Could this season's Vegas Golden Knights handle these Florida Panthers?
Last season was an electric time for Vegas Golden Knights fans. Their team manhandled the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, 4-1, en route to their first title in franchise history. Las Vegas celebrated with a huge parade and with nearly the entire fanbase getting wasted. It made for an incredible ending to a story that started six years prior.
Fast forward a year later and the Panthers are still in the championship round. The only difference is they're facing the Edmonton Oilers. The Dallas Stars eliminated the Golden Knights in the first round, ending their title defense abruptly. Suddenly, the party was over, and everyone was hung over.
But what would've happened if the hangover wasn't there? What if Vegas stepped on the ice with Florida for a Stanley Cup Final rematch? That's a good question, dear reader, for a redux of last season's matchup would've been another nice installment. It would've caused the heads of hockey purists to explode, for two Sun Belt teams competing for the most beloved prize in sports would've been mind-numbing.
The Eastern Conference champions were on a roll heading into last season's final round, demolishing teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes. However, a deep Vegas Golden Knights team made quick work of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, ending the series in five games.
Therefore, it would seem plausible for Vegas to emerge victorious in a rematch. For one, the team found a new identity on the power play, with new pieces like Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin added to the mix. However, there are a couple factors that would've changed the series landscape...
The chemistry of the new Vegas Golden Knights
One takeaway from the Vegas Golden Knights is it took them a bit to gel in the lineup with the new pieces. While Noah Hanifin had no trouble getting started with his new team, it was clear that Hertl needed some time to get used to his surroundings in the playoffs.
Granted, that's the consequence of only playing six regular season games with your new team. It takes a bit of learning to understand a new system, for a player must establish themselves in a different routine. Of course, next season provides an opportunity to fit right into that system, which will improve Hertl.
However, the chemistry issues were apparent during the Dallas Stars series. That included failed entries and not getting past the neutral zone, leaving Dallas to dominate the first round. While Bobrovsky was dominated in last year's Stanley Cup Final, he could have an easier time in this installment against a Golden Knights team still learning to click.
Thus, the series would've been a tougher climb for the defending champions. If the team loses steam and isn't on the same page, there would be more problems. Add in the fatigue of winning a title a season prior and it would've made the series more challenging.