50 Fun Facts About Vegas Golden Knights

How many games did the Golden Knights win in 2017-18, a record for an expansion team?

51 wins and 109 points in 2017-18 shattered the previous first-season expansion record of 33 wins, set in 1993-94, and won Vegas the Pacific Division.

Which two NHL teams played the first outdoor game between NHL clubs, outside Caesars Palace in 1991?

The Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers met in a preseason game on September 27, 1991, in the Caesars Palace parking lot, with Wayne Gretzky's Kings winning 5-2.

Which billionaire led the consortium that founded the Golden Knights in 2017?

Bill Foley, chairman of Fidelity National Financial, led the ownership group with the Maloof family, founders of the Palms, as minority partners; the NHL approved the franchise in June 2016.

How many season-ticket deposits was Foley's 2015 drive aiming for to prove interest?

10,000 deposits was the stated target of the February 2015 drive, which had collected more than 13,000 by the time the NHL approved the franchise in June 2016.

Which company's bid to revive the Nordiques competed with Las Vegas in the 2015 expansion process?

Quebecor, owner of the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, was the only other applicant in the 2015 process; the NHL deferred its bid in June 2016 while approving Las Vegas.

How much was the Golden Knights' expansion fee?

$500 million was the fee the ownership group paid for the 31st franchise, approved in June 2016; the 32nd franchise paid $650 million two years later.

Which former Capitals general manager became the Golden Knights' first GM?

George McPhee, a GM from 1997 to 2014 before advising the Islanders, was hired in July 2016; Kelly McCrimmon succeeded him as GM in 2019 when McPhee became president of hockey operations.

'Knights' honours the Black Knights of which institution, Foley's alma mater?

The United States Military Academy at West Point, from which the team's founder graduated in 1967, fields its teams as the Black Knights, the inspiration for the Vegas name.

Why was 'Las' left out of the team name?

Locals just say 'Vegas' and four words was too long, the owner said in November 2016, adding that 'Golden' honoured Nevada's status as the top gold-producing state.

Which military branch initially opposed the Golden Knights trademark because of its parachute team?

The U.S. Army, whose parachute team has been the Golden Knights since 1962, filed a trademark opposition in January 2017; the sides reached a coexistence agreement in January 2018.

Who was the Golden Knights' first head coach?

Gerard Gallant coached the inaugural 2017-18 team to the Final and won the Jack Adams Award; he was fired on January 15, 2020, during a four-game losing streak.

Which goalie did Vegas take from Pittsburgh in the 2017 expansion draft?

Marc-Andre Fleury, a three-time Cup winner with Pittsburgh, waived his no-movement clause so Vegas could select him on June 21, 2017; the picks were unveiled during the NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena.

Who was the first player the Golden Knights ever signed, in March 2017?

Reid Duke, a Brandon Wheat Kings forward, signed a three-year entry-level contract on March 6, 2017, three months before the team picked Cody Glass sixth overall.

Who scored the franchise's first two goals in the October 2017 opener at Dallas?

James Neal scored both goals in the 2-1 win at Dallas on October 6, 2017; Vegas went on to an 8-1-0 start, the best ever by an expansion team.

Which tragedy did the first home game's pre-game ceremony honour in 2017?

The Route 91 mass shooting nine days earlier, on October 1, 2017, killed dozens at a country-music festival on the Strip; the October 10 home opener honoured victims and first responders before a 5-2 win over Arizona.

Which fourth-string goalie was pressed into action after Fleury, Subban and Dansk were all hurt?

Maxime Lagace, an undrafted minor-league signing, made his NHL debut on October 30, 2017, after Dansk was hurt, and was Vegas's main starter through November.

What nickname was given to the expansion-draft castoffs who starred in Vegas's first season?

The Golden Misfits was the name the players gave themselves, embracing being cast off by their old teams; the group reached the Stanley Cup Final in the franchise's first season.

Whom did the Golden Knights sweep for their first playoff series win in 2018?

