The Biggest Gifts In Golden Knight History

Santa Claus is inching closer to delivering gifts to people around the world. Vegas has been thankful to receive some great presents from St. Nick himself. What have been the best gifts ever given to Vegas?

Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights
Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights / Ethan Miller/GettyImages
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"He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake! He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!"

That is a classic line from the song, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." It warns people to be on their best behavior, which applies to the Golden Knights.

Of course, Vegas has heeded this warning. They've made two Stanley Cup Finals appearances with their seventh season going on, winning last season's Cup. It's safe to say that Bill Foley's motley crew has made hockey more than a fad, but a way of life.

They've received some nice gifts along the way, resulting in winning their first Stanley Cup last season. These presents aren't just fan favorites, though. They've become important pieces to the history of the Vegas Golden Knights.

With Christmas around the corner, it's time to explore the best gifts in Golden Knights history. Who is Vegas thankful for in their illustrious history? Which gifts did Santa get right (or in this case, Kelly McCrimmon and George McPhee)?

1. Jack Eichel

2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Five
2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Five / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages

The best gift ever received in Vegas history, Jack Eichel turned the trajectory of the Golden Knights around. From a team knocking on the doorstep to becoming a Stanley Cup champion, Eichel's impact is vastly understated. This season, he's on pace to break numerous records, including most points and most game-winning goals. He's also made the power play better, establishing himself as a bona fide franchise center.

2. Marc-Andre Fleury

Montreal Canadiens v Vegas Golden Knights - Game Two
Montreal Canadiens v Vegas Golden Knights - Game Two / Sam Morris/GettyImages

When Marc-Andre Fleury was picked in the 2017 Expansion Draft, it was an interesting pick among critics. Why would the star Penguins goaltender get kicked to the curb in place of Matt Murray? Turns out, it was a great pickup for Vegas: Fleury won the Vezina trophy in 2021 and was also an All-Star that season. He also led the charge for the Golden Knights Stanley Cup run in their inaugural season.

3. Jonathan Marchessault

Vegas Golden Knights v Tampa Bay Lightning
Vegas Golden Knights v Tampa Bay Lightning / Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages

One of the original Misfits, Marchessault made his presence known on the Golden Knights. The Conn Smythe winner has put up solid stats in his seven-year tenure, including 28 game-winning goals, 39 power play goals, and 165 goals. Marchessault has proven to be one of the many gems found in the 2017 Expansion Draft, showing his worth as an offensive star.

4. Alex Pietrangelo

Vegas Golden Knights v Pittsburgh Penguins
Vegas Golden Knights v Pittsburgh Penguins / Justin Berl/GettyImages

When the Golden Knights brought Alex Pietrangelo into the fold, he had a Stanley Cup pedigree. Having won the trophy with the Blues in 2018-2019, he was expected to be a premier defenseman. He's delivered on every front, putting up impressive defensive stats. That includes 175 hits, 193 takeaways, and 497 blocked shots in his four-year tenure.

5. William Karlsson

Calgary Flames v Vegas Golden Knights
Calgary Flames v Vegas Golden Knights / Ethan Miller/GettyImages

Wild Bill holds a few records in Golden Knights history, including plus/minus (+107), most short-handed goals (tied for 1st with 12), and games played (tied with fellow Misfit, Jonathan Marchessault, with 465). He's also the single-season leader for various records, including goals (43 in 2017-2018) and points (78 in 2017-2018). The OG Misfit has proven to be a star since "Day F'in One," becoming a fan favorite in the process.

(Stats provided by hockeyreference.com; stats were prior to the Golden Knights game against Tampa Bay)

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