The Vegas Golden Knights didn't see it coming. They believed their Pacific Division supremacy would last for years, creating a new age of haters and anti-Golden Knights people in the process. However, some members of the new guard have shown up.
First up are the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks, who've defeated the Golden Knights in overtime twice. They have a solid combination of young, budding superstars and incredible veterans. Add a Stanley Cup-winning head coach to the mix and you have trouble.
Next up are the San Jose Sharks, whose fans have prayed to their lord and savior for a Golden Knights downfall. They have a potential face of the NHL to make that happen, along with other solid pieces. Is it time for the Sharks to finally bring a Stanley Cup to the Bay Area?
Finally, there's the "Greatest (allegedly) Expansion Story Ever Told" in the Seattle Kraken. Behind stellar goaltending, the expansion brethren could arrive on the contender scene quicker than expected.
So, which of these teams are the biggest threats to the Golden Knights' supremacy? Who could be problematic for years to come and cause chaos in Las Vegas? Let's dissect each team and see what makes each team tick, shall we?
Anaheim Ducks: Big threat
If you saw the two contests between both teams this season, the Anaheim Ducks had no problems executing on scoring chances in the middle. The team has numerous scoring threats to make that happen, including Carlsson (11 goals and 18 assists) and Cutter Gauthier (13 goals and 13 assists).
But the team has also done an excellent job of infusing veteran leadership into the lineup. That includes Chris Kreider and Joel Quenneville, which should provide guidance for the current Stanley Cup window. Anaheim's scoring options and speed should be problematic for Vegas in the coming years.
San Jose Sharks: Sizable threat
Obviously, there's Macklin "TIME TO" Celebrini (13 goals and 19 assists entering Sunday's contest against the Bruins). The wunderkind is making a solid case for being one of the league's faces in the future, displaying exciting moves and scoring highlight-reel goals.
His presence alone could make all the bellhops in the Bay Area overly excited. But it's also upcoming players like Yaroslav Askarov and Will Smith that could be problematic. If the Sharks can hit on some key free agent signings, watch for San Jose to turn this rivalry into must-see TV again.
Seattle Kraken: Not as threatening
The common theme that the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks have is that they've got budding superstars to build around. The Ducks have Carlsson, while the Sharks have that Celebrini guy. Who do the Seattle Kraken have as their building block?
Is it Matty Beniers (14 points this season)? Vince Dunn (12 points)? While the skaters have a balanced attack, they don't have anybody who sticks out. The Kraken have relied heavily on their goaltending to carry them throughout the season so far. While the trio of Matt Murray, Phillip Grubauer, and Joey Daccord has done wonders for Seattle so far (team GAA of 2.67 and a team save percentage of .906), one should wonder if that's sustainable. That's especially true against both the old guard (the Golden Knights and the Oilers) and the new threats (the Ducks and the Sharks).