Takeaways from the Golden Knights' first 10 games
There are plenty of positives in the first 10 games for the Vegas Golden Knights. Here's what fans should take away from the starting stretch.
Good vibes will ensue whenever your NHL team goes on a 7-2-1 start. Fans are feeling great about how they look and how they're playing. There's no fighting or strife. Instead, there's only peace and love. That's the feeling Vegas Golden Knights fans have with their first-place team in the Pacific Division.
Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without the top-line functioning like a group of Hart Memorial Trophy candidates. Mark Stone (NHL-best 18 points), Jack Eichel (16 points), and Ivan Barbashev (seven goals) have been better than advertised, giving the Golden Knights a scoring bite. In turn, it's led to the most goals per game in the NHL (4.70 goals per game).
In turn, it's business as usual in Las Vegas, where Bill Foley's motley crew sits atop the Pacific Division. It might draw the ire of opposing fanbases tired of the Golden Knights. But that's what happens when you run a world-class organization in the NHL. As the old saying goes, "Haters make me famous."
While the team has gotten off to another fast start (thank you, Bruce Cassidy), not everything is perfect in Las Vegas. Some things could be fixed to better the team. For example, the goaltending situation could be better. Fortunately, Adin Hill took the necessary first step to do this with a shutout on Monday. Sometimes, it takes some effort to break out of a slump (see Tomas Hertl).
But what are some main takeaways from the team's 7-2-1 start? What stands out? What must be fixed? The good news is the season's young and the Vegas Golden Knights can fix their problem areas. They can also continue their successes which makes them a powerhouse. Here are some takeaways from the first 10 games.
This is the best the power play's ever looked for the Vegas Golden Knights
Nobody expected the Golden Knights to be tied for third in the NHL in power play percentage (33.3%) entering Wednesday. Yet, here we are.
The unit has looked incredible, with Mark Stone (two goals and five assists on the power play) and Tomas Hertl (three goals and three assists on the power play) leading the way. Shea Theodore (four assists on the man advantage) and Jack Eichel (five assists on the man advantage) have also aided the cause, giving newfound hope to the unit.
No longer are fans witnessing a unit passing around the puck endlessly. They're seeing a group finding the right shot and capitalizing on that opportunity. Take this power play goal against the Ottawa Senators that tied the game as a perfect example.
"Eichel to Stone to Hertl! It's a power play goal. It ties the game!"
— Golden Knights Radio (@VGKRadioNetwork) October 26, 2024
🎙 @Dan_DUva
Tomas Hertl ties the game with a late power play goal. pic.twitter.com/idmmqCz7Pu
Part of the power play woes stemmed from not having another big body on the unit. Bruce Cassidy needed another large player who could crash the net. With Hertl in the mix, it gives fans plays like this, where the opposing penalty kill must account for two sizable forwards. As a result, tic-tac-toe goals like this happen.
Jack Eichel looks like a Hart Memorial Trophy candidate
Now, some skeptics might say this is a simple overreaction. They'll look at his injury history and say...
"Oh, he'll suffer another lower-body injury. It's coming."
However, Jack Eichel is proving he belongs in the Hart Memorial Trophy conversation with his incredible start. The former second-overall pick has 16 points (five on the power play). He's also brought out the best in Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev, who've experienced a renaissance in their respective playing careers.
He's also had a similar effect on Jonathan Marchessault last season. When the former Conn Smythe winner was paired on Eichel's wing in 2023-24, he had a career-high 42 goals. That netted him a new deal with the Nashville Predators. The result? Two goals and four assists in his first nine games with his new team. It looks like it was Eichel who was responsible for his success all along.
But the center isn't the only Golden Knights player who should be considered. Stone is having a breakout year so far, scoring five goals and 13 assists. He's proving he can be one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL when he's on the ice. That could mean great things for Las Vegas come June.
The penalty kill could use some work
It's bizarre living in a world where the Vegas Golden Knights power play is miles ahead of the penalty kill. Yet, it's happening to start the 2024-25 season. While the man advantage has been anchored by superstars such as Tomas Hertl, the penalty kill has struggled to start the season.
Currently, the group sits 20th in the NHL with a penalty kill percentage of 77.3%. They allowed two power play goals in five attempts in the first two games, starting slow. In turn, it's made life harder for goaltenders like Adin Hill, who prefer a more comfortable five-on-five situation.
But there's a good reason for the unit's early struggles. William Karlsson was absent for the first eight games with an undisclosed injury. Now, they have their "Original Misfit" back, who already has a shorthanded goal to start his 2024-25 campaign. Karlsson's presence could help turn the unit around, making Vegas's special teams one of the better groups in the NHL.
If that's the case, that could go a long way in making them Stanley Cup contenders again. The team would handle any situation without a sweat, showing their muscle and goal-scoring capability. That would be a nightmare for opposing teams, for they won't know how to handle multi-faceted players such as Karlsson skating up and down the ice.
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