Vegas Golden Knights facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vegas Golden Knights |
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| Conference | Western |
| Division | Pacific |
| Founded | 2017 |
| History | Vegas Golden Knights 2017–present |
| Home arena | T-Mobile Arena |
| City | Paradise, Nevada |
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| Colors | Steel grey, gold, red, black |
| Media | KMCC (TV) KKGK (Fox Sports 1340/98.9) (English radio) KENO (Deportes Vegas 1460) (Spanish radio) |
| Owner(s) | Black Knight Sports and Entertainment (Bill Foley) (majority) Adrienne Maloof (minority) |
| General manager | Kelly McCrimmon |
| Head coach | Bruce Cassidy |
| Captain | Mark Stone |
| Minor league affiliates | Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Tahoe Knight Monsters (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 1 (2022–23) |
| Conference championships | 2 (2017–18, 2022–23) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 3 (2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23) |
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in the Las Vegas area in Nevada. The team plays in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.
The Golden Knights started in 2017 as a new team, called an expansion team. They were the first major sports team to play in Las Vegas. The main owner is Bill Foley, through his company Black Knight Sports and Entertainment. Adrienne Maloof also owns a small part of the team. The Golden Knights play their home games at T-Mobile Arena. This arena is located on the famous Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
The Golden Knights quickly became very successful. They made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first four seasons. In their very first season, they even reached the Stanley Cup Finals. They won 13 playoff games that year, which was a record for a new team. In 2023, the team returned to the Stanley Cup Finals. They won their first Stanley Cup championship by beating the Florida Panthers in five games.
Contents
Team History
How the Team Started
Las Vegas has been connected to the NHL since 1991. That year, the city hosted the first outdoor NHL game. It was a practice game between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers. The Kings then started playing annual practice games in Las Vegas. The NHL also held its awards ceremonies in Las Vegas every year since 2009.
Talk about a Las Vegas team grew in 2014. A new indoor arena, T-Mobile Arena, was being built. It was rumored to be the team's home. In November 2014, reports said that businessman Bill Foley and the Maloof family would lead the team's ownership. The Maloof family used to own the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings.
In December 2014, the NHL allowed Foley to start a season ticket drive. This was to see if people in Las Vegas wanted a team. The drive started in February 2015. People put down deposits for tickets for the 2016–17 season. They got 5,000 deposits in just a day and a half. By April 2015, they reached their goal of 10,000 deposits.
In June 2015, the NHL officially allowed people to bid for new teams. Foley had over 13,200 season ticket deposits. Two bids were submitted: one for Las Vegas and one for Quebec City. Both cities moved through the different stages of the bidding process.
On June 22, 2016, the Las Vegas team was approved by a unanimous vote. The team would start playing in the 2017–18 NHL season. It became the first major professional sports team in Las Vegas. It was also the first NHL expansion team since 2000. Foley paid a $500 million fee to the league. He then started hiring staff and deciding on the team's name. Foley announced that George McPhee would be the team's first general manager. On November 22, 2016, the team's name was revealed as the Vegas Golden Knights.
First Season: 2017–2018
On March 1, 2017, the team finished paying its expansion fees. This meant they could officially start operations. Five days later, they signed their first player, Reid Duke.
The team announced Gerard Gallant as their first head coach on April 13, 2017. Over the next two months, they set up their minor league teams. They partnered with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and the Quad City Mallards (ECHL).
The Golden Knights picked players in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017. They chose one player from each of the 30 NHL teams. Key players picked included goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and winger James Neal. At the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Cody Glass was their first player chosen. The Golden Knights played their first game on October 6 against the Dallas Stars. Neal scored the team's first two goals, leading to their first win.
