One of the most noteworthy achievements in the NHL is scoring the hat trick. The Vegas Golden Knights have had plenty of worthy players achieve this in the past, including Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, and Jack Eichel. It's a part of how they've established themselves as an NHL threat, making two Stanley Cup Finals and winning a championship.
It doesn't matter if it was George McPhee constructing a roster full of "Misfits" in the earlier days or Kelly McCrimmon playing 4D chess with the entire NHL. Finding the right guys to consistently threaten the three-goal mark every game. Why have a top-heavy forward group when you can have scoring on every line? It's a recipe that has benefitted the Golden Knights in eight seasons.
That's certainly the case for this player. He's defined himself as a bona-fide goal-scorer, leaving fans with everlasting memories. That came with a Conn Smythe Trophy which capped off a historical year for the Golden Knights. Who is this mysterious man, you ask?
Well, let's say he's known in the same atmosphere as Marc-Andre Fleury. The winger (there's another clue) set the foundation for the franchise's success, coming from being an undrafted player to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Of course, you probably know his name by now. But here's the single-season leader in hat tricks for the Golden Knights.
Surprise! Jonathan Marchessault has the most single-season hat tricks in Vegas Golden Knights history
Jonathan Marchessault has the most single-season hat tricks, which shouldn't be a surprise to Vegas Golden Knights fans. Last season, he established himself as the team leader in the category, scoring three times in three different games. These games consisted of the following:
- November 2 against the Winnipeg Jets (W, 5-2)
- January 26 at the New York Rangers (W, 5-1)
- March 9 against the Detroit Red Wings (W, 5-3)
Tied for second place were William Karlsson (2017-18) and Jack Eichel (2022-23) with two each. The two forwards will get another crack at the record this season, where the group has clicked on all cylinders so far. After that is a hodgepodge of different players with one hat trick in a season. That includes Mark Stone (2023-24), Max Pacioretty (2020-21), and even obscure names like Dylan Coghlan (2020-21).
Although Golden Knights fans witnessed Mikko Rantanen (not one of their own) get a hat trick during the season opener, the offense looks ready for such opportunities during the 2024-25 campaign. If the top line continues to produce at a high clip, fans could see Eichel, Stone, or even Barbashev tie or break that mark. It's a sign Vegas isn't ready to go out into the night, putting the entire NHL on notice.