Nothing's better than leading your division with a 16-7-3 record and 35 points. Currently, Vegas Golden Knights fans have it made, watching superstars like Mark Stone and Jack Eichel deliver impressive goals for the home crowd. You can't complain about that, especially when your team's been successful in starting their franchise history.
Heck, it could be even worse. Imagine being a fan of a team like the San Jose Sharks, where you've seen your team come close numerous times. Yet you've only mustered one Stanley Cup Final appearance... against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now? You're mired in limbo in the Pacific Division with the Anaheim Ducks.
Having two Stanley Cup Final appearances, a title from 2023, and a Hart Memorial Trophy candidate in Eichel makes for a good life in Las Vegas. It's a start many fans dream of with their team, wishing the hockey gods were kinder to their franchises.
Of course, this wouldn't be possible without a team backbone. You need a key player to keep everything stable, pushing your team to the top. That comes in the form of a superstar like Eichel or a team captain like Stone. But the Golden Knights are in a unique position.
They don't have two players who fall under this category. Instead, they have five (minimum). These five players have kept the team from becoming stuck in the basement with the Sharks, catapulting the Golden Knights atop the division.
So who are these five players keeping the team upright? What have they done and why are they valuable? You can't go wrong with a good old-fashioned list, especially when it highlights the starpower of the Golden Knights. Here are five players who make the team tick for Vegas in 2024-25.
5.) Brett Howden
Nobody was thinking about Brett Howden heading into this season. Fans saw him as a Justin Bieber look-alike, ready to hit free agency after the 2024-25 season ended. However, the tides have turned for the 26-year-old.
Howden has scored 10 goals for the Golden Knights this season, earning him a five-year, $25 million AAV deal in the process. Suddenly, his skill set has drastically improved, combining his scoring touch with his breakaway speed. Some fans have called him the "Golden Knights engine," where the team runs on his play. The Calgary native is starting to prove them right, delivering a scoring spark in crunch time.
When you score 10 goals in your first 26 games, you're bound to turn heads. You'll also catch the general manager's attention, prompting Kelly McCrimmon to keep you and solidify the lower lines. That's what Howden's role will be for years to come, making him a key player for another Stanley Cup run.