Everyone knows who Eminem is, even Vegas Golden Knights fans. He's the controversial rapper who's made numerous bangers over the years. But one particular song stands out from his work: The Real Slim Shady.
But in that song is one particular set where he talks about the "Real Slim Shady."
"I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real ShadyEminem
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?
'Cause I'm Slim Shady, yes, I'm the real Shady
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
So won't the real Slim Shady please stand up
Please stand up, please stand up?"
Like Eminem, the Golden Knights have had their fair share of, well, haters. It doesn't matter who they sign or place on LTIR. The Golden Knights simply can't catch a break.
But those lyrics also hold a significant truth about this year's team: they're enigmatic. There have been stretches when they've been hot. There have been times when they've been cooler than cool: ice cold. That has left fans wondering if the real Golden Knights could please stand up.
But let's look at the team so far. What has been a positive for Vegas so far? What's a work in progress? Don't spit on those onion rings because it's time to see where the Golden Knights are.
What I like about the Vegas Golden Knights so far
You love to see Mitch Marner take off with the Golden Knights. After endless speculation about whether he'd be a great fit in Bruce Cassidy's system over the summer, he's done great for himself at the quarter-mark with four goals and 17 assists.
He's projected to score 18 goals and 73 assists (which would be a franchise record), yet he's not the only superstar impacting the Golden Knights. Jack Eichel (eight goals and 16 assists) and Pavel Dorofeyev (11 goals and four assists) have also been excellent. That's not even mentioning what Ivan Barbashev (seven goals and 10 assists) and Tomas Hertl (eight goals and nine assists) have done.
Don't forget about an efficient power play (25.4%, sixth in the NHL), which has found its footing without Mark Stone. The Golden Knights have found better scoring opportunities with the arrival of Braeden Bowman, turning the unit into a strong force.
The other side of the special teams coin has also been better than expected. Sure, the Golden Knights have killed off 78.8% of their penalties, which is good for 18th in the NHL. But previous years have seen this unit be absolutely abysmal. Is there a shift in the tides in Las Vegas?
What I don't like about the Golden Knights
While the big names have carried the scoring load, the depth scoring hasn't done so until recently. It took Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad a month to get warmed up. Suddenly, fans are wondering if both players are washed and if they need to be sent to the press box.
There are also goaltending issues that have left fans concerned. Sure, Vegas has the 11th-best team GAA (2.84), but the saves haven't come in. The Golden Knights rank 23rd in team save percentage at .890. That has included soft goals that have cost the Golden Knights points (think Akira Schmid against the New York Islanders).
Of course, there are also injuries that have hampered Vegas this season. Losing Adin Hill doesn't help the goaltending situation, whether people want to admit it or not. Losing Stone and William Karlsson hurts the special teams. You need your big guns against solid competition. That hasn't been the case for Vegas so far.
Grading the Vegas Golden Knights after the quarter-season mark
Let's be honest. Some things aren't meant to be easy in life. That includes driving in Los Angeles and taking end-of-year exams. These things can cause immense frustration and lead to things being derailed. Heck, you could have some hair pulled out along the way.
That has been the case for the 2025-26 Golden Knights so far. Like Southern California traffic, Vegas has been subjected to constant stops and boneheaded drivers, leaving them slinging out the expletives.
The Golden Knights haven't had much success in a couple of areas. First, the depth scoring hasn't shown up until recently. Vegas has relied heavily on superstars like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Pavel Dorofeyev to carry the load. They've also seen the goaltending wane at times, costing them games in the process.
The flip side to this is also the injuries mounting up. The Golden Knights have lost key stars such as Mark Stone, William Karlsson, and Adin Hill. In turn, it's left them handicapped against solid teams like the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Still, the Golden Knights have plenty of room and time to turn things around. This team has too much talent to simply miss the playoffs, even with players being struck with unfortunate injuries. If the depth scoring builds off its recent momentum and Adin Hill returns on the right foot, watch out for Vegas. They could make some teams lose it (AHHHH AHHHH AHHH AHH AH!).