Motivation has never been an issue for the Golden Knights. While many other teams have fallen into the complacency trap, Vegas really hasn’t. Even the year they missed the playoffs, the effort and intensity were there every night down the stretch; they simply ran out of healthy bodies to compete.
So, the idea that it could become a problem in VGK’s 9th season is not much of a concern. However, if there were any lingering doubts, a recent anecdote from Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast put that to bed well in advance of the new season beginning.
So one of the things I heard actually was those were some pretty harsh meetings during and after (the VGK vs EDM series). They were disappointed. I think everybody was disappointed. Not that they lost, but they got manhandled. And I think the management was mad. I think the coaching staff was mad. I think the players were mad. And I heard it was B-L-U-N-T, Blunt. And I think there was some understanding that some of those guys were really beaten up. But I think everybody knew how everybody felt about the way they got dominated by the Oilers. We’ll be motivating for them. –Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts Podcast
After failing to score in 127 consecutive minutes against the Oilers, the Golden Knights did not whimper off into the offseason. They had some hard conversations about what went wrong and what needed to be done to fix it.
Clearly, the deficiency that came to the forefront was a lack of scoring wingers, and the addition of Mitch Marner should hopefully fix that problem. Another idea that has been mentioned since the Game 5 loss is the desire to create a fourth line that plays a straight-line forecheck-centered game. Colton Sissons’ acquisition could help address this issue as well.
It would be interesting to know which players were “blunt” in their assessments of the team, especially considering captain Mark Stone missed Game 4 and alternate Alex Pietrangelo was likely aware his future was in jeopardy. Brayden McNabb and William Karlsson, who served as the other alternates, are not the most vocal. Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, and Tomas Hertl come to mind as the most likely, but that’s simply a guess.
Either way, a second round loss to a division foe obviously did not sit well with anyone in the organization, and there’s going to be an expectation to achieve more in 2025-26. If not, expect sweeping changes as the window on the current roster is shrinking rapidly.
hdbiker7851
They got man handled and did absolutely nothing to counter it – they are a big club but that meant little if the desire is not there. Conversation “Blunt” or otherwise means nothing if actions don’t change. Having those types of conversations after the fact is a waste of everyone’s time. Believing the addition of a couple of players addresses what was missing is a misguided belief. Winning comes from within and is defined by the word desire.
Vic
Exactly. Some of the guys played hard and did what they could, but not having the players with the extra toughness needed to go far in the playoffs was and is the problem. Talking bluntly after the series is a bit too late.
SMH
That’s right – don’t have any internal conversations about why the team and/or certain players fell short. And don’t make any player personnel switches. In fact, do absolutely nothing except to have each player look deep inside themselves and focus on the word “desire”. Because it is so clear that “desire” is more important than talent, or scheme, or health/injuries, or coaching, or anything else. In the future, perhaps we can somehow just measure “desire” from each player/team, and that way we don’t even have to play the games – we can just give the Stanley Cup to whomever has the highest level of “desire”. What a freaking crock of shit from this site’s Chief Dark Cloud! Looking forward to your next post of negative nonsense…
Pistol Pete
Exactly.
hdbiker7851
SHM – well it’s obvious from your post you suffer from a lack of logic and reading comprehension- no one sad or implied “desire” is more important than talent, or scheme, or health/injuries, or coaching, or anything else” All that was said if the desire is not there the balance of everything else will never materialize to the degree desired.
ThG
Desire to hit was issue, take it to next level. Of course some posters here live with rose colored lens and see and smell everything coming up roses, FO still needs to replac3 LW Carrier type player. Among others, still needs to two more pieces to puzzle. Anderson isn t the piece
Pistol Pete
Let’s not go the way of the Avalanche. That would be losing first round 2026.
2022: Cup
2023: 1st round
2024: 2nd round
2025: 1st round
Pistol Pete
BET MGM
Panthers +575
Avalanche +800
Oilers +800
Golden Knights +850
Hurricanes +900
Stars +1000
Lightning +1600
Devils +1800
Kings +2000
Pistol Pete
If Holtz and Cormier don’t get offer sheets (unlikely?) and their agents don’t find something else, looks like they’ll take their offers and keep working in Henderson to get their call-ups.
Pistol Pete
As expected, offers were extended to Holtz and Cormier. Both are holding out.
https://thehockeynews.com/vegas-golden-knights/latest-news/golden-knights-extend-qualifying-offers-to-five-players
Pistol Pete
What I’m coming to realize is offer sheets are often the result of efforts made by the agent to find teams interested in the player?
Pistol Pete
Does seem rather unlikely any team will offer sheet either of these players especially Cormier and potentially have to give up a pick. Pretty sure offer sheets notwithstanding, they are each stuck one more season in the VGK system after which VGK loses all rights. Hopefully something good comes of them for the team. I will be surprised if Holtz does not make it to the NHL. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Pistol Pete
“they are each stuck one more season in the VGK system after which VGK loses all rights”
Turns out this not quite right. If applicable VGK can extend qualifying offers again before the 2026 deadline to retain rights. See post below.
