Sometimes, life works in unexpected ways. You don't expect to be the last person to get the tiramisu before it runs out. You also don't expect to be the last person to get the Brayden McNabb bobblehead when going to the Vegas Golden Knights game. These moments give credence to the belief that chances work in your favor.
These chances also make life worth living. You could have everything turn for you in a heartbeat the same way everything can go south quickly. It doesn't matter if it's a sudden turnover or a bad injury. The game of hockey is one of the greatest sports around.
That's what I'm here to talk about today. Chance (not the mascot) is the most unpredictable (and predictable) indicator of regular life. It's what fuels luck, which is a preparation meeting opportunity. If the 2017-18 Golden Knights didn't pick up players like Marc-Andre Fleury, William Karlsson, and Jonathan Marchessault, would they make the Stanley Cup Final that season? Probably not.
It takes an exceptional leader with a vision to make those chances turn in your favor. Luckily, Las Vegas has that in Bill Foley, who made a promise of a Stanley Cup in six seasons. Tell me, did Mark Davis fulfill his promise of a Super Bowl upon arriving in Sin City? Or were the Raiders the penultimate whipping boys of Patrick Mahomes? It's easy to see why the hockey team reigns supreme in town.
How luck has benefited the Vegas Golden Knights
Like getting all sevens on a Buffalo gaming machine, the Vegas Golden Knights have gotten the best chances given to them. It starts with making game-breaking moves such as acquiring Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators. The same goes for acquiring Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres, extending Brayden McNabb, or signing Alex Pietrangelo.
These moves paved the way for the team to sustain their momentum from the 2017-18 run. It resulted in three more semifinal appearances and a Stanley Cup. It also resulted in the franchise having the highest attendance by capacity. Yes, higher than teams such as the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.
Can you imagine a Pacific Division team achieving this mark? It's like the Anaheim Ducks leading the league in attendance (or the San Jose Sharks). Man, you don't want to give Josh from San Francisco any funny thoughts. Still, it's a testament to how the organization's run, where the expectations are winning Stanley Cups over everything else.
That's why you sign Pietrangelo to a long-term deal, knowing his skills and body will eventually deteriorate. That's why you pass on signing an aging player to a long-term deal, knowing said circumstances will pop up again. You must create the opportunities to get quality chances. Otherwise, you'll end up like the Sabres: A listless franchise who don't have an identity (or a playoff appearance since 2011).
So I leave you with this, Golden Knights fans. Do whatever it takes to improve yourself daily. It doesn't matter if it's obtaining a new skill, reading a new book, or taking in a new hobby. You'll grow yourself and become a better person. In turn, you'll get the quality chances you crave, where you'll feel like you're set up for a scoring chance by Jack Eichel or hitting the jackpot.