Watching the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans, I've realized one thing. The Lions have been a Thanksgiving staple, gracing (or haunting) the televisions for American families since 1934. Most years, they've been an eyesore for families everywhere, especially in the early 2000s. Now? They rule the roost and are kicking everyone's butts.
After all, this is a Dan Campbell-coached team. The Lions aren't afraid of biting off the kneecaps of unfortunate teams (just ask Patrick Mahomes and the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs). Bruce Cassidy knows a thing or two about grit and biting off knee caps himself.
The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a 9-3-2 start with 20 points. It's another terrific start orchestrated by Cassidy and company, which has put the NHL on notice.
"How are the Golden Knights doing this without their "42-goal scoring Misfit from last season?"
"Weren't they supposed to have zero forward depth aside from the middle of the lineup?"
Well, dear reader, Kelly McCrimmon has no time to worry about whether players want to get their children the best youth camps. The Golden Knights are in the business of winning Stanley Cups, where players want another championship in Las Vegas. Yes, that sounds like a harsh reality for franchise players. But it's something fans can be thankful for, especially when watching the Dallas Cowboys lose every year.
What can fans be thankful for regarding the Vegas Golden Knights?
First, the forward group looks as productive as ever. That's even without the newest country star in Nashville, who has three goals in 15 games.
That winger benefited from having Jack Eichel (18 assists, tied for second) as the center. Last season, this former Conn Smythe winner scored 42 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights. That's thanks to Eichel, who's making Mark Stone (six goals, 15 assists) and Ivan Barbashev (seven goals, nine assists).
When your offense (4.36 goals per game, second-most in the NHL) and power play (32.4%, third-best in the NHL) are functioning properly, Golden Knights fans should feel thankful for a solid team.
Of course, that coincides with having a solid head coach. Bruce Cassidy has developed a penchant for preparing his teams for the start of the season. Two years ago, the Golden Knights started 13-2-0 and won the Stanley Cup. Last season, they had one of the best 12-game starts in NHL history at 11-0-1.
The 2023 Stanley Cup is another thing that Golden Knights fans can be thankful for. When the Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, nobody saw it coming. 2023 saw the team finish their story, putting aside any doubt of the 2017-18 season being for naught.
Golden Knights fans should be thankful that hockey is thriving in Las Vegas this Thanksgiving. With election season over, fans can enjoy turkey and stuffing while knowing their favorite NHL team is doing well. After all, watching hockey is as good as watching the Detroit Lions (coached by Dan Campbell, of course) win in front of a national audience.