Two Vegas Golden Knights who should win awards after the 2024-25 season

When you're sitting pretty atop the NHL like the Vegas Golden Knights, you can have anything you want. You can have Vezina Trophy winners, Conn Smythe winners, and even Stanley Cups. It's good to be the king (much to the chagrin of the rest of the NHL).

That's especially true when you beat the best teams in the league, including the Winnipeg Jets. Pulling off an incredible comeback against Connor Hellebuyck and company will do that for an elite team. You get to dine on caviar and duck ravioli at the Cosmopolitan.

Of course, you can't do it alone. You need a top-tier first line consisting of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Ivan Barbashev. The line must combine for 29 goals and 62 assists, making them one of the most vaunted units in the league.

You must also have excellent offensive-minded defensemen like Shea Theodore creating terrific scoring opportunities. Using your blistering shot to create rebounds for your teammates is an underappreciated talent. But the recently-extended blue-liner has done this for the Golden Knights.

Two players come to mind regarding awards at the end of the season. Their hard work and dedication keep the team moving along, making them one of the most dangerous franchises around. Who is this mysterious pair of players that deserve recognition for their accolades?

Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore deserve recognition for their productive seasons

The first player should be obvious to everyone. Jack Eichel should receive strong consideration for the Hart Memorial Trophy. When you're tied for second in the NHL in assists (30) and already matched last season's total of power play assists, you're on your way to being named the NHL's best player.

No Vegas Golden Knights star has won the prestigious award in franchise history. That makes Eichel winning the Hart Trophy much more impressive, specifically if he stays healthy throughout the season. Of course, stiff competition will arise, including reigning Hart Trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon (11 goals, 47 points this season) and Kirill Kaprizov (18 goals, 43 points).

But the other player will surprise some Golden Knights fans. So here's a proposal for you, dear reader.

Why not Shea Theodore (21 assists, 10 power play assists) for the Norris Trophy?

Sure, it seems like a long shot considering his competition. The 29-year-old is going up against fellow defensemen such as Cale Makar (36 points), Quinn Hughes (34 points), and Zach Werenski (30 points). However, Theodore's stats warrant a deeper look.

Why Shea Theodore for the Norris?

Theodore has a solid Corsi%, standing at 55% in 2024-25. He's great with his shot selection and knows how to find the sweet spots, creating rebounds for his teammates.

That's also why his relative expected goals (15.5%), on-ice score-adjused expected goals (60.5%), and on-ice score/flurry-adjusted expected goals (59.1%) are solid. These stats point to a player who passes fluently and sees open opportunities for his teammates. Take this goal from Ivan Barbashev on Thursday as a perfect example.

Situational awareness is key in the NHL. You must know what's happening on the play and the ice, whether it's on a line change or a turnover. Theodore sees this unfold, spotting Barbashev sprinting down the ice. He passes it to the winger, who finishes for two points.

Sure, people won't see the blue-liner atop the points rankings with Makar and Hughes. However, the native of Langley, British Columbia drives the play well, spotting open opportunities and setting his teammates up for success. It's no wonder he's on pace for 59 assists this season.

People will pay attention to Jack Eichel because he's the face of the Vegas Golden Knights. He's the quintessential playmaker who flies up and down the ice for incredible scoring opportunities. However, don't discount Theodore in the Norris race, especially if Makar, Hughes, or Werenski miss time for health-related reasons.