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 | John Tortorella |
| Captain | Mark Stone |
| Minor league affiliates | Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) Tahoe Knight Monsters (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 1 (2022–23) |
| Conference championships | 3 (2017–18, 2022–23, 2025–26) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 5 (2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26) |
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in the Las Vegas area in Nevada. The Golden Knights play in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team started in 2017 as a new expansion team. They were the first major sports team in Las Vegas.
The team is mostly owned by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment. This group is led by Bill Foley. Adrienne Maloof owns a smaller part of the team. The Golden Knights play their home games at T-Mobile Arena. This arena is located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
The Golden Knights quickly became successful. They reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in eight of their first nine seasons. In their very first season, they made it to the Stanley Cup Final. They won 13 playoff games that year. This was a record for a team in its first playoffs. In 2023, the team won their first championship. They became Stanley Cup champions in their sixth season. This made them the fastest expansion team to win the Stanley Cup in NHL history.
Contents
Team History and Achievements
How the Golden Knights Started
The idea of an NHL team in Las Vegas began many years ago. The city hosted outdoor hockey games as early as 1991. The annual NHL Awards ceremonies have also been held there since 2009.
In 2014, rumors grew about a new team. A new indoor arena, T-Mobile Arena, was being built. Billionaire businessman Bill Foley and the Maloof family were interested in owning a team.
The NHL allowed Foley to see if fans would buy season tickets. This showed how much interest there was. In February 2015, the ticket drive began. It quickly reached its goal of 10,000 deposits by April 2015.
In June 2015, Foley officially applied for a Las Vegas team. The league approved the Las Vegas expansion bid on June 22, 2016. This meant the team would start playing in the 2017–18 NHL season. It was the first major professional sports team for Las Vegas.
Foley paid a $500 million fee to the league. He then began hiring staff for the new team. George McPhee became the team's first general manager. On November 22, the team's name was announced: the Vegas Golden Knights.
First Season Success (2017–2018)
The Golden Knights officially began operations on March 1, 2017. They signed their first player, Reid Duke, five days later. Gerard Gallant was named the team's first head coach on April 13, 2017.
The team 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 included goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and winger James Neal. Their first draft pick was Cody Glass in the 2017 NHL entry draft.
The Golden Knights played their first game on October 6, 2017. They won against the Dallas Stars. James Neal scored the team's first two goals. Their first home game was on October 10, 2017. It was played at T-Mobile Arena.
Before this game, the team honored victims of a tragic event from October 1. They also asked for donations to their charity. The Golden Knights won 5–2. This made them the first expansion team to start a season 3–0. They also set an NHL record by winning eight of their first nine games.
The team continued to break records for an expansion team. They had six straight wins and then eight straight wins. On February 1, 2018, they set a record with 34 wins in their debut season. They also earned 84 points by February 21.
The Golden Knights made the playoffs on March 26. They were the first team since 1980 to do this in their first season. On March 31, they won the Pacific Division title. This was a first for a new team in major sports. Their first season was seen as one of the most successful ever for a new team.
On April 11, the team won its first playoff game. They beat the Los Angeles Kings 1–0. Six days later, they won their first playoff series. They swept the Kings, winning all four games. This was another NHL first for an expansion team.
On May 6, 2018, Vegas defeated the San Jose Sharks. They won the series four games to two. This sent them to the conference finals. On May 20, they beat the Winnipeg Jets. They won the conference finals in five games. This made them only the third NHL team to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their first season.
The Golden Knights played the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final. They lost the series in five games. Despite the loss, they won 13 playoff games. This set a new record for an expansion team's first playoff appearance.
Winning the Stanley Cup (2018–2023)
After their amazing first season, the Golden Knights kept building their team. They added players like Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny in 2018. They also acquired future captain Mark Stone in 2019.
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The team returned to the playoffs in the 2018–19 season. They lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks in seven games. This was their first playoff series loss.
In May 2019, George McPhee became president of hockey operations. Kelly McCrimmon was promoted to general manager. The team made more player changes. They traded some original players and acquired others like Chandler Stephenson.
On January 15, 2020, head coach Gallant was replaced by Peter DeBoer. The team continued to make trades. They acquired Alec Martinez, Nick Cousins, and goaltender Robin Lehner.
The 2019–20 season was stopped early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Golden Knights qualified for the playoffs. They earned the top seed in the Western Conference. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks. However, they lost to the Dallas Stars in the conference finals.
Before the 2020–21 season, Mark Stone was named the team's first captain. The team also signed defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. They finished second in their division. In the playoffs, they beat the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche. But they lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the semifinals. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. He and Lehner also won the William M. Jennings Trophy.
