If you have the NHL app downloaded on your phone of choice (and if you're reading this column, that's a yes), you may have noticed little notifications about a respective team's Quarter Century Team and wonder- what is it? It's a thing the league began the day before New Year's where all 32 teams rate their 12 best players since the year 2000. Regardless of the sport, they're always a nice fount of debate and nostalgia for fans (like Star Wars, Episodes IX-XI...without the unpleasant discourse).
As for your Vegas Golden Knights, they were actually slated to reveal their Quarter Century Team this past Sunday, just after the Los Angeles Kings. They were both postponed for (obvious) reasons without a new date announced, as of this writing. So, as we prepare for puck drop in Carolina, I thought I'd give my picks for the Golden Knights Quarter-Century Team. There are worse ways to spend a Friday in this weird and maddening world than tapping into a nice fount of debate and nostalgia. In moderation, of course...
First Team: F Jack Eichel
F Ivan Barbashev
F Jonathan Marchessault D Shea Theodore D Alex Pietrangelo G Marc-Andre Fleury
Most of these picks are no-brainers but for different reasons. When it comes to Marchessault, it's statistical: he's first in goals, points, and power play goals as well as third in assists in team history. With Eichel and Barbashev, it's a mix of sterling stats and playoff accomplishments (two of the top 10 playoff scorers belong to them). With Theodore and Pietrangelo, it's their steadiness in the backend, making all that scoring. As for Fleury, it's all of the above and...
Second Team: F Mark Stone F William Karlsson F Reilly Smith D Brayden McNabb D Alec Martinez G Logan Thompson
This is one that takes some thought to sift through. You could choose someone like Chandler Stephenson or Max Pacioretty, and it'd make some sense in terms of their playoff performances. Some may be surprised I didn't choose Noah Hanifin. But he's still technically in his first full season. Besides, he will be a no-brainer choice 25 years from now when the Half-Century Team is being talked about and debated over. Here's hoping the planet's still in one piece by then.
Other bits from the Realm:
- As much as we rightly tout the brilliant tandem of Mark Stone and Jack Eichel (aka the Dynamic Duo), it's time to shine a light on another tandem for Vegas that's popped up this week: Pavel Dorofeyev and Victor Olofsson. You could see the rhythm and chemistry on Dorofeyev's hat trick goal in Nashville Tuesday night. That came with only a game and change to work with. Imagine what could come between the two with a few weeks, a few months together on a line.
- It's too early to determine whether or not Ilya Samsonov is entering a prolonged lull in performance. His last start in Nashville would point toward yes, though the four goals he allowed weren't Krumm-esque stinkers. The fault lay within a defense that took an extra half-hour to get into the game. After that fourth goal, Samsonov was fairly solid by backup goalie standards. Throw in the rest he'll have before his likely (if I had to guess) next start and there's still reason for hope. Watch this space next week for the crow casserole I'll be enjoying if that guess goes pear-shaped.
- Anyhow, on a mixed bag of a week for the Golden Knights, I thought I'd end with a Moment of Zen to help you enter the weekend on a happy note. If it also acts as an energy drink boost for the rest of Vegas' offense later tonight in Carolina...all the better!