The team's first home game was on October 10, 2017. They hosted the Arizona Coyotes at T-Mobile Arena. Before the game, there was a ceremony to honor the victims of the October 1 mass shooting. The team also asked for donations to their charity. The Golden Knights won 5–2, making their unbeaten start 3–0. This was an NHL record for a new team. They were the first NHL team to win eight of their first nine games. In their tenth game, goalie Oscar Dansk got injured. This meant the team had lost three goalies to injury. They had to use a fourth goalie, Maxime Lagace, in just 11 games.
In December, the Golden Knights set another record for an expansion team: six straight wins. On February 1, 2018, they set a record for most wins by a new team in its first season, with 34 wins in 50 games. On February 21, 2018, they set a record for most points by a new team, with 84 points. On March 26, they made it to the playoffs. They were the first new team to make the playoffs in their first season since 1979–80. On March 31, they won the Pacific Division title. This made them the first new team in major sports to win their division in their first season. Many people called Vegas' first season the most successful for any new team in North America. The players picked in the expansion draft, called the "Golden Misfits," played very well.
On April 11, the team won its first playoff game. It was a 1–0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Six days later, on April 17, they won their first playoff series against the Kings. They won the fourth game 1–0, completing a series sweep. The Golden Knights were the first team in NHL history to sweep their first playoff series in their first season. On May 6, 2018, Vegas beat the San Jose Sharks four games to two. They became the third team in NHL history to win multiple playoff series in their first season. They moved on to the Western Conference finals. On May 20, Vegas beat the Winnipeg Jets to win the Western Conference finals. They became the third NHL team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their first season. The Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Washington Capitals in five games. Despite the loss, they won 13 playoff games that year. This broke the record for most wins by a new team in their first playoffs.
Winning the Stanley Cup: 2018–Present
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Before the 2018–19 season, the Golden Knights added winger Max Pacioretty and signed center Paul Stastny. They also got future captain Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators. Even though they had fewer points than the season before, the Golden Knights made the playoffs again. They lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. This was their first time being eliminated in the first round. Game seven was very memorable. The Sharks scored four goals after a controversial penalty against Vegas.
In May 2019, George McPhee became president of hockey operations. Kelly McCrimmon was promoted to general manager. The team made many changes to its roster. They traded away some original Golden Knights players. They also acquired center Chandler Stephenson. On January 15, 2020, the team fired head coach Gallant. They replaced him with Peter DeBoer.
The NHL season was stopped in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Vegas had the third-best record in the Western Conference. They qualified for the playoffs. They won their round-robin games and became the top seed. They beat the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks. However, their playoff run ended in the Western Conference Finals. They lost to the Dallas Stars in five games.
Before the 2020–21 season, Mark Stone was named the first captain in team history. The team also signed defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. The Golden Knights finished second in their division. In the playoffs, they beat the Minnesota Wild in seven games. They then defeated the Colorado Avalanche in six games. However, they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie. He and Robin Lehner also won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals.
In the 2021 off-season, Fleury was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. This was due to salary cap limits. Vegas also acquired star center Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2021–22 season, the team had many injuries. They missed the playoffs for the first time in team history.
2022–23: Stanley Cup Champions
In the 2022 off-season, Vegas fired head coach DeBoer. They hired Bruce Cassidy a month later.
Starting goalie Robin Lehner was out for the season due to surgery. Backup Laurent Brossoit was also injured. The team relied on rookie Logan Thompson as their starter. They also got Adin Hill from the San Jose Sharks as a backup.
The Golden Knights started the 2022–23 season very strong. They led the Pacific Division. They had a great record of 17–6–1 by the end of November. The team slowed down in December and January. However, they recovered after the All-Star break. Despite more goalie injuries, they finished the season strong. They acquired forwards Ivan Barbashev and Teddy Blueger for scoring depth. They also got veteran goalie Jonathan Quick. On March 30, 2023, they made the playoffs. They won the Pacific Division championship and the top seed in the Western Conference.
