Never have fans seen a disappointing season like 2025-26. Yet, here we are with the Vegas Golden Knights playing on the verge of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs altogether. We've already established that the team won't have more wins than losses this season, which will be a first in franchise history.
Yet, it's not like the franchise didn't try to right the ship, either. The team picked up numerous names through free agency and trade, ranging from Rasmus Andersson to Carter Hart. The results haven't panned out the way the team wanted, leaving fans to feel extremely underwhelmed.
Could that be the future that fans see with this team? Who knows. But one thing's certain. There had better be some changes to avoid another catastrophe like 2025-26. Otherwise, the team will suffer a terrible downfall like no other, leaving 31 other fans to point and laugh.
Of course, we all know that. But where does this season rank among the worst Golden Knights campaigns of all time? Is it the worst season in franchise history ever? Let's dive into the three worst seasons ever and see what made them... not so special.
3.) 2018-19
A year after the miraculous Stanley Cup Final run, the Golden Knights fell off the proverbial cliff. Sure, that included a bad major on Cody Eakin that ruined a season. However, the team fell short of the sudden Stanley Cup expectations bestowed upon them.
A season later, Gerard Gallant goes and the team brings along Pete DeBoer. Suddenly, the team learns how to adjust its lineups and play to its potential. Amazing how a simple head coaching change moved them forward after a surprising Stanley Cup Final run, eh?
2.) 2021-22
This was the season that saw a wave of injuries devastate the team. That included a late-arriving Jack Eichel, Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone and Alec Martinez. The result? The first missed postseason for the Golden Knights in franchise history.
The ensuing aftermath resulted in Pete DeBoer being fired and Bruce Cassidy replacing him. The good news was that the season afterwards was the Stanley Cup year. But this season was defined largely by injured players and missing pieces that kept Vegas from reaching its full potential.
1.) 2025-26
No matter what happens with the Vegas Golden Knights this season, 2025-26 will go down as the worst season of all time. You had a Stanley Cup-winning roster on paper, only to watch the team completely collapse. We're talking about the goaltending falling off a cliff and the team not having more wins than losses.
Yes, that's right, even the 2021-22 team had more wins than losses that season. Even if the Golden Knights make the postseason because of a bad Pacific Division, they'll still have numerous dubious firsts that they can't shake. That will define the team and how they vastly underperformed when getting superstars like Rasmus Andersson and Mitch Marner.