Wednesday "Knight" wisdom about... looking forward to next season

In life, you can't always get what you want. Most of us want a million dollars but aren't fortunate enough to obtain such wealth. Others seek the most attractive partner possible. Sadly, that isn't a reality for most of us. That also translates to hockey, where 31 fanbases are disappointed every season. Some even want the best prospect in the NHL Draft, which doesn't happen often.

This year, the Vegas Golden Knights were one of those teams after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs early. Stars like Jack Eichel and Adin Hill didn't get the chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, for the Dallas Stars had other plans. Pete DeBoer gets his revenge and the Stars get back to the Western Conference Final, only to be eliminated by Conn Smythe winner, Connor McDavid, and the Edmonton Oilers.

Life can play such cruel jokes on us, leaving people wondering if it's even worth dealing with stressful 9-to-5 jobs or other burdens. Hey, nobody said it'd ever be easy. However, that's why there are beautiful things like the Golden Knights to cheer up the masses.

So what is there to take away from being a fan of this team next season? Aside from many question marks and big stars possibly leaving, there are also bright spots. That includes developing players and plenty of options in the NHL Draft. Let's count some blessings and see what Vegas Golden Knights fans have going for them next season.

The emergence of superstar power

Everyone knows who Jack Eichel is. He's a terrific player who comes through in the playoffs (33 playoff points in the past two seasons). The former second-overall draft pick has shown he can be a team leader, elevating his group in tough spots. However, there are some players whose stock is rising within the franchise.

One name to be excited about is Nicolas Roy, whose development into a reliable piece is being seen in Las Vegas. In 2023-24, the Quebec native set a new career-high in assists (28 in 70 games) and became a valuable power play asset (six power play assists). He's learning how to see the play unfold and has looked spectacular on the first line, showing his promise as a potential top-six forward.

There are also some promising prospects like Brendan Brisson who've stood out in an average farm system. The former first-round pick scored 19 goals and 19 assists in 52 games with the Henderson Silver Knights in 2023-24. He'll be a crucial star moving forward, along with other names like Mathieu Cataford and Lukas Cormier.

The NHL Draft provides plenty of options

The good thing about the upcoming NHL Draft is it provides the Vegas Golden Knights the opportunity to pick their next Jack Eichel. Some good forwards could fall to them, including Liam Greentree, Igor Chernyshov, and Trevor Connelly. For Vegas, they have plenty of options in the first round for their pick.

But they also have choices in the later rounds, specifically at goaltender. Sizable netminders like Thatcher Bernstein and Landon Miller could be good options for the franchise moving forward. With questions surrounding the goaltending future, it might be wise for Vegas to explore their options.

Yes, the Golden Knights only have four picks in this year's draft. However, it provides extra incentive for general manager Kelly McCrimmon and company to nail those picks. They need home run prospects to soften the landing for when their contention window either shuts or gets opened further.

Not many teams have had it better than the Vegas Golden Knights

Even with the Vegas Golden Knights being eliminated in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, there's still reason to be excited. The team has added key pieces for the long term in Tomas Hertl (11 power play points in 2023-24) and Noah Hanifin, making them Stanley Cup contenders. They can add another piece via the NHL Draft for the future, prolonging their contention window.

Overall, most NHL teams can't say they've had it good like the Golden Knights (unless you're the Tampa Bay Lightning) the past seven seasons. They've made two Stanley Cup Finals, winning one in 2022-23. They've made the semifinal round four times and missed the playoffs only once.

2023-24 might've been a disastrous ending for Vegas. However, there's hope for the team to bounce back and fight for the Stanley Cup once more. With superstars like Jack Eichel and Hertl, owner Bill Foley and crew have the pieces in place to win another title.

It could be worse, Vegas Golden Knights fans. Your expansion team could've been so listless in the first seven seasons that they'd eventually relocate to Winnipeg. They could never have sustained playoff success while botching a big-time free agent signing. Life should be good for Golden Knights fans, making next season should be exciting to watch.