For those who love March Madness or regular season college football, you’re probably aware of well-known statistician Jeff Sagarin. For over 40 years, the Sagarin Ratings have been a staple for tracking NCAA team success.
Sagarin’s ratings are particularly relevant in the world of college football and basketball where, with hundreds of teams in NCAA Division 1 competition, there is no way a team can play against more than a small fraction of its competitors. Therefore, in determining the participants in championship games and tournaments, it is necessary to distinguish between teams that have compiled impressive win–loss records against strong competition and teams that have defeated weaker opponents. –Wikipedia.com
Well, Sagarin decided to branch off with his ratings and cover most mainstream sports, including the one we all love.
Through 57 games, Sagarin rates the Golden Knights as the 9th-best team in the NHL. However, Vegas is ranked 17th based on its recent body of work. One of the reasons for the latest dip is VGK’s 3-10 record against Top 10 teams. Going deeper, Vegas is 7-14 against Top 16 clubs. Nevertheless, Sagarin’s model projects for the Golden Knights to finish in the Top 10 by season’s end.
This week, an updated group of power rankings were released, and in many, the Golden Knights were elevated to the Top 10. Previously, some rankings didn’t know where to place Vegas. Last round, the Golden Knights were placed 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th. The consensus is VGK is a Top 10 club. This week, they’re averaging higher across the board.
(Credit: ESPN)
Sure, Jack Eichel had cooled down over the past month, but he sure seemed back to form on Thursday night in Utah. VGK’s quarter-season MVP recorded his 9th and 10th goals of the season against the 10-8-3 Mammoth squad. It’s possible that momentum will get him back in the Hart conversation. As of today, William Hill has him 3rd overall with +850 odds. The only issue for Eichel is that he’s behind 36-point Nathan MacKinnon and 32-point Connor McDavid (the teenagers in Chicago and San Jose are pretty darn good too).
NHL.com also raised the Golden Knights this week after ranking them 8th in their past grouping.
First, let’s begin with a disclaimer: ESPN’s latest power rankings were released before the Golden Knights tripped up and lost 5-3 in Chicago. As always, we like to check the temperature around the league of how the Golden Knights are being perceived. After going 0-3-0 on their road trip, Vegas is due for a dip when the next round of rankings is released. Still. with one of the NHL’s best records, you can assume Vegas is one of the more respected teams so far this season. Well, they are according to the experts and anyone with a pair of eyes.
ESPN’s Latest Power Rankings
Washington Capitals
Winnipeg Jets
Vegas Golden Knights
Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
Los Angeles Kings
This time around ESPN dropped the Golden Knights first to third overall in their latest power rankings. The Sportsleader simply raised the Washington Capitals and the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the Golden Knights.
All three contenders have point percentages above 66% and goal differential of at least +29. Regarding which team is built for the playoffs, the Golden Knights still have the edge in coaching, deep playoff experience, and talent. Of course, the Jets are blessed with the best goalie in the sport and high-end skaters. However, VGK’s top lines and defensive units have the potential to match up well against any postseason hopeful.
You all know how much we enjoy picking apart leaguewide power rankings during the season but now the routinely inaccurate lists are being released months before opening night. This week, NHL.com, ESPN and Sportsnet all published power rankings following the NHL Draft and July 1st free agency frenzy. Before the playoffs began, ESPN ranked the Vegas Golden Knights as the 15th best team in the NHL. They were close as VGK ended up with the 17th overall pick of the 2024 draft. After losing six players from their 2023-24 lineup, ESPN surprisingly raised Vegas three spots to 12th in the league.
ESPN’s Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars
New York Rangers
Colorado Avalanche
Carolina Hurricanes
Boston Bruins
Nashville Predators
Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs
New Jersey Devils
Vegas Golden Knights
The Sportsleader ranks the Golden Knights out of the top ten but high enough to qualify for the 2025 playoffs. Vegas also cracks the list of six best teams in the Western Conference, and third best in the Pacific Division.
It’s easy to forget because it feels like it was years ago, but the Knights’ first-round matchup against the Stars was one of the best of the entire postseason. There were some significant losses from the on-ice group due to Vegas’ ever-present salary cap crunch, but we’re not convinced they’re done making summer moves, either. -ESPN Staff
NHL.com’s Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
Florida Panthers
Edmonton Oilers
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
Nashville Predators
Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils
Tampa Bay Lightning
Winnipeg Jets
Vegas Golden Knights
The league’s online outlet was a bit more realistic when ranking the 2023 Stanley Cup champions. NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika is quite familiar with how the aggressive Golden Knights front office operates. However, he also observed Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and four other players leave the organization this offseason.