The Los Angeles Kings fell in four straight one-goal games, 1-0, 2-1 in double overtime, 3-2 and 1-0, as Fleury allowed three goals in the series.

Which two teams before Vegas had reached the Stanley Cup Final in their first season?

The Toronto Arenas and St. Louis Blues did it first: Toronto won the 1918 Cup in the NHL's inaugural season, and St. Louis reached the 1968 Final in the expansion year.

Which team beat the Golden Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final?

The Washington Capitals won the 2018 Final in five games, clinching 4-3 in Las Vegas on June 7, 2018, for the franchise's first Stanley Cup.

Whose cross-check on Joe Pavelski in Game 7 in 2019 drew the major penalty that sank Vegas?

Cody Eakin's cross-check sent Pavelski to the ice bleeding with Vegas up 3-0; San Jose scored four times on the ensuing major and won 5-4 on Barclay Goodrow's overtime goal.

Which future captain did Vegas acquire from Ottawa at the 2019 trade deadline?

Mark Stone came from Ottawa on February 25, 2019, for Erik Brannstrom, Oscar Lindberg and a second-round pick, and signed an eight-year extension the same day; he became the first captain in January 2021.

Which recently fired Sharks coach became the Golden Knights' second head coach in January 2020?

Peter DeBoer, fired by San Jose in December 2019, took over on January 15, 2020, reached the 2020 conference final and 2021 semifinal, and was fired in May 2022 after Vegas missed the playoffs.

Which defenseman signed a seven-year deal with Vegas in the 2020 offseason?

Alex Pietrangelo, who had captained his previous team to the 2019 Cup, signed for seven years and $61.6 million on October 12, 2020, and won a second Cup with Vegas in 2023.

Which award did Fleury win with Vegas in 2021, sharing the Jennings with Robin Lehner the same year?

The Vezina Trophy went to Fleury in 2021 for a 1.98 goals-against average and .928 save percentage; weeks later Vegas dealt him to the Blackhawks for minor-leaguer Mikael Hakkarainen to clear cap space.

Which star center came from Buffalo in November 2021 for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs and two picks?

Jack Eichel arrived on November 4, 2021, had the artificial-disc neck surgery Buffalo had refused, and debuted for Vegas on February 16, 2022; the team missed the playoffs that spring anyway.

Which former Bruins coach was hired in 2022 and won the Cup in his first Vegas season?

Bruce Cassidy, fired by Boston after six seasons and a 2019 Final trip, was hired on June 14, 2022, and won the Stanley Cup in his first Vegas season, 2022-23.

Which goalie took over in the second round and backstopped Vegas to the 2023 Stanley Cup?

Adin Hill, acquired from San Jose in August 2022, replaced the injured Laurent Brossoit during the second round against Edmonton and went 11-4 the rest of the way, including the Game 5 clincher.

Whom did Vegas beat in five games to win the 2023 Stanley Cup?

The Florida Panthers, the East's eighth seed, lost the Final in five; Vegas clinched with a 9-3 rout on June 13, 2023, in Las Vegas's first 'big four' championship.

Who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023?

Jonathan Marchessault, an original Golden Knight from the 2017 expansion draft, won the Conn Smythe with 13 goals and 25 points in the 2023 playoffs.

The owner's founding prediction for the franchise was 'playoffs in three' and what?

Cup in six was the owner's pledge, paired with playoffs in three; Vegas actually reached the playoffs in season one and won the Stanley Cup in its sixth season, 2022-23.

Which Golden Knight won the 2018 Lady Byng Trophy after scoring 43 goals?

William Karlsson, who had scored six goals for Columbus the year before, erupted for 43 goals and 78 points in 2017-18 and took the Lady Byng as the league's most gentlemanly player.

Vegas became the first team shut out in a Winter Classic in a 3-0 loss to which opponent in 2024?

The Seattle Kraken blanked Vegas 3-0 at T-Mobile Park on January 1, 2024, with Joey Daccord recording the first shutout in Winter Classic history.

