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Tag: NHL Network

Newest Golden Knight Named Top 5 Winger

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On August 7, 2025

In Team Ops

The Vegas Golden Knights arguably made the biggest offseason splash this summer by acquiring star forward Mitch Marner. The former Toronto Maple Leaf completed his first 100-point NHL season in 2024-25 and is expected to bring that high offensive production to Las Vegas for the next eight years. Possibly paired up with VGK superstar Jack Eichel, the duo has fans across the league anticipating greatness. So are the analysts at the NHL Network.

Yesterday, the league’s outlook released its list of the Top 20 wingers going into the 2025-26 campaign. The top five included the Golden Knights’ newest impact player.

(Credit: NHL Network)

Heading into his first season with the Golden Knights, the 28-year-old jumped up five spots from last summer’s Top 20 wingers list. After an 85-point season in 2023-24, Marner was ranked 10th by the NHL Network. This year, the league ranked him in the top five, trailing only Nikita Kucherov, David Pastrnak, Kirill Kaprizov, and Mikko Rantanen. Three recorded 100-point seasons, while another averaged 1.43 points per game. Bottom line, Marner is in a class of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers.

Only Kucherov and Pastrnak registered more points than Marner last season. Both Kaprizov and Rantanen had fabulous seasons but were impacted by injuries and packing up U-Haul trucks. Hate to be that guy, but Eichel undeservedly received two first-place Hart trophy votes. Some would argue Marner’s 2024-25 campaign was better and should have ended with more overall votes. Either way, if it all works as the Golden Knights have planned out this upcoming season, both will be in the discussion.

(Credit: NHL.com)

Later this month, the NHL Network will release its list of the Top 20 centers entering the 2025-26 season. We can expect Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, and Auston Matthews to lead the list, but can Eichel round out the Top 5? Or will Aleksander Barkov, Sidney Crosby, or Brayden Point nudge him out like last offseason? In 2024, VGK’s superstar was ranked as the 8th best center in the NHL, it’s possible he’s elevated a few spots this time around.

Afterall, the Golden Knights are one of William Hill Sportsbook’s favorites to win the 2026 Stanley Cup trophy. And why not with Eichel and Marner both in their prime?

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Expectations Keep Rising For 25-26 Golden Knights

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On July 29, 2025

In Team Ops

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

The Golden Knights are coming off another Pacific Division crown, their fourth in eight seasons, and won their 12th playoff series in 18 tries. After making yet another big-time splash by bringing in Mitch Marner, Vegas will be in the spotlight once again to open the 2025-26 season.

The first round of predictions is starting to come along as media outlets search for content during hockey’s dead season, and with them VGK’s expectations continue to rise.

NHL Network recently asked two of its former player analysts to predict the standings in the Pacific Division. Both Mike Rupp and Stu Grimson not only listed the Golden Knights to win the division, but they spent almost no time on it, basically writing it off as a foregone conclusion.

Click the picture to watch the whole segment.

And they aren’t the only ones. The Athletic polled its entire NHL staff, and the Golden Knights ruled the West. Of the 23 writers that voted, eight selected Vegas to win the Stanley Cup, tied for the most with Florida. No other team received more than three votes (Dallas) and only Colorado, Edmonton, and Winnipeg got a vote from the Western Conference. VGK were the most picked team to win the West and they received multiple votes to win the Presidents’ Trophy.

Finally, I was just scrolling through the forums on HFBoards and ran across a thread asking for the Top 5 and Bottom 5 teams in the league this season. I looked through three pages of comments and could not find a single person who left Vegas out of the Top 5. Plus, most people had VGK either in the top spot or at worst in the top three. Remember, these are NHL fans, not necessarily Golden Knights fans, and they all think VGK are among the best teams in the league.

Simply put, expectations on this year’s Golden Knights team could not be higher. A playoff berth is essentially considered a formality; failing to win the Pacific would be a letdown, and anything short of the Cup would quite frankly be a failure.

Historically, VGK have enjoyed the role as the underdogs (we’ve even picked on Mark Stone about it), but this year, they’ll reassume the role of the hunted.