The Golden Knights are used to turnover, but this is tough. They have lost Michael Amadio, William Carrier, Jonathan Marchessault, Alec Martinez, Chandler Stephenson and Logan Thompson, while adding Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov. The loss of Marchessault especially stings, even if the 33-year-old received a five-year contract from the Predators, a term that didn’t make sense to the Golden Knights. He was a “Golden Misfit,” a member of the inaugural team. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs when Vegas won the Cup in 2023, and he led the Golden Knights in goals (42) and points (69) last season. Vegas still has lots of talent, but this is a step backward, which is why I have them at No. 14 in my Super 16.” — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, NHL.com
Sportsnet’s Post-Free Agency Power Rankings
Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars
Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
Boston Bruins
Colorado Avalanche
Vegas Golden Knights
This shouldn’t be a surprise, but Sportsnet has the Edmonton Oilers as the highest ranked team going into the 2024-25 season. The biggest surprise was the Golden Knights listed as the 8th best team and the second-best team in the Pacific Division. Sportsnet seems to downplay the loss of regulars VGK lost this month. They’re expecting Vegas’ remaining star players to stay in the chase for the Pacific Division title.
I know what you’re thinking: the off-season has seen Vegas lose key pieces up front in Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson, so how can the Knights be this high coming off a wild-card showing and first-round exit? Well, they made monster in-season moves that were also a long play in deadline acquisitions Tomas Hertl (who had lots of term left) and Noah Hanifin (who signed a new deal to stay). Vegas is running back Jack Eichel, Hertl and William Karlsson down the middle, with Hanifin joining Shea Theodore (who missed half last year with injury) and Alex Pietrangelo (who missed nearly 20 games, too) in the top four. Alexander Holtz, the 2020 seventh-overall pick, is also an interesting add to the forward crew. This team won’t be fighting for its playoff life again next spring. – Ryan Dixon, Sportsnet
Well, there you have it. Three hockey outlets and three different opinions. Personally, I agree with ESPN. Vegas may not be done refiguring their lineup. Also, the team’s core should be enough to be considered a top four team in the Pacific Division without Marchessault, Stephenson and the others. It just may be a little more challenging.
Last time we checked in on various NHL Power Rankings, the Golden Knights were slightly disrespected by many outlets across the league. Since then, Vegas have been riding a nine-game point streak and have stretched their lead in the Pacific to six points. Well, that woke up the experts.
Only the Los Angeles Kings are averaging a higher position according to the current group of rankings, and the Kings have lost three in a row so they will certainly begin slipping. The Golden Knights are averaging a top two position in most of lists we highlighted. Most importantly, the reigning champions headline MoneyPuck’s postseason scale.
Overall, the Golden Knights were more accurately rated in the latest installments of power rankings compared to last months. NHL.com dropped Vegas two spots from their November’s rankings but they dive into their reasoning. One puzzling observation was NHL.com’s concern that Vegas has lost their juice since their early season Cup winning carryover.
Pro: Jack Eichel has played well all season, but he’s elevated his game even higher in the past couple of weeks. He has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past five games and leads Vegas with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 27 games. Con: The Golden Knights seem to have lost some of their focus and have been in a bit of a post-Cup lull during the past month. Even with a 6-3 win against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, they are 6-5-4 in 15 games following an 11-0-1 start. – Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Injuries are beginning to give the good folks at ESPN a bit of agita. Adin Hill’s lower body injury has kept him out of the lineup since November 30th. Add in a few other wounded players and ESPN forced themselves to keep VGK in the second position.
This week a fresh drop of NHL Power Rankings were released by hockey outlets across the league. While some decided to get cute with their lists, others stuck to the script and properly ranked the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Some had the Golden Knights as the second-best team in the NHL while other sneerers dropped the Cup champs outside of the Top 3.
Even more surprising was the aggregated computer model calculations.
Let’s start with one of the biggest advocates for the Golden Knights repeat run. League partner ESPN wasn’t afraid to hold their ground and continue to consider Vegas as the best club in the West.
