Plus/minus is a historical statistic used to measure a player's impact on the ice. If the team scores in even strength or on a shorthanded goal, they get a plus. If the players are on the conceding team, they earn a minus. It tells you who helps the team and who doesn't. The Vegas Golden Knights have had plenty of big names who have positively impacted the team.
Names like William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, and Jonathan Marchessault have built a reputation as being the most helpful. Whether scoring timely goals or setting up beautiful plays, these names are known as impactful players. That's all Kelly McCrimmon and the Golden Knights could ever ask for, specifically when making a Stanley Cup run or two.
So who's had the greatest impact on the Golden Knights? Who's done enough work to be considered the most vital? There are many names to choose from, whether it's Karlsson, Smith, or Shea Theodore. But this player was far and away the most important for the Golden Knights. Here's who stood atop the plus/minus leaderboard in franchise history for Vegas.
William Karlsson leads the Vegas Golden Knights in plus/minus all-time at 112
Few names impact a team as much as William Karlsson. The Swedish forward has fostered a reputation as one of the most important players on special teams and overall competition. It shouldn't be surprising that he sits atop the leaderboard in this category with an overall plus/minus of 112. That's bolstered by a plus/minus of 49 in 2017-18, where he scored 43 goals for the Vegas Golden Knights. That number also put him miles above the competition, where Brayden McNabb sits in second with 93.
Following McNabb is Reilly Smith, who's in third place with 86. After Smith is a tight competition for fourth, where Shea Theodore has a plus/minus of 67. Jonathan Marchessault (66), Alec Martinez (65), and Mark Stone (64) are behind Theodore. Sitting in eighth all-time is Nate Schmidt with a plus/minus of 52, followed by Chandler Stephenson in the ninth spot with 49. Zach Whitecloud is tenth all-time with a plus/minus of 43.
There's no doubt these players have been impactful for Vegas. They've scored timely goals and have set up countless scoring opportunities for their teammates. In turn, they've grown their reputation(s) as all-time Golden Knights and became fan favorites. That includes a Captain and some "Original Misfits," names who will be remembered in history books as important players for the Las Vegas hockey scene.