If you look at the Henderson Silver Knights this season, you see a sheer disappointment. That's true when compared to the Vegas Golden Knights, who are tied for the most points in the NHL entering Monday. Compare that to their AHL counterparts, who are tied for the fewest points in the league (with the Bridgeport Islanders) with 20.
However, one bright child of the bunch is the anti-Silver Knights. That would be the Tahoe Knight Monsters led by Jesper Vikman (3.02 GAA, .899 save percentage). The legitimate child of the Golden Knights sits in second place in the ECHL Western Conference (behind the Toledo Walleye with 52) with 47 points.
They're also resting atop the Mountain Division with a percentage of .671, making them the class of the mountain range. Such success makes Maury Povich want to look at the Golden Knights and tell them they're not the father of the Silver Knights.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters might actually win the ECHL this season
The Vegas Golden Knights had a memorable run in their inaugural season, winning the Pacific Division and Western Conference. They finished with a record of 51-24-7 and 109 points, making them the class of the NHL. Of course, this wouldn't be possible without Marc-Andre Fleury and a plethora of solid scoring forwards.
The Henderson Silver Knights also had a successful first season in their new home, relocating from San Antonio. They made the Calder Cup Final and finished the 2020-21 season with 51 points (a record of 25-13-1), losing to the Bakersfield Condors in the championship round.
That leaves the Tahoe Knight Monsters, who entered the season as the forgotten bunch. Nobody paid attention to them in the ECHL, let alone seeing that they even existed. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? However, they're dominating the league with players such as Jesper Vikman and defenseman Artur Cholach (five goals, 10 assists).
But bigger names like Sloan Stanick (16 goals, 22 assists) and Simon Pinard (19 goals, 16 assists) have led the charge. These players have provided ample scoring for the Knight Monsters, impressing Golden Knights scouts in the process. That's especially true when the NHL franchise has believed in a balanced attack, where everyone picks up the slack. It's no wonder the Knight Monsters are atop the Mountain Division in the Western Conference. Henderson, take notes! You have plenty to learn.
The surging Knight Monsters is good news for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Henderson Silver Knights have played uninspiring hockey in 2024-25, hanging at the bottom of the AHL cellar. There's no hope for them to compete for another berth in a Calder Cup Final. Don't expect them to make the playoffs, either. That's like watching Jake Leschyshyn trying to score a goal.
Even with the Vegas Golden Knights being relatively healthy, the Silver Knights don't have any hope. However, you can count on the Tahoe Knight Monsters to carry the hopes and dreams of Golden Knights fans everywhere. They could shock the world like their bigger siblings and make the Kelly Cup Final in their inaugural season.
That would complete the trifecta of first-time Nevada-based hockey teams making their respective championship rounds in the first season. Now tell me who's done that before in their franchise history? Not anybody. That's why the Golden Knights are quickly becoming the cream of the NHL crop.