(Photo Credit: J. Tyge O’Donnell, LVSportsBiz.com)
It’s always fun to go back at the end of the season and look at who was right and who was terribly wrong. On the latest SinBin.vegas podcast, we made our picks and, surprisingly, both chose the Carolina Hurricanes to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Also, we both have the Golden Knights in the postseason fairly easily. Regardless of their seeding in the 2027 playoffs, our expectations are extremely high for the Golden Knights. There’s no reason why Vegas can’t be back-to-back Western Conference champions.
Clearly, Sportsnet is expecting a bounce-back year from the Oilers. Also, the experts seem to believe in the unthinkable: the Oilers winning the division (they haven’t done it since 1987). Golden Knights fans should feel happy with the lack of confidence from Sportsnet. The experts are rarely right.
Next up on our offseason reviews: the Edmonton Oilers.
Roster Movement
Additions: Mathieu Joseph, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ryan Shea, Frederik Andersen, Devon Levi Subtractions: Darnell Nurse, Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, Curtis Lazar, Connor Ingram
2025-26 Season Results vs VGK
12/21: at EDM: 4-3 Loss 3/8: vs EDM: 4-2 Loss 3/26: vs EDM: 4-3 Loss (OT) 4/4: at EDM: 5-1 Win
Next season four Pacific Division teams will play for a new head coach. Edmonton, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Vegas have all announced or are close to announcing their new bench bosses for 2026-27. Yesterday, the Golden Knights predictably introduced Ryan Craig as their new head coach. The Canucks and Kings have hired their new leaders, and the Oilers will be announcing controversial coach Mike Babcock next week. It’s rare that half of the division changed coaches in the same offseason. Especially when three out of the four organizations have incredibly high expectations.
Pacific Division Head Coaches
Anaheim – Joel Quennville: NHL Record (1012-605-156), 3 Stanley Cup Rings
Calgary – Ryan Huska: NHL Record (113-106-29)
Edmonton – Mike Babcock: NHL Record (700-418-164), 1 Stanley Cup Ring
Los Angeles – Peter Laviolette: NHL Record (846-562-161) 1 Stanley Cup Ring
San Jose – Ryan Warsofsky: NHL Record (59-85-20)
Seattle – Lane Lambert: NHL Record (95-83-31)
Vancouver – Manny Maholtra: NHL Record (0-0-0)
Vegas – Ryan Craig: NHL Record (0-0-0)
This upcoming season, the Pacific Division will feature two rookie head coaches. However, the pressure is only on Craig. While there was a shift on the bench, the Golden Knights are still expected to compete for the division and make another deep playoff run. Hopefully, even further than this past postseason.
This is a unique situation in the sense that I am a first-time head coach, but I do know a lot of people in the room. I’ve won with guys in the room. That didn’t mean because I was an assistant coach, there weren’t tough conversations had, there wasn’t accountability held by myself with those guys, and the standards. So, I am in a different chair now, but I do know that those guys in the room there is a level of respect that we need to believe between all of us. And there is also a shared goal in the sense of trying to win a Stanley Cup. – Ryan Craig, VGK head coach
Already, the oddsmakers are expecting another strong season despite having an inexperienced NHL head coach. Currently on the William Hill sports app, Vegas is a small favorite to clinch the top seed in the Pacific. William Hill calculated the Golden Knights in the top four to win the 2027 Stanley Cup, and second to go back-to-back as Western Conference champions. Without even coaching his first game, the pressure is on Craig to continue VGK’s postseason success like the four coaches that preceded him.
The Golden Knights are in. With two games left in the regular season, that’s about all we know. VGK currently control their own destiny to win the Pacific Division, but there are scenarios in which they can finish 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in the division, and could slot in as the 1st or 2nd wild card.
These possibilities have created pathways to five different first round matchups. The following is a ranking of the matchups from best to worst for the Golden Knights.
Not only are the Kings the easiest and best matchup for the Golden Knights, they are by far the easiest and best matchup for the Golden Knights. Pretty much every issue Vegas has gone through this season, the Kings have experienced the same, if not worse. They struggle to score, they have puck management and matchup issues defensively, their goaltending has been suspect at times, and quite simply, they don’t win very often.
VGK handled the Kings well in the regular season matchups, but both teams are in much different places now than they were when those games were played (especially the one right out of the break when VGK were missing five Olympians). LA has added Artemi Panarin, which certainly makes them more dangerous, but the loss of Kevin Fiala at the Olympics is costly.
The Golden Knights should take a series from the Kings fairly easily. It’s hard to find places in which Los Angeles would hold advantages over Vegas. Maybe goaltending… and even that’s questionable.
