When you've achieved the amount of success the Vegas Golden Knights have, you're bound to get some critics and haters. That comes with winning a Stanley Cup, making two Stanley Cup Final appearances, and only missing the Stanley Cup playoffs once. Now that's impressive work.
It's enough to make the heads of skeptical podcasters boil. How can one expansion team be so great in its first eight seasons? One can only imagine how Josh from San Francisco is handling the Golden Knights being successful.
He's certainly not taking the news well from the hotel, is he? Anyway, that's not what Golden Knights fans are thinking of. Instead, they're focused on the Minnesota Wild, who will be their first-round opponent.
It'll be a reunion of sorts with Marc-Andre Fleury. The only difference is that the 40-year-old isn't expected to get much ice time in the series. He's taken up a role as the Wild's backup goaltender.
However, let's look back and honor the "Misfit's" past contributions. After all, he's part of the reason why the Golden Knights are successful in the first place. How do you get a GAA of 2.41, a save percentage of .917, and a Vezina Trophy in four seasons with Vegas?
You probably know what's coming here. It's time to look at how Vegas has done all-time in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let's unravel the mystery behind one of the most successful NHL franchises in its first eight seasons.
How have the Vegas Golden Knights done all-time in the Stanley Cup playoffs?
Putting things into perspective, the Vegas Golden Knights have an all-time Stanley Cup playoffs record of 57-38. That includes four semifinal appearances, two Stanley Cup Final appearances, and a Stanley Cup.
That comes out to a winning percentage of .600. Believe it or not, that's the best all-time winning percentage in NHL history. Coming in second place are the Edmonton Oilers at .583, followed by the Montreal Canadiens at .577 and the Tampa Bay Lightning at .566.
Team | Winning Percentage |
|---|---|
Golden Knights | .600 |
Oilers | .583 |
Canadiens | .577 |
Lightning | .566 |
Ducks | .549 |
Avalanche | .546 |
Islanders | .540 |
Penguins | .533 |
Devils | .524 |
Red Wings | .523 |
Of course, one can expect the average to take a slight hit during the leaner years. But as it stands, this team is locked and loaded. Who knows? There might be another Stanley Cup Final appearance in the future... Or even another title.
How have the Golden Knights done in each season?
When you have a solid front office and an owner committed to winning, that's what you're getting. But how has the team done based on each individual season? Mind you, the Golden Knights didn't make the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2021-22.
Season | Record |
|---|---|
2017-18 (SCF) | 13-7 |
2018-19 | 3-4 |
2019-20 | 12-8 |
2020-21 | 10-9 |
2022-23 (SCC) | 16-6 |
2023-24 | 3-4 |
Obviously, the 2022-23 record stands out. That was the most impressive run the team's had during its eight-year existence. However, you can't discount 2017-18, especially after blitzing past the Western Conference as an expansion team. One will point at this season and say that's when it all started for the Golden Knights.
How much more will the Vegas Golden Knights add to their NHL playoffs record? Will they soar high and establish themselves as the modern-day kings of the Stanley Cup playoffs? It's likely to happen. It'll also draw out plenty of haters and critics along the way.