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After ending the common season with the most effective document within the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Last having solely misplaced 5 instances in three rounds. Vegas went on to defeat the Japanese Convention champion Florida Panthers in 5 video games, kicking off a celebration in Sin Metropolis.
Listed below are the Golden Knights whose inventory is rising — and falling:
Inventory Up
The misfits, new and outdated: Within the crew’s first season, it
took on the moniker “The Misfits” and rode the mindset all the best way to the Stanley
Cup Last. Six gamers from that inaugural season are nonetheless with Vegas,
together with Jonathan Marchessault, who took residence the Conn Smythe Trophy for
playoff MVP.
This yr’s crew had new misfits taking part in necessary roles. Vegas acquired Jack Eichel, who was pressured out of Buffalo, through the 2021-22 season. In his first journey to the postseason, Eichel led the NHL in scoring with 26 factors in 22 video games, one level forward of Marchessault.
Vegas’ bench boss can also be a little bit of a misfit himself. Bruce Cassidy was let go by the Boston Bruins after the 2021-22 season regardless of qualifying for the playoffs in every of his six seasons and posting a document of 245-108-46.
Adin Hill, goaltender: After taking part in in a career-high 27 video games within the common season and backing up Laurent Brossoit by way of Vegas’ first eight playoff video games, Hill stepped up in a giant means. In 16 appearances, together with 14 begins, Hill was 11-4 with a .932 save proportion and a pair of.17 goals-against common. His save proportion ranked first within the league and his goals-against common was third.
Inventory Down
Robin Lehner, goaltender: Hip surgical procedure saved the Golden Knights’ presumptive beginning goalie out for the complete 2022-23 season and with no timetable for a return. Vegas obtained by way of the common season and playoffs with 5 completely different goalies, with Hill, Brossoit and Logan Thompson dealing with many of the work.
Now, following the Stanley Cup Last, basic supervisor Kelly McCrimmon nonetheless doesn’t have an thought of when Lehner could possibly be again, if he’ll be again in any respect.
From the Golden Knights’ perspective, do they want
Lehner? Thompson continues to be beneath contract subsequent season, and Hill and Brossoit
could possibly be introduced again on contracts that wouldn’t break the financial institution.
The haters, naysayers and doubters: Earlier than the Golden Knights’ arrival, there was trepidation within the sports activities world about whether or not Vegas could possibly be a sports activities city. Some have been vital of how unapologetically aggressive the crew’s entrance workplace has been all through its quick existence in pursuit of a title.
Numerous that goes away now that the Cup is at residence on the Las Vegas
Strip.
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