First of all, I want to say "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to all the Vegas Golden Knights fans out there. Without your support, Vegas Hockey Knight wouldn't be in the position that it's in right now, viewed by people from places like Germany, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. Thank you for your support, since it's the greatest gift of all.
But a greater gift is always winning the big championship. It doesn't matter if you're the Golden Knights, the Dodgers, or the Philadelphia Eagles. Winning the big one is the ultimate goal of any sports franchise. You're not in it to merely accumulate picks in a gambling crapshoot.
That's not how the Golden Knights operate, either. Kelly McCrimmon has shown himself to be one of the more aggressive general managers around, picking up big names like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Noah Hanifin. Without these big names, would this be the Golden Knights team that everyone loves or hates?
I'm sure you've already opened your Christmas gifts early this morning. If not, hey, there's still plenty of time. But why not look into three gifts that the Golden Knights could use? These things would make 2025-26 much better in Las Vegas, you know.
1.) The team's health to drastically improve, starting with Jack Eichel
Look, Tuesday's massive 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks was amazing. Despite not having Jack Eichel for that game, the Golden Knights got scoring from nearly everyone. That included a resurgent Reilly Smith and Mitch Marner, who scored two goals.
Of course, it doesn't just involve Eichel overcoming his injuries. You'd want to see Shea Theodore return from an upper-body injury, along with names like William Karlsson and Adin Hill. The sooner Vegas gets healthy, the better it'll be for Las Vegas.
2.) The Golden Knights getting their first 100-point player of the season
Currently, there are no Golden Knights projected to hit the century mark this season, according to ESPN. That's a shame since that mark has eluded the franchise since "Day F*****g One." You'd think that at least one player would have 100 or more points during the regular season.
Still, could there be hope for players like Eichel or Mitch Marner? They'd have to go on a torrid pace to make this happen. However, never count such players out since they're known for going on hot streaks. They can boost their projected totals to new heights and make Golden Knights history.
3.) Another Stanley Cup
I mean, let's be honest. This is the obvious one that sticks out. If you're not competing for a Stanley Cup, what are you even doing with your life? There's no point in trying to be like the Buffalo Sabres or the Toronto Maple Leafs and miss out.
Still, this is a talented Golden Knights team that has the right pieces in place, sans a few spots. While there are some tough teams out in the Central Division, one must remember that said teams will battle each other for a trip to the Western Conference Final. Therefore, that leaves Vegas with a "golden" opportunity to get Stanley Cup No. 2.