Which three players did Vegas acquire at the 2024 trade deadline?

Noah Hanifin, Tomas Hertl and Anthony Mantha arrived within three days at the March 2024 deadline, Hertl from San Jose and Hanifin from Calgary, yet Dallas ended the title defence in seven games.

Whom did Vegas beat in the 2018 Western Conference Final to reach the Stanley Cup Final?

The Winnipeg Jets lost the 2018 Western Conference Final in five games after winning the opener 4-2; Ryan Reaves scored the series-clinching goal in a 2-1 win on May 20, 2018.

Which AHL club served as the Golden Knights' first affiliate, from 2017 to 2020?

The Chicago Wolves were the Golden Knights' first AHL affiliate from 2017 to 2020, reaching the 2019 Calder Cup Final before Vegas bought its own franchise and moved it to Henderson.

What type of helmet forms the Golden Knights' primary logo?

A barbute, a 15th-century Italian infantry helmet with a T-shaped or Y-shaped face opening, forms the crest; its negative space traces a V for Vegas.

Which colour is officially the Golden Knights' primary, representing 'strength and durability'?

Steel gray is listed first in the team's official palette, standing for 'strength and durability', ahead of gold, red and black.

The Golden Knights' first Reverse Retro jersey drew inspiration from which pioneering goalie's IHL team?

Manon Rheaume's Las Vegas Thunder, the IHL club she tended goal for in the mid-1990s, inspired the 2020-21 Reverse Retro; Rheaume had become the first woman to play in an NHL exhibition game in 1992.

Which Las Vegas-resident defenceman addressed the crowd before the first home game in October 2017?

Deryk Engelland, who had lived in Las Vegas since playing for the ECHL Wranglers, delivered the emotional pre-game address on October 10, 2017, then scored in the 5-2 win.

What kind of creature is Golden Knights mascot Chance?

A Gila monster, the venomous lizard native to the Nevada desert, is the species behind Chance, who debuted in October 2017 wearing No. 00.

T-Mobile Arena's nickname is what?

The Fortress is the nickname the team gave T-Mobile Arena, which opened in April 2016 on a site just west of the Strip.

Which two companies built T-Mobile Arena as a joint venture?

MGM Resorts and AEG, the owner of Crypto.com Arena, financed the roughly $375 million arena privately, without public money, and opened it in April 2016.

Which QMJHL team did Fleury play for before going first overall in 2003?

The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of Sydney, Nova Scotia, developed Fleury from 2000 to 2003; Pittsburgh then made him the first goalie taken first overall since Rick DiPietro in 2000.

From which team did Vegas receive Shea Theodore as a sweetener during the 2017 expansion draft?

The Anaheim Ducks traded Shea Theodore to Vegas on June 21, 2017, so the Golden Knights would select defenceman Clayton Stoner and his contract in the expansion draft.

Which Russian forward retired from the NHL after just three games as a Golden Knight?

Vadim Shipachyov, signed from SKA St. Petersburg for $4.5 million a year, played three NHL games and scored once before refusing an AHL assignment; his contract was terminated in November 2017 and he returned to the KHL.

Which winger did Vegas acquire from Montreal before the 2018–19 season?

Max Pacioretty, Montreal's captain, came to Vegas on September 10, 2018, for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick, and signed a four-year extension the same day.

What does the Golden Knights' secondary logo of two crossed swords sit behind?

The star echoes the one on the landmark Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.

Which AHL franchise did the Golden Knights buy in 2020 and relocate as the Henderson Silver Knights?

The San Antonio Rampage were bought from Spurs Sports & Entertainment in February 2020 and began play as the Henderson Silver Knights in 2020-21.

Which ECHL club became the Golden Knights' affiliate in 2024?

The Tahoe Knight Monsters, an ECHL expansion club based in Stateline, Nevada, began play in 2024-25 as Vegas's ECHL affiliate, which with the AHL's Henderson club put both farm teams in Nevada.