The Vegas Golden Knights As… Christmas Icons
Jack Eichel spreads the cheer around every time he steps on the ice for Vegas. That’s been well-documented time and time again. However, he changed the Golden Knights’s trajectory with his presence, gifting them a Stanley Cup under the Christmas tree.
He also gifts the first line and power play with scoring opportunities as pure as snow. He even reads opposing defenses well and knows when they’ve been naughty. That’s when he hits them with the ol’ coal in the back of the net.
You probably guessed that Eichel is St. Nick, AKA Santa Claus. His ability to deliver presents in the clutch has been a gift for Vegas hockey fans. Just look at his 26 points from last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. Fans in Buffalo might not believe in him. But Sin City certainly does.
Now you need someone to guide the Golden Knights to victory. Someone who has the leadership skills to steer the sleigh in the right direction. They don’t need a bright red nose, though. Who could fit this role so well?
That’s none other than Mark Stone, who’s proven to be the guiding light for Vegas. While he hasn’t been the healthiest during his Vegas tenure, he’s been reliable. He’s already at 29 points for the season, only nine behind last season’s total.
The Captain is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, for his ability to guide the Knights is unmatched. Like Eichel, he’s developed a good postseason acumen, scoring 24 points in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs. You can rely on Stone to lead Vegas from Christmas time to the end of June.
Our beloved Conn Smythe winner and Wild Bill are two of the Original Misfits, so why not make them the Misfit Toys? They were exiled to the Island of Misfit Toys (AKA Las Vegas) after no teams wanted them. C’mon, you knew that was coming.
Unfortunately, one of the original Misfits, Reilly Smith, was traded to Pittsburgh for a fourth-round pick in the offseason. This would’ve made this so much better. Still, Marchy and Karlsson have proven their worth, with masterful performances in last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs (Marchessault had 25 points last season, while Karlsson had 11 goals).
Fun fact: Both Marchessault and Karlsson were both Columbus Blue Jackets before coming to Vegas. The reigning playoff MVP only spent his first season in Ohio while the Swedish center spent three seasons as a Blue Jacket. You can thank Columbus for these Christmas gifts, Golden Knight fans!
It’s no secret that Vegas loves blocking shots. Heck, that’s why Brayden McNabb is the current NHL leader in that category (96). Last season, McNabb was tied for second in the same category with 197. But there’s more to his game than just stopping shots cold in their tracks.
McNabb is an experienced defenseman who logs big minutes for Vegas. In fact, he’s logging the fourth-most minutes per game for the Knights at 20:03. He also makes an excellent penalty killer with a great hockey IQ and physical style. It takes something as cold as ice to play the style that the former Sabres draft pick does.
So why not bestow him the honor of being the Snow Miser? He’s not afraid of knocking opponents out cold, which is made evident by his 37 hits this season. That’s what makes him one of the better pure defensemen in the NHL.
But who gets the prestigious role of Heat Miser? Who’s the Golden Knight that’s caught fire in the past two seasons, producing 40+ assists in those seasons? Why, it’s none other than Chandler Stephenson.
Before 2021-2022, the former Washington Capital never had a season of more than 22 assists. In the last two seasons, he’s put up a stat line of more than 40 assists. He’s become a key component in the Vegas offense, turning up the heat when needed.
Granted, he’s cooled off to start the season with only 12 assists. However, a hot streak can make him extremely helpful on the second line and beyond. That can help Vegas repeat as Stanley Cup champions and establish themselves as a true NHL power.
There’s nothing scarier than an opposing goaltender that’s hard to score on. When your goalie has an NHL-best GAA of 1.87 and a save percentage of .935, nobody’s safe. It’s best to hide your family from this enormous threat.
That is what Adin Hill is. He’s become a threat to the NHL universe and is playing his best hockey. The scariest part is he’s comfortable in Bruce Cassidy’s system. He’s getting good looks at incoming shots and is stopping them with ease.
That is why Hill is Krampus. You can bet that he’ll scare all the children and opposing offenses once he returns from his lower-body injury. Other teams are advised to be on their best behavior this Christmas. Otherwise, the Calgary native will come and keep any pucks out of the net.
The Golden Knights have also developed a reputation for being a physical team. They love to hit people, which is evident by Paul Cotter ranking fourth in hits (103), while Keegan Kolesar (93) is sixth. That’s a lot of “thumpity thump thump!”
Kolesar is a jolly happy soul for the Golden Knights, taking over the toughness role embraced by one Ryan Reaves. He’s not afraid to lay people out and get dirty. While not as famous as Reaves was, Keegan isn’t afraid to ask opponents to “catch him if they can”.
Think of Kolesar as Frosty the Snowman. A player who’s alive on the ice and even puts some magic behind the net, you can count on the right winger to spread some joy for Golden Knight fans. After all, there’s no better Christmas gift than a Keegan Kolesar hit.