Where were you when this moment above happened? Were you drinking beers like William Karlsson while shirtless, serenading your best buddy with all the praise in the world? Were you at New York New York Casino, partying the night away at Coyote Ugly? Vegas Golden Knights fans have countless stories about their escapades during their Stanley Cup victory in 2023, where they forged new bonds with other fans.
Now, it seems like everyone has forgotten about the team. With names like Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson out of town, the roster suddenly looks lighter. As a result, teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars look like more lucrative Stanley Cup contenders.
Still, that didn't stop Golden Knights stars like Mark Stone from observing the situation from a different angle.
"I still like our team. Another year, another bunch of articles writing the Golden Knights off."Mark Stone
There are some valid points to his criticism. For example, the Golden Knights still have superstars such as Jack Eichel. They added stars like Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl last season, who'll play their first full seasons with Vegas. Therefore, they could fly under the radar and surprise people during the 2024-25 season. But let's explore that possibility and envision the best-case scenario. What lies ahead as Vegas prepares for another campaign?
The best case scenario for the Vegas Golden Knights (and staying healthy)
Let's assume that Jack Eichel and Mark Stone play a full (or close to full) season. That means no lower-body injuries or ruptured spleens. The Vegas Golden Knights get increased production from the two, making the top six group stand out. They're not the only superstars bolstering the group, though.
Tomas Hertl settles into his new position on the Golden Knights and acts as a big body in front of the net. This helps the franchise in numerous aspects such as the power play, giving them a percentage of over 25%. Couple that with the emergence of younger wingers such as Pavel Dorofeyev and Alexander Holtz and the team looks even better offensively.
As for the defensive side of things? The Golden Knights show their blue-line depth, with Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin shining as the top pairing. Adin Hill also stays on the ice and gets full playing time, benefitting from a goaltender-friendly system. All this leads to Vegas shooting for...
Where the Vegas Golden Knights will end up with Tomas Hertl and company
...The Western Conference Final (all the way to the seventh game), where they show they're not going anywhere. They need a big piece or two to break through the ceiling, which they could get at the trade deadline. However, the team has tremendous upside with young stars like Holtz and Brendan Brisson. Combined with a stellar blue-line group, Vegas can surprise the NHL world with a stellar performance.
People forget that the Vegas Golden Knights made an unpopular move with Marc-Andre Fleury (mainly because the goaltender found out on Twitter). Moving your star goaltender for a younger player might've not been the most satisfying move. But they still won the Stanley Cup after the fact.
They face a similar situation with Jonathan Marchessault no longer with the club. They can make the most of their current situation and shock the NHL world again. That could even be bolstered by a big trade deadline acquisition. Perhaps that could lead to another trophy in Bill Foley's case and another party at Toshiba Plaza.