Vegas Golden Knights scouting report on a division rival with the San Jose Sharks
The Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks don't like each other. This rivalry might've cooled off in recent years, but the memories remain. Will there be new memories in 2024-25? Will Tomas Hertl exact his revenge on his former club?
It's no secret that the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks hate each other. There are numerous moments within the rivalry, including a cross-checking minor that was a major in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs first-round matchup. It's culminated in both fanbases trading jabs at one another. One side mocks the other for blowing a 3-1 series lead, while the other brags about their Stanley Cup.
But things have drastically changed from that fateful first-round matchup in 2019. While the Golden Knights have won a Stanley Cup, the Sharks have gone into rebuilding mode. They've traded away numerous key pieces, including Tomas Hertl to Vegas. The mission is to become a prominent playoff team in the future and reclaim the Pacific Division.
But now, the goal is to get the younger players more ice time and NHL experience. That includes the newest player, Macklin Celebrini. The first-overall pick in this year's NHL Draft will be the focal point of the offense, doing whatever it takes to get San Jose its first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
So what should the Golden Knights watch for from their "historical" rival? What should have fans on the edge of their seats heading into the 2024-25 season? There might not be much meat to the Sharks overall. However, a rival elevates their play when they see the other team on the schedule. Here's what Vegas hockey fans can expect from their adversaries this upcoming season.
The state of the San Jose Sharks and how the Vegas Golden Knights can beat them
Since October 24, 2022, the Vegas Golden Knights have a record of 6-1-1 against the San Jose Sharks. They've dominated their weakened adversaries, putting a stranglehold on the rivalry. The only two losses came on November 15, 2022 (a 5-2 loss) and March 30, 2023 (a 4-3 overtime loss).
That's the price a team pays when their franchise age, with pieces like Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, and Logan Couture not getting younger. Eventually, you must replace this talent with younger players, where this group can lead the franchise to glory. That's where Celebrini comes in, for he's the building block for a young Sharks team.
Currently, there's nothing that fans should be excited about with San Jose. Last season, they were bad at everything, whether it was goals percentage (last in the NHL with 34.49%), expected goals (last in the NHL with 41.35%), or shot attempts % aka Corsi % (31st in the NHL with 43.82%).
What about Tomas Hertl?
The Golden Knights must overwhelm the San Jose Sharks with experience and bigger bodies. The good news is they'll have Tomas Hertl for a full season, which will boost Vegas in many ways. That includes the second line and power play, where he'll become a reliable two-way player.
Last season, the Sharks surprised everyone by trading Hertl to the Golden Knights for prospect David Edstrom and a first-round pick. Third-round picks in the 2025 and 2027 NHL Drafts were also sent to Vegas, giving them more ammo. But for now, the big center will grace the front of the net, causing havoc for opposing goaltenders.
He played 54 games with San Jose and Vegas, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists. He scored two goals and two assists in six games with the Golden Knights, with one of each coming on the power play. The expectation will be boosting the special teams and getting in front of the goaltender, where he'll redirect pucks. Hertl will have an expanded role with Vegas, something he didn't have last season with the Sharks.
Should the Vegas Golden Knights fear the San Jose Sharks?
No. The San Jose Sharks will be at the bottom of the Pacific Division again, sitting with the likes of the Calgary Flames. They'll have to overpass the Vegas Golden Knights and upcoming teams such as the Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken. Therefore, the young squad should recoup and develop their crafts further.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't be excited if you're a Sharks fan. A young group with names like Macklin Celebrini, David Edstrom, and Sam Dickinson gives them a solid core to build around. Look at what happened with the Vancouver Canucks when they selected Quinn Hughes. They added names like Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller, catapulting them to the top of the Pacific Division.
That could be what this team faces in the future. In the mean time, it'll be more dominance from the Golden Knights as they're a stronger team overall. When you have names like Tomas Hertl, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone, you've earned that distinction. Therefore, it'll be business as usual in this rivalry.
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