It wasn't the most desirable day to be a Vegas Golden Knights fan on Sunday. The defending champions are officially out of the Stanley Cup playoffs, losing to the Dallas Stars, 2-1. In turn, the Stars will face the Colorado Avalanche in the next round. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are heading home, with a new champion being crowned at the end of the playoffs.
First, give kudos to the Stars, who were the hungrier team throughout the series. Led by a phenomenal Jake Oettinger, Dallas prevented the Golden Knights from doing anything offensively. That included various neutral zone traps and entries, leading to deflected Golden Knights passes and odd-man rushes for Dallas. If the Stars go to the Stanley Cup finals, expect Oettinger to be considered for the Conn Smythe trophy.
As for the Golden Knights, they have a new unit set in place. This unit will take some time to gel, for the unit hasn't been around each other long enough. But that's not the only noteworthy tidbit Vegas has going for it. There are questions about who'll come back and who's leaving Sin City, with Vegas tasked to answer such pressing questions in the offseason.
For example, who's staying and who's going? Some notable names on the Golden Knights roster won't be here next season. But some names deserve to stick around and extend their stay in Las Vegas. Who will be the big priorities heading into the offseason?
What are the three main takeaways from the 2023-24 season and beyond? What should Vegas Golden Knights fans watch for next season? What are the biggest questions the Golden Knights have for the upcoming offseason? It was a year to remember for Vegas, who made the playoffs again. Here are the three main takeaways from the season as the Golden Knights close the year.