Nearly every hockey fan will agree that the Toronto Maple Leafs are basically the NHL's version of the Dallas Cowboys. Both have bloated marketing departments, tons of money, and futile playoff histories in the past three decades. Both are also the punchlines for numerous sports fans everywhere, whether they reside in Philadelphia or Montreal.
But what about the Vegas Golden Knights, you ask? Who's the NFL counterpart for a hockey team that has made three Stanley Cup Finals and won a Stanley Cup since 2017? Believe it or not, the answer is right on the nose and is only four(ish) hours away. That would be none other than the Los Angeles Rams, a team that won the Super Bowl in the 2021 season.
If Every NHL Team Was an NFL Team pic.twitter.com/r6oU7sDXKD
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) September 2, 2026
Ironically, the Rams have achieved similar success to the Golden Knights since 2017. They've won an additional NFC Championship in 2018 and won four NFC West Division titles during that time. They've also missed the postseason twice in that span (2019 and 2022), making them one of the most consistent NFL franchises around.
But the meaning goes deeper than merely on-field (or on-ice for the Vegas Golden Knights) success. It also stems from how the front offices are run, specifically within the salary cap. It makes you wonder if these two sports franchises are peas in a pod.
Why the Los Angeles Rams are the perfect NFL counterpart for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Los Angeles Rams have developed a reputation as a premier destination for getting the league's biggest stars. Names such as Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, and Davante Adams have all joined the team in recent years, making them the proverbial Super Bowl favorite. How in the world do the Rams pull off this magic, similar to what the Golden Knights have done in recent years?
Well, it's a matter of getting the right general manager in place. For the Golden Knights, it was Kelly McCrimmon who masterfully managed the salary cap. For the Rams, Les Snead is calling the shots and keeping Los Angeles afloat. He's the mastermind behind most of the moves, keeping the Rams in the Super Bowl discussion every season.
But getting the biggest names isn't the only thing that Los Angeles does. They also have a penchant for homegrown talent, whether it's Aaron Donald or Puka Nacua. Although Vegas doesn't have the decorated history of homegrown players like Los Angeles does, they do have some to their name. That includes Nicolas Hague and Pavel Dorofeyev, two players who've developed successful Golden Knights careers (before moving on, ironically).
Still, it goes back to a broader point. Both teams are run incredibly well and know how to master the salary ap. It's no secret that they're atop their respective leagues, which makes them consistent contenders.
Hey, it could be worse if you're a Rams fan or a Golden Knights fan (or both). You could be drinking the Kool-Aid that the Cowboys and the Maple Leafs are throwing down, only to be let down every year. That's why being a Golden Knights fan is the biggest touchdown of them all.
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