The newest teams in the NHL, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Seattle Kraken, have plenty in common. Aside from being the new kids on the block, these are new markets for Gary Bettman to test out. In fact, both were playoff teams in last season's Stanley Cup playoffs, with the Golden Knights emerging as the champion.
That's why the two teams squared off in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, with Seattle emerging as a 3-0 victor. It was an opportunity to showcase the two youngest franchises in hockey. It might be Bettman learning his lessons from his failure with the Atlanta Thrashers or it might drum up excitement for both fanbases.
So what makes this rivalry unique? What can fans hang their hats on with the two teams going at each other? Here are three things that make the Vegas Golden Knights/Seattle Kraken rivalry special.