All this proves is that hockey is the sport where talent is not as important to winning as we think it is.

Kinda makes you doubt how much some of the players on more talented teams really want to win.
- peter2679

NFL has this problem, thats why winning culture in franchises are so hard to cultivate, and why some players are simply cut for no reason. Great coaches don't so much identify talent in players are they identify character

Playoffs mean extra games, losing means early offseason

For lots of players it's all about getting paid, winning, not so much

Aliens

And they did it all without Vadim Shipachyov ...

It kind of does in the star system when it comes to winning. The more talented will still get overpaid and handcuff GM's and discourage lesser paid players from being incentivized to play better. Vegas proves it is still a team game and Tampa also has the same philosophy with Stamkos as the one paid star and Fleury on VGK. Just proves it just takes one good leader and a solid team game.

It kind of does in the star system when it comes to winning. The more talented will still get overpaid and handcuff GM's and discourage lesser paid players from being incentivized to play better. Vegas proves it is still a team game and Tampa also has the same philosophy with Stamkos as the one paid star and Fleury on VGK. Just proves it just takes one good leader and a solid team game.
- Fan101

I mostly agree but we've got Hedman making almost $8m per year, Kucherov took a friendly deal but you can bet he will be at, or above, Stamkos levels when he signs again. Tampa has done a good job of drafting and slotting guys in but they do have far more superstars compared to Vegas. There is no Kucherov, Hedman, Stamkos on that Vegas roster. I like the way Vegas plays, they play smart and hard, just like the game should be played. It's a VERY long season, Vegas has weathered the storm and beat the teams that were put in front of them. I hope Tampa goes and beats them but Vegas has done it the right way

All this proves is that hockey is the sport where talent is not as important to winning as we think it is.

Kinda makes you doubt how much some of the players on more talented teams really want to win.
- peter2679

LOL no.

NFL has this problem, thats why winning culture in franchises are so hard to cultivate, and why some players are simply cut for no reason. Great coaches don't so much identify talent in players are they identify character

Playoffs mean extra games, losing means early offseason

For lots of players it's all about getting paid, winning, not so much
- RoloTahmasee

LOL no.

To anyone that said the Knights were handed gold, even the GM and Owner said its going to take years.

If you look at Vegas' team on paper it does NOT scream Stanley Cup contender. Some nice players, but no one really jumps out. Perron? could've been had for pennies by any team, Reilly Smith? been kicked around by a few teams... as an example... That tells me the coaching staff has done a superhuman job of getting all those guys to pull in one direction all year. Good for them.

- eichiefs9

If you look at Vegas' team on paper it does NOT scream Stanley Cup contender. Some nice players, but no one really jumps out. Perron? could've been had for pennies by any team, Reilly Smith? been kicked around by a few teams... as an example... That tells me the coaching staff has done a superhuman job of getting all those guys to pull in one direction all year. Good for them.
- BruinsBlood

Also, even though the expansion rules were changed to try and make them more competitive, McPhee still chose or acquired the "right" players. He was equally, if not more, likely to pick a bunch of crap than he was to pick the right combination of players.

I don't like Vegas, but it's not because "their fans haven't suffered like other fanbases".

Hey! Remember when everyone poopted on McPhee's expansion draft? Now this somehow has been gifted to Vegas?

When did Hockey fans become such female genitalias?

Hey! Remember when everyone poopted on McPhee's expansion draft? Now this somehow has been gifted to Vegas?

When did Hockey fans become such female genitalias?
- glove_was_stuck

Aliens
- SimpleJack

Legal aliens?

Hey! Remember when everyone poopted on McPhee's expansion draft? Now this somehow has been gifted to Vegas?

When did Hockey fans become such female genitalias?
- glove_was_stuck

I remember when a lot in here said your GM was terrible for trading Hamilton & then his draft picks (ok, they weren't so good). 2 years down the track & a very competitive team later, there's a few here that are eating their words as well.