Emmanuel
Perhaps the “blunt conversation” should have taken place the afternoon of the 2025 trade deadline instead of sending out snarky tweets.
Bill
I don’t know if it is correct that complacency has never been an issue. I remember hearing so many times we didn’t come out ready to play. I don’t think complacency is an issue when you play McDavid though. I think oilers got deeper and we lost depth and it cost us eventually.
ThG
Spot on Bill. How did earless do in off season? They let two key players go?
Bill S
Two of the players who basically flatlined against the Oilers, Hague and Roy, are no longer with the team. With Pietrangelo injured worse than the team cared to admit, combined with the lack of scoring by wingers, this was a recipe for disaster against the Oilers. McCrimmon and Cassidy were not going to stand pat after what happened. With Marner and the other additions thus far, look for the Knights to rebound from this in a big way this coming season.
ThG
Don t forget Stone got creamed too, he had no business coming back to play in that next to last game. They earless beat the shit out if them. Can anyone say ENFORCER?
JB
Not really going to miss the guys we traded or lost. Roy was in consistant . Hague was never the same after Jami Benn beat him up early in 23/24 season. Petro hurt or not was awful last two seasons. I think the new guys will add some toughness.
Pistol Pete
So if an RFA is not able to sign with another team, the original team can extend a qualifying offer before the end of the next deadline and thus retain rights. The player thus has to keep playing in the team’s system to either win a place on the roster or enhance their value as trade capital. Past a certain age most players never become full-time NHL players. Hopefully a number of HSK players don’t suffer this fate but most will.
“Once an NHL player becomes a restricted free agent (RFA), their team retains their rights until they either sign a new contract with that team, sign an offer sheet with another team that the original team chooses not to match, or become an unrestricted free agent. A qualifying offer from the team extends their RFA status for at least one more year, but it can last longer if the player doesn’t sign elsewhere or if the team continues to extend qualifying offers.”
Pistol Pete
Qualifying offers to forwards (in descending order of age):
Jonas Rondbjerg (signed):
Age: 26
Draft: 2017 #65
6’2″/204 lb.
76 games: 3G/7A (.13 pts/game) -7
Cole Schwindt (signed):
Age: 24
Draft: 2019 #81
6’2″/203 lb.
42 games: 1G/7A (.17 pts/game) -1
Rafael Lavoie (signed):
Age: 24
Draft: 2019 #38
6’4″/215 lb.
16 games: 0G/0A (-6)
Alexander Holtz (pending)
Age: 23
Draft: 2020 #7
6’0″/198 lb.
163 games: 23G/23A (.28 pts/game) -29
Of the four Holtz has by far the best AHL numbers, nowhere near close (40G/38A in 92 games). AHL prior to HSK he was -15; last year in Henderson he was -1 in 16 games (7G/6A).
Cormier the Dman also has a pending offer. Good chance imo his spot on the depth chart is usurped by Viliam Kmec who is 3″ taller and 24 lb. heavier. Kmec, undrafted, is an excellent skater, has been termed “athletic” and was the fifth highest scoring D in the WHL 2024-25.
Pistol Pete
Golden Knights Reportedly In The Mix For Flames Right-Handed
This is the key:
“Andersson has a six-team no-trade clause, which gives the Flames plenty of options, but teams have been reluctant to agree to trades due to the uncertainty of contract negotiations with Andersson.”
At this time Andersson will agree to only a VGK extension, so no other team will trade for him. This puts Calgary in the position of take what McCrimmon offers or risk losing Andersson to 2026 free agency. Calgary could always just go with this his last season on the roster and hope something changes. We’ll see.
There might just be way for McCrimmon to do this without dumping Barbashev’s $5m. It would be best to hold on to him.
https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/latest-news/golden-knights-reportedly-in-mix-for-flames-right-handed-defenseman
ThG
The flames not impressed with VGK offer says all you need to know. Talking abou5 beating to death another dead horse, Mr flip flop
Pistol Pete
“The flames not impressed with VGK offer says all you need to know.”
Unless it’s early which it is. We also don’t know what McCrimmon has offered and if it changes.
“Talking abou5 beating to death another dead horse”
Doubt this is considered a “dead horse”. In all likelihood it’s an ongoing situation that could
eventually lead to a deal. In the end does not look like Calgary gets much for Andersson assuming his position does not change. They can give him up now and get something or play his last season and get nothing. We’ll see what they do.
This is not unlike Toronto’s position with Marner except a year earlier.
ThG
I was referring to spamming the same story ove4 and over. And you know it,
Pistol Pete
Oh I see, ff’ing like your mentor the GOAT of it.
ThG
Not flip flopping you obvious put words in peoples post that ar3 not there. Typical lib tard trait.
