(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)
Last month, TSN did a series on who the face of each NHL franchise is. Many are simple; Connor McDavid in Edmonton, Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, and Alex Ovechkin in Washington are just a few obvious faces. However some are difficult to label one definitive face of the franchise, including the Golden Knights.
Many Vegas fans might disagree with whom TSN landed on, but it wasn’t really close. Altogether, four current or former Golden Knights received votes.
TSN’s Face Of VGK’s Franchise Nominees
- Jack Eichel
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Jonathan Marchessault
- Mark Stone
In my opinion, those four players are the correct choices to choose from over the first 676 games in team history. Some fans may have a problem with two of the nominated players no longer being with the team. Heck, one has even retired from the league. Nevertheless, both Fleury and Marchessault have made strong cases of their own. One is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, and the other owns one of the most important awards in all sports.
Thankfully, there’s no controversy among TSN voters, as neither former Golden Knight won the tag of being the face of the franchise.
(Credit: TSN)
Choosing the organization’s first-ever captain makes perfect sense. Over his eight seasons with Vegas, Mark Stone has compiled 383 points in 381 games. More importantly, he led the Golden Knights to a 2023 Stanley Cup. Typically, captains of a Stanley Cup champion become the face of the franchise by default.
Now, while TSN selected Stone as their face of the franchise, the fans thought otherwise. When TSN took the pulse of the general public, the results came out differently.
(Credit: TSN)
Personally, I’m torn. There’s a case to be made for each player, but I took a stand. I asked myself a few questions. Out of the four, who would I want to go to the rink and watch play the most? Which Golden Knight could take over a period, a game, or a series? Lastly, which VGK player will reach the Hall of Fame? It may be a simple method, but I came up with my choice for the face of the Golden Knights franchise.
It’s this guy.
(Credit: USA Hockey)
Which current or former Golden Knight do you believe is the face of the franchise?
https://twitter.com/SinBinVegas/status/2028537311911415948
knights fan in minny
Nobody right now the way they’re playing
NAM
Face is hard to choose. The ASS of the franchise is definitely McCrimmon.
Chris
Best player in franchise history is Eichel. If VGK had gotten prime years and more years from MAF perhaps he would have fit that category. But the question was face of the franchise which is indubitably Mark Stone. Captain. Been here longer than Eichel. Embodies both the joie de vivre of the franchise for VGK fans and the nemesis arrows which come from opposing fanbases believing he is the root of all LTIR evil. And Stone taking that heat as the face allows Eichel to escape that pressure and just be the best player on the team.
DruBlu
I absolutely can see where Stoney would be a clear choice. Longevity, leadership, spirit and passion, etc.
But I’m with Jason. For me, Jack edges him out just barely. Also, we’ve locked him up for another long stretch, so it’ll be up to him to continue carrying the team forward.
I’m curious, Ken, if youre “listening”, what your choice would be for the face of the franchise, and why.
DruBlu
Truthfully, I keep going back and forth. Can we pick two? ;)
NAM
You’re saying the franchise is two faced? :)
TS
Chuckles!!
Emmanuel
Brett Howden
Emmanuel
Seriously though……
Its not even close:
Jonathan Marchessault
Eichel could pass him in time.
Per game Stone is close but of course hes always ouchie.
I have too much disdain for G to even consider MAF
Emmanuel
Chicago Blackhawks trade Connor Murphy to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2028 2nd-round pick.
Oil uggghhhhhh……
FO better get crack@Lackin!
TS
Just how do you get crack@lackin?? Lol
DruBlu
On a street corner? ;)
TS
Chuckes!
TS
Chuckles! Oops.
Achilles
The face of the franchise for me is Wild Bill. Always will be. Fleury would be my vote from the 4 listed.
DruBlu
Love me some Wild Bill! Always has been one of my faves. My gold home VGK sweater is #71. Dark gray alternate is #9, Eichel being my favorite hockey player and all.
hdbiker7851
Pretty interesting picks and posts – given there play lately none qualify particularly the million-dollar wonders – wondering when they intend to show-up and earn their pay. Tuesday evening against Buffalo should be interesting – with Buffalo new GM at the reins. The Creator might want to take notice if he already hasn’t.
Vic
Hard to choose between Vadim Shipachyov and Cody Glass.
Emmanuel
Throw Eric Brannstrom in that mix.
Larry
A look at the standings indicates what good shape VGK is in and also how precarious it is, only being 3 points ahead of the kraken is both disappointing and frightening.
The possibility exists to play the mammoth in the first round should they finish in first, or to play the avalanche should they be the last wild card.
We are going to know a lot more in the next 7 days , with the 5 games that are scheduled….sabres red wings on a B2B…wild $&)(@ oilers and a trip to the stars.
They had better realize their season can very well hinge on these stretch of games, so wake the eff up and start playing winning hockey!
knights fan in minny
Sounds like Edmonton is sniffing around nic Roy Vegas should get him back