In the playoffs, the Golden Knights faced the Winnipeg Jets. After losing game 1, they won four straight games to win the series. In the second round, they beat the Edmonton Oilers in six games. They then faced the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. Vegas won the series in six games, getting their second Western Conference championship. The Golden Knights then played the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Finals. Vegas won the Finals in five games, including a big 9–3 win in game 5. They won their first Stanley Cup championship! This was also Las Vegas' first championship in any of the "big 4" North American sports. Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. The team's owner, Bill Foley, had predicted they would make the playoffs in three years and win the Cup in six. The 2022–23 season was their sixth, so his prediction came true! The Knights became the youngest team to win the Stanley Cup since 1967.
The Golden Knights kept most of their Cup-winning team for the 2023–24 season. They started the season very well, with no regulation losses in October. Their seven-game winning streak at the start of the season set a record for a defending champion.
However, the team struggled with injuries later in the season. In January, the Golden Knights played in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic. They lost 3–0 to Seattle. The Maloof family sold most of their shares to Bill Foley. The team also celebrated Alex Pietrangelo's 1,000th NHL game. To help the team, the Golden Knights acquired Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha. They made the playoffs again. As a wild card team, they faced the Dallas Stars. They lost the series in seven games, ending their title defense in the first round.
Team Look and Name
Logos, Colors, and Uniforms
The team's main logo is a barbute helmet. It's on a black and gold shield. The helmet has a V-shaped opening. The second logo shows two crossed swords behind a red star. This star looks like the one on the famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.
The team's main color is steel gray. This color stands for "strength and durability." Other team colors are gold, red (like the Las Vegas skyline), and black (for "power and intensity").
The Golden Knights' first uniforms were shown on June 20, 2017. Their home uniforms are steel gray with black, gold, and red stripes. The away uniforms are white with steel gray, gold, and red stripes. The alternate swords logo is on the shoulders. In October 2020, they added a gold alternate uniform. In February 2021, they started using shiny gold helmets. For the 2022–23 season, the gold uniforms became their main ones, and the gray ones became the alternate.
The Golden Knights also have special "Reverse Retro" uniforms. Since they are a new team, their retro design was inspired by Manon Rhéaume. She was the first female NHL player. She played for the Las Vegas Thunder, a team that no longer exists. This uniform is red and has the "crossing swords" logo. Their second "Reverse Retro" uniform was black with a diagonal "VEGAS" wordmark. This design was inspired by old Las Vegas hotels. It even glows in the dark!
For the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, the Golden Knights wore special white uniforms. They had gold stripes, gray pants, and helmets. The logo was a gray "V" with gold trim.
Team Name Origin
The team's name includes "Knights" to honor the Army Black Knights from the United States Military Academy. Bill Foley, the owner, went to that school. He said knights are "the best warriors." Foley wanted to name his team the Black Knights, but federal officials did not agree. He also couldn't use "Vegas Knights" because another team, the London Knights, owned that name in Canada.
"Golden" was added because gold is a very valuable metal. Also, Nevada is the biggest gold-producing state in the country. "Las" was left out of the name because people in the area often just say "Vegas." Also, a four-word name would have been too long.
The United States Army first disagreed with the team's name. Their parachute team uses the same nickname. But they later agreed after working out a deal. Another college also uses the name Golden Knights. The Vegas team's first trademark application was denied, but it was approved later.
Team Mascot
The Golden Knights' mascot is a Gila monster named Chance. He was first shown at the team's second home game on October 13, 2017. The team chose not to use a knight as a mascot. They felt that knight mascots used by other teams were not very kid-friendly. However, the team's pre-game show often features a skating knight.
Team Information
Broadcasting Games
Television
The Golden Knights' TV market includes Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. In May 2023, the Golden Knights made a deal with the E.W. Scripps Company. Their station KMCC in Laughlin, Nevada, became the main TV station for the team. The Golden Knights also launched an online streaming service called KnightTime+. It costs $69.99 for a season or $6.99 per game.