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Whitecloud: “We’ve Been Waiting, We’ve Been Itching To Get Back”

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On October 11, 2024

In Team Ops

(Credit: NHL Network)

Tonight, the undefeated Golden Knights will host Western Conference opponent St. Louis Blues for their second game on the 2024-25 schedule. Vegas’ offense exploded on Wednesday night, including eight points from their defense. Defenseman Zach Whitecloud joined the scoring parade and recorded his first goal of the season in the season opener. Last season the D-man has to wait until mid-December to open his goal-scoring account. Yesterday, the 2023 Stanley Cup champion joined the NHL Network to discuss the lopsided victory over the Avalanche and the season in general.

For 41 games we want to put on a good show for our fans. They come out strong every single night and support us. Being able to put on a good show like that for them is exciting for us. You don’t want to get into a track meet with Colorado too often, but we have a lot of depth that can score and help contribute. It was good to come home with that one. -Zach Whitecloud

Now one of the veteran players on the club, Whitecloud has seen his teammates strengths in practice translate to success on the ice. The d-man is one of three defensemen to dress for Vegas since the 2017-18 campaign.

Now, he’s an established leader and a voice in the locker room. However, he credits his skilled teammates for pushing him hard in practice. Especially, two of Vegas’ top forwards.

We’ve got quite a few weapons up front. Lines one through four each do things that complement each other. The first guy that comes to mind is Eichel. His speed and deception, the way he creates and uses his speed to open up space. Getting to go against him every day in practice, you can see why a lot of D back off and maintain their gap and give themselves extra room going against him. Guys like Barbashev don’t get enough credit for how much offense and the ability he has to create opportunities for the guys on his line. On two-on-ones, I think with Barbie is 30 of 32 on me this year already. He’s been tearing me apart. -Whitecloud

The 27-year-old expects the Golden Knights to be a deep playoff threat this season. Last season’s first-round exit to the Dallas Stars stung Vegas and motivated them to come out with a different outcome in the 2025 postseason. One way to reach that goal is taking care of business at home. Whitecloud admits the players set out to mirror the energy from the fans at T-Mobile Arena.

We always look forward to playing at home and especially in front of the fan base. I have loved my time here since day one. I felt a part of the community the day I got here and it’s just a fun place to play for numerous reasons. More importantly, the team tries to win every single year and that’s the kind of team I like to play for. -Whitecloud

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NHL Network Sweet On Two VGK Forwards

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On February 15, 2024

In Personnel

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

On Wednesday, the NHL Network affectionally announced their appreciation for under-the-radar players across the league. While they’re well-loved in Las Vegas, the league’s television outlet highlighted two beloved Golden Knights forwards on Valentine’s Day.

Likely a favorite Valentine for most Golden Knights fans, Jonathan Marchessault is proving yet again how valuable he is to his team. The 2023 Conn Smythe winner leads Vegas in goals, offensive point shares, and total point shares and is third in shooting percentage. Through 53 games, Marchessault continues to be the Golden Knights’ most lethal shot and has found success on multiple juggled lines. At the age of 33, the unrestricted free agent is on pace for a career-high in goals, even strength goals, and points. His numbers indicate a bump in pay contract extension should be in the works.

Former NHL’er Dave Reid gushed on Wednesday over Marchessault’s team-leading statistics and his infectious emotions on and off the ice. There’s no doubt, the television analyst is an admirer of Mark Stone and his passion as well. Between the two, Vegas has no shortage of motivators in their lineup. It’s no surprise both are on pace for career years.

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Expansion Draft Not A Made For TV Event, No Matter How Badly You Want It To Be

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On June 25, 2016

In Personnel

For some reason almost every time media types, fans, and the like mention the Expansion Draft they tend to follow their statement up with a complaint that it’s not being aired live on television. Well, it’s time for me to explain why it’s not happening so you don’t make the same mistake.

First of all, the timeline allows for Las Vegas to submit their selections over a three day period. On June 17th, 2017 all 30 current teams must submit their list of either 9 or 11 (1G, 3D, 7F or 1G and 8 skaters) players they will protect from the Expansion Draft. At that point, Las Vegas has 72 hours to comb over the names and pick one player from each of the existing franchises. In other words, the process isn’t going to happen in a nice 120 minute span with four 3 minute long commercial breaks per hour.

Next, Las Vegas is entering the league alone. Therefore, they are not selecting players against another team like previous expansion drafts in 1992, 1993, and 2000. Vegas is competing with the clock, not another expansion franchise.

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