Few expansion franchises in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, or the National Hockey League have had as much success from the get-go because the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Reaching the Stanley Cup Finals of their first season back in 2017–18, the Golden Knights have reached the postseason in six of their eight seasons, and the one season that missed the playoffs was a 12 months they scored 94 points.
The franchise’s rapid ascent crescendoed last season because it beat the Florida Panthers in five games to take its first-ever Stanley Cup Championship, losing just six games in its 4 playoff series. The Golden Knights entered 2023–24 as overwhelming favorites, but that they had a down 12 months, scoring just 98 points in comparison with last 12 months’s 111 points and entering the postseason because the #8 seed. Listed below are the most important takeaways from the defending champ’s season.
Season Expectations
As noted, the Las Vegas Golden Knights had significant expectations going into the season as online sports betting favorites to win the Western Conference. Only the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers entered the 12 months with higher odds to win the Stanley Cup within the West than the Golden Knights.
The season couldn’t have began higher, with the defending champs winning 11 of their first 12 games. Nonetheless, they struggled the remaining of the way in which, going 34–36 and barely reaching the postseason as the ultimate Wild Card representative.
Only eight teams in league history have won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and the Golden Knights made it far more demanding on themselves with a weak regular season. They’d to battle back at the top of the 12 months to achieve the postseason and have struggled to search out their identity, resulting in Noah Hanifin’s and Tomas Hertl’s mid-season acquisitions. Those two players are among the many standout performers this season.
Standout Players
Jonathan Marchessault led the way in which for Las Vegas by way of points, scoring 69 points on a career-high 42 goals and 27 assists. Those 69 points were probably the most he has scored since 2017–18, his first season as a Golden Knight.
Nonetheless, Marchessault’s position at the highest of Vegas’ scoring leaderboard indicates what went mistaken this season. Jack Eichel was the Golden Knight’s leading scorer on last 12 months’s Stanley Cup championship team but missed time this 12 months on account of injury. Chandler Stephenson trailed him by only a single point but regressed this 12 months offensively.
Despite playing just six games with Las Vegas within the regular season, Hertl scored 4 points after joining the team late within the 12 months. The longtime San Jose Shark was a lone vivid spot on a miserable Shark team that had a historically bad season and has been a consistent point scorer for years.
Standout Moments
Las Vegas’ dominant start stood out, because the team was 11–0–1 after 12 games and lost consecutive games in regulation in mid-December. Nonetheless, by Christmas, they were 1–5–0 through the six-game stretch resulting in their Winter Classic matchup against Seattle, which began a more significant trend within the mistaken direction. The Kraken dominated Las Vegas in a 3–0 win, marking the Golden Knights’ sixth loss in eight games before getting beat down by Florida three days later.
Las Vegas struggled mightily after the All-Star break, giving up 3.44 goals per game since mid-February, rating twenty third within the league. Goaltender Adin Hill has highlighted those struggles, with only a .877 save percentage during that span.
Nonetheless, things did turn around a bit with the additions of Hertl and Hanifin. Las Vegas went 11–5–1 after the March 8 trade deadline, largely without Hartl, who missed time on account of knee surgery in February. The late-season surge helped the Golden Knights sneak into the playoffs and have already given the #1-seeded Dallas Stars trouble.
Post Season Aspirations
While Las Vegas struggled within the regular season, they still entered the postseason with a championship pedigree, substantial defensive depth to resolve their goal-surrendering problems, and a brand new weapon in Hertl. They opened up the postseason with two road victories over the Stars, putting the #1 seed on the brink early. While Dallas stole an extra time win in Las Vegas, the Golden Knights are still accountable for the series, thanks mainly to Eichel’s dominant play.
The Golden Knights are still a threat within the Western Conference. The road shall be difficult, however the team is comparable to last season’s championship squad. In keeping with most players, the second championship is probably the most difficult championship when attempting to go back-to-back.
Post Season Results
The team found itself at a crossroads because the curtain closed on the Las Vegas Golden Knights’ 2023–24 season. Despite a rollercoaster 12 months marked by early promise and late struggles, the Golden Knights demonstrated resiliency and the guts of a champion. Their postseason journey, although ending in a hard-fought seven-game series against the Dallas Stars, underscored the unpredictability of playoff hockey and the skinny margins that separate triumph from defeat.
This season may not have ended with the jubilation of last 12 months’s championship, nevertheless it provided vital lessons and memorable moments that can shape the franchise’s future. The mid-season acquisitions of Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl, although initially seen as of venture, paid dividends and suggest a vivid outlook for the following campaign. Jonathan Marchessault’s resurgence as a top scorer and Jack Eichel’s playoff heroics are further evidence of the team’s core strength and potential for rebound.
Looking ahead, the Golden Knights are well-positioned to retool and return stronger. With a mix of experienced leaders and emerging talents, the team’s foundation stays robust. The challenge now lies in harnessing this season’s lessons to refine their game and ignite a renewed quest for the Stanley Cup.
As fans reflect on a season of highs and lows, they will take pride in a team that continues to battle against the chances, embodying the spirit of perseverance that has defined the Golden Knights since their remarkable inception. The hunt for one more championship is much from over; it’s merely paused, able to be reignited with the drop of the puck next season.