Outside of Las Vegas, other Scripps stations also show the games. These include stations in Reno, Boise, Twin Falls, and Phoenix. Before 2023, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain showed most Golden Knights games. The games are called by Dave Goucher (play-by-play) and Shane Hnidy (color commentator).
Radio
The team has a radio deal with Lotus Broadcasting. Their games are broadcast on KKGK 1340/98.9. This station is part of a network of nine stations. These stations are in Nevada, California, Arizona, and Utah.
One game a week is also aired on KENO 1460. This is a Spanish-language sports radio station. This makes the Golden Knights one of only three NHL teams to offer Spanish broadcasts.
Minor League Teams
On May 16, 2017, the Golden Knights partnered with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. This allows players to move between the two teams. The Golden Knights were also affiliated with the Quad City Mallards (ECHL) for one season.
On February 6, 2020, the Golden Knights bought the San Antonio Rampage team. It was moved to the Henderson/Las Vegas area. On May 28, the team was renamed the Henderson Silver Knights. Their logo is a silver Destrier (a type of horse) with gold eyes. The Silver Knights started playing in the 2020–21 season.
On July 16, 2024, the Golden Knights announced a new partnership with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL. This means both of the team's minor league affiliates are now in Nevada.
Season Records
This table shows the Golden Knights' results for their last five seasons. GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 71 | 39 | 24 | 8 | 86 | 227 | 211 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in conference finals, 1–4 (Stars) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 82 | 191 | 124 | 2nd, West | Lost in Stanley Cup semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 43 | 31 | 8 | 94 | 266 | 248 | 4th, Pacific | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 51 | 22 | 9 | 111 | 272 | 229 | 1st, Pacific | Stanley Cup champions, 4–1 (Panthers) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 98 | 267 | 245 | 4th, Pacific | Lost in first round, 3–4 (Stars) |
Players and Staff
Team Captains
- Mark Stone, 2021–present
Head Coaches
- Gerard Gallant, 2017–2020
- Peter DeBoer, 2020–2022
- Bruce Cassidy, 2022–present
General Managers
- George McPhee, 2016–2019
- Kelly McCrimmon, 2019–present
Other Key Staff
- George McPhee, 2016–present, President of Hockey Operations
- Vaughn Karpan, 2016–present, Director of Player Personnel
- Bob Lowes, 2016–present, Assistant Director of Player Personnel
Team Awards and Honors
Awards and Trophies
- 2022–23
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western Conference Champions)
- 2017–18
- 2022–23
Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)
- Jonathan Marchessault: 2023
Jack Adams Award (Best Coach)
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportsmanship)
- William Karlsson: 2017–18
Mark Messier Leadership Award
- Deryk Engelland: 2017–18
NHL General Manager of the Year Award
- George McPhee: 2017–18
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)
- Marc-Andre Fleury: 2020–21
William M. Jennings Trophy (Fewest Goals Allowed)
- Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner: 2020–21
- Marc-Andre Fleury: 2020–21
First-Round Draft Picks
- 2017: Cody Glass (6th overall), Nick Suzuki (13th overall), Erik Brannstrom (15th overall)
- 2019: Peyton Krebs (17th overall)
- 2020: Brendan Brisson (29th overall)
- 2021: Zach Dean (30th overall)
- 2023: David Edstrom (32nd overall)
- 2024: Trevor Connelly (19th overall)
Retired Numbers
The number 58 was retired on March 31, 2018. This was to honor the 58 victims of the October 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
The team also cannot use jersey number 99. This number was retired league-wide for Wayne Gretzky in 2000.
Team Statistics and Records
Top Scorers in Team History
These are the top ten players with the most points in the team's history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
- * – current Golden Knights player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Individual Player Records
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See also
In Spanish: Vegas Golden Knights para niños
- City National Arena
- Henderson Silver Knights
- Las Vegas Thunder
- Las Vegas Wranglers
- Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Sports in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