In the 2021 off-season, Fleury was traded. The team also acquired star center Jack Eichel in November 2021. Despite many injuries, the Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time in team history in the 2021–22 season.
2022–2023: Stanley Cup Champions
In the 2022 off-season, Bruce Cassidy became the new head coach. Starting goaltender Robin Lehner was injured for the season. Rookie Logan Thompson became the main goalie. The team also acquired Adin Hill.
The Golden Knights started the 2022–23 season very strong. They led the Pacific Division. They added forwards Ivan Barbashev and Teddy Blueger at the trade deadline. They also acquired veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick. The team clinched a playoff spot on March 30, 2023. They won the Pacific Division championship.
In the playoffs, Vegas faced the Winnipeg Jets. They won the series in five games. Next, they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games. In the conference finals, they beat the Dallas Stars in six games. This sent them to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Golden Knights played the Florida Panthers in the Final. Vegas won the series in five games. They secured their first Stanley Cup championship. This was also Las Vegas' first major sports championship. Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
Owner Bill Foley had predicted the team would win the Cup in six seasons. The 2022–23 season was their sixth, and they did it! They became the youngest team to win the Stanley Cup since 1967.
Recent Seasons (2023–2026)
The Golden Knights kept most of their championship team for the 2023–24 season. They started strong, winning 11 of their first 12 games. This set a record for a defending champion.
However, the team faced many injuries later in the season. They also played in the 2024 NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day. They lost 3–0 to Seattle in that outdoor game. To boost the team, they acquired Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl, and Anthony Mantha at the trade deadline.
The Golden Knights clinched a playoff spot on April 12, 2024. As a wild card team, they faced the Dallas Stars. Despite winning the first two games, they lost the series in seven games. This ended their title defense in the first round.
In the 2024–25 season, the Golden Knights won the Pacific Division title again. They made it to the second round of the playoffs but lost to the Edmonton Oilers.
The 2025–26 season saw the Golden Knights win their division for the third time in a row. They reached the Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. In March 2026, head coach Bruce Cassidy was replaced by John Tortorella.
Team Identity
Logos, Colors, and Uniforms
The team's main logo is a barbute helmet. It is placed on a black and gold shield. The helmet has a V-shape opening. The team's 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 main color of the team is steel gray. This color stands for "strength and durability." Other team colors are gold, red, and black. Red is found in the Las Vegas skyline and at Red Rock Canyon. Black represents "power and intensity."
The first uniforms were shown on June 20, 2017. Home uniforms are steel gray with black, gold, and red stripes. Road uniforms are white with steel gray, gold, and red stripes. The alternate swords logo is on the shoulders.
On October 2, 2020, a gold alternate uniform was introduced. It was a gold version of the road uniform. On February 11, 2021, shiny gold helmets were added. Starting in the 2022–23 season, the gold uniforms became the main ones. The gray uniforms became the alternate.
The Golden Knights also have special "Reverse Retro" uniforms. Since the team is new, their retro designs are unique. One design was inspired by Manon Rhéaume. She was the first female NHL player. She played for the Las Vegas Thunder. This uniform is red with the "crossing swords" logo.
Another "Reverse Retro" uniform was black with a diagonal "VEGAS" wordmark. This design was inspired by old Las Vegas hotels. For the 2024 NHL Winter Classic, the team wore vintage white uniforms. They had gold stripes, gray pants, and helmets. The crest was a stylized gray "V".
Team Name Meaning
The team's name includes "Knights" to honor the Army Black Knights. This is the team from United States Military Academy, where owner Bill Foley went to school. Knights are also seen as strong warriors. Foley wanted to name the team "Black Knights" but faced some issues. He also couldn't use "Vegas Knights" because another team owned that name in Canada.
The word "Golden" was added because gold is a valuable metal. Nevada is also the largest gold-producing state in the country. "Las" was left out of the name. This is because people often call the city simply "Vegas." Also, a four-word name would have been too long.
The United States Army initially had concerns about the name. Their parachute team uses a similar nickname. However, they later agreed to share the name. The team also worked with Clarkson University, which also uses the name Golden Knights.
Team Mascot
The Golden Knights' mascot is a Gila monster named Chance. He was introduced at the team's second home game on October 13, 2017. The team chose a Gila monster instead of a knight. They felt knight mascots used by other teams were not very kid-friendly. However, a skating knight often appears in the team's pre-game show.