Pistol Pete
“Talking abou5 beating to death another dead horse, Mr flip flop”
This is what you posted. That is not fair and you know it. Just because you are not one of my readers does not mean you should try to speak for those that are.
“Typical lib tard trait”
Your standby! Always unfair and you know it.
ThG
Facts hurt your feelings Mr flip flop, life is not fair, deal with it snowflake. When you have solid news let us now , no kne is interested in your spamming the same old bull shit rumor mill story on Anderson over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over
Pistol Pete
“I was referring to spamming the same story ove4 and over. And you know it,”
Spam is meant to be deleted so just do it. Nothing I post is spam to my readers and you know it.
I would say there is near 100% agreement on YOUR spamming here. OT spamming. Even those who share any of your views probably acknowledge how persistent and ridiculous it is. Can we say hypocrite?
Once again I out debate you. You can’t even debate topics like EV’s and climate change. Compare my fair well-reasoned point-by-point responses to your under-cover-of-the-internet lack of substance futile attempts to humble me.
“Facts hurt your feelings Mr flip flop, life is not fair, deal with it snowflake. When you have solid news let us now , no kne is interested in your spamming the same old bull shit rumor mill story on Anderson over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over“
ThG
Spam is meant to be deleted. Doh what , if that is case then why are your spam posts still on internet, on this site. You don t even know
What SPAM is. I don tt repeatedly post the same exact subject word for word over and over and over. Mariner Marne Marne Marne, Anderson Anderson Anderson Anderson. What a whiny moron you are.
Pistol Pete
Spam is spam and you flood this board with it. In this context OT posting in your case politics/other is spam. Me posting repeatedly on one hockey subject e.g. prospect of VGK acquiring Andersson (potentially the biggest remaining news in the offseason and an important subject) is not spam certainly not to my readers. My readers value my content as I do theirs; you do not so why bother? Has it occurred to you some here check the site infrequently? You live here to spam your OT stuff. My readers may miss earlier postings on Andersson for example. No matter they appreciate my effort to add additional color even if it may take three successive posts at times for me to provide it. You do not.
Once again I provide a fair-minded reasoned rebuttal. You can only admit to yourself I am right and move on.
Once again no debating from you. Instead another futile attempt at “humbling” PP.
“Spam is meant to be deleted. Doh what , if that is case then why are your spam posts still on internet, on this site. You don t even know
What SPAM is. I don tt repeatedly post the same exact subject word for word over and over and over. Mariner Marne Marne Marne, Anderson Anderson Anderson Anderson. What a whiny moron you are.”
Pistol Pete
“What a whiny moron you are.”“
Who was first to accuse who of “spamming” exposing themself? Not real swift if you ask me.
TS
I think it was many things that contributed to our early exit..injuries, yes. Desire was lacking. Scoring dried up– confidence issues?? And, i’ve been saying it since Reaves left: we NEED toughness. A player many teams have..
The INTIMIDATOR. He doesn’t need to crush opponents only put the fear into them.
Watching Hockey from the past was eye- opening– no Goalie masks, no helmets, gloves, no protection whatsoever, yet playing a more physical game than players today. Yeah, teams have gotten soft.
Pistol Pete
Not sure can agree with you TS and unlike one particular poster when you question anything they say you get insulted, I am sure you will not take me questioning you as an “attack”. I just think the game is heavier and faster than yesteryear. Athletes are bigger and the equipment makes the game bigger and faster. As great an athlete as Orr was I don’t see him being able to rag the puck as he did. Nobody can do that anymore not like he did, not even McDavid, because the players today prevent it. I am not slighting ThG’s post a few days ago on mucking and ragging but just watch he’ll (pretty sure it’s he) take offense, it was an interesting point and glad he made it.
Donald J Trump
Hey numb nuts THG already responded a few days ago calling you a clueless , you weren’t paying attention,
Pistol Pete
Yawn
TS
Pp, no insult taken!
We all think for ourselves, hv differing opinions, and we don’t blast others for doing so.
. The reasonable, NORMAL posters here do the same…
Carry on, PP!
ThG
Leave TS alone , Mr noseybody only KFIM is sanctioned by moderators to officially respond to TS s meaningless , or in this case, meaningful post,
TS
Thg, My post was for ANYONE to read or respond to. PP did so, and I respect him for never blasting me, as you two do. If you would JUST treat others like YOU want to be treated, then we’d all be good here. It’s called Civility. Common interests should UNITE us, NOT DIVIDE us!
Btw, i am stunned you actually agree with me– extra cookies for you, just this once.
ThG
Cormier signs with VGK. He is likely first or second on call up list of
F d men with Hagg and Mayo in the mix
ThG
Cormier signs with VGK. He is likely first or second on call up list of
F d men with Hagg and Mayo in the mix!!!
Pistol Pete
What’s keeping Holtz?
ThG
Maybe he has a life
Unlike you and is on vacation?