Let's be honest. Saturday's game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Anaheim Ducks was about the present vs. the future. It showcased a younger team hungry to finally compete against the Pacific Division's old guard. Young guns like Leo Carlsson (eight goals and 15 assists) and Cutter Gauthier (11 goals and seven assists) had the daunting task of taking on Jack Eichel (eight goals and 14 assists) and Mitch Marner (four goals and 14 assists).
Believe it or not, the Ducks won in overtime, 4-3. Behind a Jacob Trouba deke that got past Akira Schmid, Anaheim moved to 10-3-1 and stretched its Pacific Division lead.
As for Vegas? They got the loser point and have points in all but three games. However, they must worry about younger teams like the San Jose Sharks catching up to them. Somewhere, there's a 30-something bellhop in Pleasanton jumping for joy at the thought of a Vegas downfall.
The fact is that this could be a focal point down the road. The Golden Knights aren't exactly a young roster, as evidenced by their average age of 28.77 (seventh-oldest in the league). Compare that to the Ducks, who sit at 27.31 (24th), and the concerns start flaring up.
How the Anaheim Ducks exposed the older Golden Knights throughout Saturday night
Let's start with Leo Carlsson, who had two goals and an assist in Saturday's Golden Knights loss. The first was his slipping into the middle of the Ducks' offensive zone and making an incredible move on Schmid. The result? A Ducks goal that gives them the 2-1 lead.
LEO CARLSSON! 🔥
— NHL (@NHL) November 9, 2025
He extends his point streak to NINE GAMES! pic.twitter.com/mseu4uMy0c
Mind you, that extended his point streak to nine games. During that stretch, he has six goals and 11 assists. But that brings up a broader point: Carlsson is 20 years old. The Swedish center is also on pace for 47 goals and 88 assists, incredible marks for a forward of his age.
Compare that to the Golden Knights, who have nine skaters 30 years or older. Looking at each player, there's a recurring theme with most of them. Either their age is catching up with them, or they're getting hurt.
Player | Age | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Stone | 33 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 13 |
Tomas Hertl | 31 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 11 |
William Karlsson | 32 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Shea Theodore | 30 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Ben Hutton | 32 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Brandon Saad | 33 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Reilly Smith | 34 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Colton Sissons | 32 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Brayden McNabb | 34 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
That's not even mentioning names like Ivan Barbashev, Eichel, and Marner, who are approaching 30 years old. The age problem will worsen as the years continue, even if McCrimmon can replenish his roster with viable free agents and trade targets.
It doesn't help that the Henderson Silver Knights don't offer much reprieve. Sure, names like Trevor Connelly and even Braeden Bowman can offer some relief. However, you need more than that to fill the outgoing roles that Stone, Karlsson, and Smith will leave behind.
Are the Golden Knights doomed once Father Time gets the main guys?
Not necessarily. It's noteworthy to watch this roster's turnover once big names like Stone, Karlsson, and Smith leave for good. As mentioned, it'll be tougher to replace these key players with younger players, especially since the Golden Knights don't have many viable forwards in the farm system.
However, it might not be as bad as initially thought for two reasons. One, the goaltender prospects are solid. Carl Lindbom has shown flashes of excellence in his three NHL starts this season, even stealing a point. Sure, he might have a GAA of 3.36 and a save percentage of .873 in three games. However, that's expected from a goaltender who's never played in the NHL before (and it will be the same thing for Cameron Whitehead once he gets his call-up). This should alleviate the problems associated with the roster turnover to a degree.
Second, McCrimmon's capable of making aforementioned big moves. Stone's cap hit of $9.5 million comes off the books in 2027, while Karlsson's $5.9 million cap hit also leaves at that time. Whether these players stick around remains to be seen. However, this opening space combined with a rising salary cap makes life easier for Vegas if they still want to compete.
If you want to take solace in Saturday's loss, the Golden Knights used that veteran experience to squeeze out a point. They sealed the boards in the third period, making it impossible for Anaheim to make zone entries. That's how the Golden Knights got two third-period goals to tie the game. Still, don't expect it to be quackin' easier in the future when they face the Ducks.