Team Information
Broadcasting Games
The Golden Knights' games are shown on TV and heard on the radio. Their TV market includes Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona. KMCC is the main TV station for the Golden Knights. Some games may also air on KTNV-TV. The team also has an online streaming service called KnightTime+.
Outside of Las Vegas, other stations also show Golden Knights games. These include KNSN-TV in Reno and stations in Boise and Phoenix.
For radio, the team has a deal with Lotus Broadcasting. Games are broadcast on KKGK 1340/94.7. This station is part of a network across several states. Dan D'uva does the play-by-play, and Gary Lawless provides analysis.
One game each week is also broadcast on KENO 1460. This is a Spanish-language sports radio station. This makes the Golden Knights one of only three NHL teams with Spanish broadcasts.
Minor League Teams
The Golden Knights have minor league teams where younger players develop. On May 16, 2017, they partnered with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL).
On February 6, 2020, the Golden Knights bought the San Antonio Rampage AHL team. This team moved to the Las Vegas area. On May 28, it was renamed the Henderson Silver Knights. This team's logo and style are similar to the Golden Knights. The Silver Knights began playing in the 2020–21 season.
On July 16, 2024, the Golden Knights also partnered with the new Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL. This means both of the team's minor league affiliates are in Nevada.
Season-by-Season Records
This table shows the Golden Knights' performance in recent 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 |
| 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) |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 50 | 22 | 10 | 110 | 275 | 219 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in second round, 1–4 (Oilers) |
| 2025–26 | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | 265 | 250 | 1st, Pacific | Lost in Stanley Cup Final, 2-4 (Hurricanes) |
Players and Team Leaders
Team Captains
- Mark Stone, 2021–present
Head Coaches
- Gerard Gallant, 2017–2020
- Peter DeBoer, 2020–2022
- Bruce Cassidy, 2022–2026
- John Tortorella, 2026–present
General Managers
- George McPhee, 2016–2019
- Kelly McCrimmon, 2019–present
Team and League Honors
Awards and Trophies
The Vegas Golden Knights and their players have won several important awards:
- Stanley Cup
- 2022–23
- Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Awarded to the Western Conference playoff champion)
- 2017–18
- 2022–23
- 2025–26
- Conn Smythe Trophy (Awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs)
- Jonathan Marchessault: 2023
- Jack Adams Award (Awarded to the NHL's best head coach)
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Awarded for sportsmanship and skill)
- William Karlsson: 2017–18
- Mark Messier Leadership Award (Awarded for leadership qualities)
- Deryk Engelland: 2017–18
- NHL General Manager of the Year Award
- George McPhee: 2017–18
- Vezina Trophy (Awarded to the league's best goaltender)
- Marc-Andre Fleury: 2020–21
- William M. Jennings Trophy (Awarded to the goaltenders on the team with the fewest goals allowed)
- Marc-Andre Fleury and Robin Lehner: 2020–21
Retired Numbers
The number 58 was retired by the team on March 31, 2018. This was done 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.
Team Statistics and Records
Top Scorers in Team History
These players have scored the most points for the Golden Knights.
- * – This player is currently on the Golden Knights team.
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Top Goaltenders in Team History
These are the goaltenders with the most wins for the Golden Knights.
- * – This player is currently on the Golden Knights team.
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/O = Ties/Overtime losses; GA = Goal against; GAA = Goals against average; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts
| Player | GP | W | L | T/O | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO |
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| Marc-Andre Fleury | 192 | 117 | 60 | 14 | 456 | 2.41 | 5,509 | .917 | 23 |
| Adin Hill* | 139 | 77 | 41 | 14 | 348 | 2.64 | 3,580 | .903 | 7 |
| Logan Thompson | 103 | 56 | 32 | 11 | 264 | 2.67 | 3,001 | .912 | 4 |
| Robin Lehner | 66 | 39 | 21 | 4 | 169 | 2.61 | 1,876 | .910 | 3 |
| Malcolm Subban | 63 | 30 | 21 | 7 | 175 | 2.92 | 1,772 | .901 | 1 |
| Akira Schmid* | 39 | 18 | 10 | 7 | 90 | 2.45 | 881 | .898 | 2 |
| Laurent Brossoit | 35 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 85 | 2.66 | 905 | .906 | 1 |
| Ilya Samsonov | 29 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 82 | 2.82 | 752 | .891 | 2 |
| Carter Hart* | 18 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 2.71 | 422 | .891 | 0 |
| Maxime Lagace | 17 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 61 | 3.92 | 461 | .868 | 0 |
Individual Player Records
Here are some top records held by Golden Knights players:
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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