Also, even though the expansion rules were changed to try and make them more competitive, McPhee still chose or acquired the "right" players. He was equally, if not more, likely to pick a bunch of crap than he was to pick the right combination of players.

I don't like Vegas, but it's not because "their fans haven't suffered like other fanbases".
- eichiefs9

I don't really like Vegas, but they played by the rules and did a great job building a team and coaching it up. If anything, their success exposes some of the weak GM's and coaches from other teams that can't seem to get results from much better rosters.

I do think the league should've allowed each team to protect 11 players in any combination. That basically comes down to top 2 forward lines, top 2 D pairs & goalie. The way they set it up almost forced teams with a strong D to expose a really good forward. But they all knew the rules.

I expect the GM's to be much more savvy with the next expansion draft. It's going to suck for the leadership in Seattle to have to explain to their fans why they didn't get to the SCF their first year, because I think this was the perfect storm of favorable rules, mistakes by other GM's & really good General Managing and Coaching by Vegas.

Also, even though the expansion rules were changed to try and make them more competitive, McPhee still chose or acquired the "right" players. He was equally, if not more, likely to pick a bunch of crap than he was to pick the right combination of players.

I don't like Vegas, but it's not because "their fans haven't suffered like other fanbases".
- eichiefs9

I don't think they should be changed for Seattle either. This is not going to repeat itself. Why should an expansion team suffer for 5+ years just because it is new. They should be able to choose which route they want to go. The route McPhee did or just take players that another team has to leave unprotected.

But this is the NHL and I expect them to make every wrong decision along the way.

Hey! Remember when everyone poopted on McPhee's expansion draft? Now this somehow has been gifted to Vegas?
- glove_was_stuck

This x100,000,000

I remember when a lot in here said your GM was terrible for trading Hamilton & then his draft picks (ok, they weren't so good). 2 years down the track & a very competitive team later, there's a few here that are eating their words as well.
- Aussiepenguin

I remember a lot here sayin Tim Murray was an awful GM for the Sabres. Well how'd that work out, ya Fools!!!

F*)&

I've been a Vegas Golden Knights fan my entire life and have waited for this moment for what seems like an eternity.

I've been a Vegas Golden Knights fan my entire life and have waited for this moment for what seems like an eternity.
- Streit2ThePoint

I've really enjoyed your vegas blogs this season.

I've been a Vegas Golden Knights fan my entire life and have waited for this moment for what seems like an eternity.
- Streit2ThePoint

Yes, I've liked the Warriors, Patriots, Yankees, Alabama and Vegas Golden Knights since birth. Why do you ask?

— SportsPickle (@sportspickle) May 21, 2018

I've really enjoyed your vegas blogs this season.
- Tumbleweed

It's truly inspiring that he even found the time to write those, given his extensive responsibilities as Hockeybuzz Human Resources Manager

They got, on average the 9th or 10th best player on every team, not including any of the young players with under 3 years experience

So, in reality, something like the 12th best on average

Where they really capitalized, was on

Florida's stupidity (We'll let you take Marchessailt if you take Smith off our Hands)

Minnesota's stupidity (Please don't take Dumba, we'll give you Tuch if you take Haula instead)

Anaheim (Here's Shea Theodore if you take Stoner off our hands)

Columbus (Take Karlsson, get this Clarkson contract off our books)

Pittsburgh (We're in a goalie pinch, here's MAF who no other team offered to trade for when Rutherford originally tried to move him)

There's 7 key Vegas players that teams CHOSE to give away to keep other (in theory) better players
- RoloTahmasee

well said. the embarrassment isn't the deal that Vegas got. it was an OK deal that they exploited brilliantly. the embarrassment falls on the community of existing NHL GMs, many of whom have a warped sense of player value in this day and age of the NHL. i look at a guy like Marc Bergevin who in 6 years has acquired ONE player in Montreal who has gone on to score 20 goals for the team and who has not been able to acquire a legitimate top-6 center in this time and who says that such players simply aren't available, and i wonder how he is still in charge of a team.