Every game from here on out will have a huge impact on who the Golden Knights will face in the postseason. With hopes of passing Edmonton for the Pacific Division crown, tonight’s game in Denver has a lot of meaning for Vegas. On the flip side, this matchup quite literally has zero significance for the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche have locked in the NHL’s best record, and most players have reached their career highs, so despite what it looks like on paper, it should be a favorable matchup for the Golden Knights.
On Friday, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar loosely mentioned giving his horses some rest. It’s possible Vegas could face a thinned-out Colorado lineup tonight.
We’re going to have a bunch of meetings. I’ll talk to a lot of the guys, get their feelings on who needs rest. -Jared Bednar, COL coach
As for Vegas, they couldn’t care less about who is on the ice for their opponent. They simply need a win to clinch a postseason berth, and they’d like to do it sooner rather than later.
Going into today, the Golden Knights have a minute 2.2% chance of missing the playoffs, so even if they fail to defeat the Avalanche, they can kick the can down the road and clinch on Monday at home (and/or get some help along the way). As of this morning, Colorado hasn’t announced any missing players, aside from the injuries to Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri that will keep each out of tonight’s game.
For example, superstar Nathan MacKinnon has participated in 77 games this season. He has already exceeded his career high (52) in goals and hasn’t played 82 games in a season since 2024. It wouldn’t be a shock if MacKinnon is kept out of the lineup, and the same goes for Martin Necas
Depth is everything. You lose one guy it gets incrementally harder to win. That’s why health is such a big thing for the playoffs. -Bednar, COL coach
The bottom line is the Golden Knights might get a break tonight if Bednar decides to rest some of his stars. While VGK coach John Tortorella will expect his leaders to take advantage of a potentially weaker #1 overall seed. VGK’s bench boss will undoubtedly dress his stars, his dependable depth players, and his newly presumed number one goaltender.
With the potential of an imbalance between the two lineups, the table is set quite nicely for the Golden Knights to wrap up their latest trip to the postseason tonight on national TV (ABC).
Recap: The Golden Knights were looking to go 3-0-0 under new coach John Tortorella with a victory in Edmonton. Vegas struck first 11:43 into the opening 20 minutes. Brett Howden cleaned up a rebound and scored his 11th goal of the season. The visiting Golden Knights took a 1-0 lead into the first break.
Vegas received goals from depth players Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon, stretching their lead to 3-0. Edmonton cut VGK’s lead to two goals moments before the middle intermission.
Captain Mark Stone picked up the “spirit” by scoring his 24th goal of the season. Rasmus Andersson sealed the game with a late power play goal and delivered another epic stare.
The Golden Knights record improves to 35-26-16, defeating the Oilers 5-1 in Edmonton. Next, Vegas will face the Canucks in Vancouver on Tuesday night. Puck drop against the Canucks is scheduled for 7 PM. (Recap by Jason)
Analysis: A red-hot but wounded Oilers team was there for the taking tonight and the Golden Knights did just that. They killed off a couple penalties in the 1st period and took advantage of a heroic moment from Jack Eichel to open the scoring. Then, Lauzon and Sissons added goals to Howden’s and from there it was pretty much smooth sailing. Depth scoring, strong penalty kill, above-average goaltending, and VGK have a third straight win. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
Let’s try this again… last time we wrote this the coach got fired… Sunday off day for SinBin.
Recap: The Golden Knights were trying to begin their homestand with a win over the incoming Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton struck first on an early game power play and took a 1-0 edge into the opening intermission.
Vegas captain Mark Stone evened the score four minutes into the middle frame. Oilers’ captain Connor McDavid regained his team’s lead a few shifts later. Stone again tied the game with his 23rd tally of the season. However, Edmonton snapped the tie and took their third lead of the game. After 40, the visitors held a 3-2 advantage.
Minutes into the final frame, Ivan Barbashev scored his 21st goal of the season to tie the game 3-3. Eventually the Oilers won the game in overtime.
The Golden Knights record drops to 32-26-15 falling to the Oilers 4-3 in OT. Next, Vegas will welcome the Washington Capitals for a matchup on Saturday night. Puck drop against the Capitals is scheduled for 730PM PT.(Recap by Jason)
Analysis: An extremely intense game between a pair of teams that have had all sorts of troubles avoiding giving up dangerous chances. Both teams had excellent looks, and oddly enough, each team converted a big one moments after the other team missed one. After 60, both teams we happy with their single point. VGK squandered a power play in OT and paid for it moments later. 15th loser point of the season. (Analysis by Ken)
Upcoming stories from the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena.