Vegas has been almost entirely healthy to start this season — and frankly, that’s a surprise. Has any team dealt with compounding injuries like the Golden Knights’ in seasons past? In the early going this season, Vegas is at basically full strength — and holds a top spot in the standings to prove it. –Kristen Shilton on ESPN.com
You can always rely on NHL.com to rank all 32 franchises with reason. As opposed to some of the skeptic outlets, the league site doesn’t overreact after one week on the schedule.
There might not be a team that has more to be thankful for than the Golden Knights. They are the reigning Stanley Cup champions after fulfilling owner Bill Foley’s bold goal to win their first championship by the end of their sixth season. Following a summer of celebrating, getting their Stanley Cup rings, raising their championship banner and visiting the White House on Monday, it’s clear the Golden Knights are not satisfied. Vegas is tied with the Vancouver Canucks atop the Western Conference with 25 points despite losing three of its past four games. The Golden Knights continue to have one of the deepest teams in the NHL with 19 players who have scored at least one goal, including 10 who have scored at least three, led by William Karlsson (eight), Jack Eichel (seven) and Jonathan Marchessault (seven). And they have one of the best goalie tandems in the League with Adin Hill (8-1-1, 2.07 goals-against average, .928 save percentage, two shutouts) and Logan Thompson (5-2-0, 2.27 GAA, .925 save percentage). –NHL.com
The Hockey News is another consistent network that is rarely alarmed by one skid of mediocre performances. THN commonly has the same state of mind as ESPN and NHL.com.
When you’re at the top, the only way to go is down. The only way the Knights could maintain the No. 1 spot is if they were nearly flawless, but instead, they’ve lost three of their past four, including their first-ever shutout loss to the Caps. –Jason Chen on TheHockeyNews.com
It’s difficult to take any NHL power rankings seriously in early August. However, it didn’t stop Sportsnet from dropping their newest power rankings this week. Surprisingly enough, the current Stanley Cup winners were ranked second behind the 2022 NHL champions.
1. Colorado Avalanche:
The 2022 champs didn’t advance past Round 1 in 2023, but the Avs are poised to make noise again. Colorado knows captain Gabriel Landeskog is going to be on long-term injured all season, so it can stuff his $7-million salary there. Ryan Johansen and Ross Colton give a nice, new look to the centre crew and Jonathan Drouin is a fun bounce-back bet. Unlike last season, the Avs should be rested and hungry when the puck drops in October. –Ryan Dixon on Sportsnet.ca
By no means was Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon taking a swipe at the Golden Knights by anointing the Avalanche as the league’s best team going into next season. Let’s be honest, the past two NHL champs are not far away from each other. Both have an elite center, game-changing wingers, dynamic defensive units, and strong coaching. Would anyone be surprised if Colorado and Vegas faced off in the 2024 Western Conference Finals?
The Golden Knights will try to not stub their toe like the Avalanche did this past postseason by being eliminated in the opening round. Of course, four playoff series, a championship parade, and dozens of “Day with the Cup” parties may create a hangover but VGK’s overall talent should keep them in contention. Sportsnet agreed.
2. Vegas Golden Knights:
Recency bias? Maybe. But the Knights have largely kept the band together and Jack Eichel just had his coming out party in the 2023 playoffs. Mark Stone missed half the season last year and the Knights still managed to win the Pacific Division. This balanced squad is going to be right back challenging for the Cup. –Dixon on Sportsnet.ca
With the exception of Reilly Smith’s departure to Pittsburgh, the core of Vegas’ Stanley Cup roster is fully intact. Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, and Alex Pietrangelo are all returning for a back-to-back attempt in 2024. Coach Bruce Cassidy will need repeat performances from all of his players, especially in net from Adin Hill, who was handsomely paid after his all-world postseason performance.
Expectations are high for Eichel and his linemates to lead the Golden Knights’ offense as they did in the playoffs. Pietrangelo will be relied upon to carry a heavy workload again and Stone will try and stay on the ice for as many regular season games as he can. As long as all of them are dressed for Game 1 of the 2024 NHL playoffs, Vegas will be considered a favorite to repeat, no matter where the out-of-town media has them ranked by April of next year.
For the record, Edmonton was listed third on Sportsnet’s power rankings. Considering how that econd round series played out, Vegas shouldn’t worry about dropping beneath them.
