew that they were going to be competitive. Although, I don’t think even he expected this.
Some of his highlights included acquiring Jonathan Marchessault in the expansion draft and trading a fourth-round pick for Reilly Smith. He eventually accumulated three first-round draft picks that look all poised to become NHL’ers. The Guelph, Ontario native also received players such as Marc-Andre Fleury, William Karlsson, Nate Schmidt, Erik Haula and more.
Next: Vegas Golden Knights Open 2018-19 Regular Season At Home Against Philadelphia Flyers
All in all, the Vegas Golden Knights went four for four in award nominations as each representative won their respective award. Furthermore, with the NHL awards in the rearview mirror, the draft is on the way, and the Golden Knights face a tall task without a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Although, with McPhee at the helm, Golden Knights fans shouldn’t have any reason to worry.