3 teams Golden Knights fans should root for
With the Vegas Golden Knights sitting at home for the playoffs, there are questions about who they should root for next.
Being out of the playoffs stinks. It's no fun watching other teams vie for the Stanley Cup, putting on five-star games and entertaining fans. That's especially true if you're the defending Stanley Cup champions (or were), which is where the Vegas Golden Knights currently lie. After being eliminated by the Dallas Stars, what else is there to do for a hockey team?
Aside from playing golf and polishing the ol' swing, there isn't much aside from watching playoff hockey. It doesn't hurt to scout the competition or potential future Golden Knights. Why not see what the other teams are doing in their quest for NHL supremacy? It's what makes a hardcore hockey fan, well, a hockey fan. The passion never dies, after all.
Besides, there are plenty of compelling storylines happening in hockey. Which teams need to win the Stanley Cup? Which teams are exciting to watch? These are things to watch for at this time, where the action picks up with the intensity.
So that leaves Golden Knights fans in a precarious position. Some will turn off their televisions or tune out of the Stanley Cup playoffs altogether. Some will continue to watch, seeing what action and newsworthy topics will be discussed. For example...
"Did you see Jacob Trouba dive headfirst into the boards? He looked like Edge trying to deliver a spear!"
Or...
"What happened to the Edmonton Oilers last night? They blew a 3-0 lead against the Vancouver Canucks."
Such storylines make the NHL interesting this time of the year, with hockey fans staying glued to their television sets. But where does that leave Vegas Golden Knights fans? Where should their rooting interests lie (if they're still watching the Stanley Cup playoffs)? Here are three teams Golden Knights fans should be pulling for.
1. Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have come close to winning the Stanley Cup a few times, with their most recent attempt coming in 2011. They lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Boston Bruins, 4-3, with the team assembling their best group in franchise history. Featuring the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo, they were on the cusp of glory.
But this year seems a little... different. Led by Quinn Hughes, Brock Boeser, and a young crew, the Canucks are trying to get back to the promised land. However, they face a massive obstacle in the Edmonton Oilers, who have arguably the best top line in the NHL. Therefore, it's easy to see why Vancouver is the underdog in this series.
Yet, that's why fans should be pulling for the Canucks. There's an underdog element to the team, where everyone's counting them out. Add in not having Thatcher Demko (knee) and there's a stronger case for pulling for Vancouver to win their first-ever Stanley Cup.
Plus, there's a former Vegas Golden Knight on the team. Teddy Blueger was a part of last season's Stanley Cup-clinching group, coming in as a valuable special teams asset. Now, he has a chance to win back-to-back titles with a deep scoring group leading the way.
2. New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a franchise that feels like they need more Stanley Cups. They've only won the title four times in their illustrious career, with their most recent victory being in 1994. Wouldn't it be amazing if the Rangers became champions on the 30th anniversary of their last win?
And why not? The Vegas Golden Knights were built similarly to New York, with deep lines everywhere. This year's Rangers team has a plethora of stars on their roster. Pick from the various goal scorers they have, from Artemi Panarin to Chris Kreider. They can pile up the goals quickly, which makes them dangerous.
Add in a solid goaltender in Igor Shesterkin and out comes a dangerous NHL team. The Russian goaltender has been fun to watch, with his 45-save performance in game three against Carolina being a shining example. With terrific goaltending and deep lines all-around, there reason to believe the Rangers can go all the way.
For Golden Knights fans, rooting for one of the more tenured teams in hockey isn't bad. That's especially true with the New York Rangers, who might win it all this season. Vegas should be pulling for this Original-Six team to hoist Lord Stanley in the summer.
3. Colorado Avalanche
When an opposing team eliminates a fan's favorite team, what does that fan do? Do they sulk and cry in the corner? Or do they pull for the next team to face them? For the average Vegas Golden Knights fan, that has meant pulling for the Colorado Avalanche, who face the Dallas Stars in the second round.
The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2021-22, with a penchant for scoring at every turn. Led by Hart Trophy candidate, Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado has the potential to come out on top. However, the Stars are a deep team, putting them in the position of series favorites.
Therefore, Golden Knights fans should be rooting for the underdogs to make noise and upset Dallas. Going back to that narrative, it's something the average American sports fan loves to see. They love watching the upstart team conquer the heavy favorites, completing their "Cinderella" run.
That's especially true when it's against a respectable NHL team in the Colorado Avalanche. They have the potential to make a dark horse run for the Stanley Cup, thanks to a veteran group. If revenge fantasies are a thing for some Vegas Golden Knights fans, this is the perfect appetizer after losing to the Dallas Stars.
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