I also think the initial success being attributed to this band of misfits is something totally overblown. The media loved that narrative and they all ran with it, glorifying the entire thing. Very few did any meaningful analysis and just kept running with this myth. Here is a more objective take:

1) Most GMs approached the expansion draft very poorly, making awful side deals that Vegas exploited. Most teams would have been better off just letting Vegas select whoever was available. As a result, Vegas started off with far more talent than the media appreciate. MAF at the time was a legit #1 goalie. Guys like Marchessault, Perron, Neal, Smith were legit top 6 forwards. Not top line. But respectable 2nd line players that were elevated into a role where they got more ice time, #1 PP time. These weren't AHL journeymen catching lightning in a bottle for 82 games.

2) Most teams underestimated Vegas, especially early on. It was supposed to be an easy 2 points. Numerous stories of visiting teams coming in the night before and partying in Vegas. They went 29-10-2 at home against many opponents who were likely tired and hungover.

3) Vegas also played in a very weak Pacific division that year. Arizona, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary were all terrible that year. Vegas feasted on them but was less impressive versus other divisions.

By year 2, opponents were forced to take them more seriously. Late night Vegas parties ceased. The regression by year 2 and 3 was already significant.

But the misfit story sounds better...
- Cooleus

Nah. Year one they were just a great hard working team. They weren’t playing hung over teams as there were very strict rules put in place by teams going there.
Year two they got robbed by refs. Years three/four they were best team in the league but got taken out by a fluke runs by the Habs and stars.

Still with the tears.

Awesome!
- TurdFergeson

Turd you should win a gold medal for being the most stupid poster on this site, you never have anything constructive to say you POS.

Turd you should win a gold medal for being the most stupid poster on this site, you never have anything constructive to say you POS.

- FlamesFan1230

I honestly had no idea what he meant by that post. Couldn’t makes heads or tails out of it

Seems pretty obvious to me. Somehow they decided to move on from a proven winner in Fluery to a self centered - never won anything - egotistical - distracted - supposed goalie in Lehrer.

Actually think the Eichel move is almost a mini rebuild in a sense that after Stone is retired cause his body is broken down maybe they can take a step back and build around a legit top 5 number 1 center for years to come. Again that goalie fiasco set this team back and firing gallant was another ridiculous decision.

Also there is no pressure to win in Vegas, but that is consistent with most of the league.

How many cities outside of Canada really pressure their teams. NYR, Philly, Boston. Sometimes Chicago and Pitt. Vegas is no diff than the rest.

Is their any pressure to win in DC, Car, Tampa, Miami, NYI, NJ (does anyone even know they exist) Columbus.. for the love god does anyone lose sleep if the Bluejackets lose in OH.

Nah. Year one they were just a great hard working team. They weren’t playing hung over teams as there were very strict rules put in place by teams going there.
Year two they got robbed by refs. Years three/four they were best team in the league but got taken out by a fluke runs by the Habs and stars.
- TurdFergeson

Robbed by the refs? Their pk self restricted on one 5 min kill. They earned that loss. Do you really think we don’t pay attention here..?

Turd you should win a gold medal for being the most stupid poster on this site, you never have anything constructive to say you POS.

- FlamesFan1230

Awe. Mommy let you on the computer again 1230? Good for you.

I honestly had no idea what he meant by that post. Couldn’t makes heads or tails out of it
- BringNYIhome

Lol. All you do is cry. About Bettman. Vegas. Tavares. And on and on.

Do you want to challenge me or anyone else on this thread to another fight??

Robbed by the refs? Their pk self restricted on one 5 min kill. They earned that loss. Do you really think we don’t pay attention here..?
- Joe Nardone

Fine. They got robbed by the refs, and their pk self destructed.

Hockey was a great sport before too much money and greed entered into it. That way for all sports. Now all we talk about is MONEY. Not the sport itself and how glorious the play and pace of the game, it is now about greed show me the money and give me more I deserve it. I used to love hockey but now is is getting annoying just like all of the other major sports It will probably never reach the annoyance of baseball but give it time, I am done caring about the greedy little fcuks

Could also be because they've now had to trade away Marc-Andre Fleury, Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan for literally nothing.

McPhee put a great team together in that first year and they had great chemistry. But instead of building on that they went all in on signing the next shiny, available player after player, mortgaging the future and ruining their cap situation. Signs point to the owner on this. He wants to win a Cup at all costs, damn the future. And this is what can happen when you do that. Plus screwing over guys like Gallant, Fleury and Dadonov like they did does not sit well in a locker room. Yes, its a business but there is a right way and a wrong way to handle things. I predict Vegas misses the playoffs this season and is a lottery team the year after.

McPhee put a great team together in that first year and they had great chemistry. But instead of building on that they went all in on signing the next shiny, available player after player, mortgaging the future and ruining their cap situation. Signs point to the owner on this. He wants to win a Cup at all costs, damn the future. And this is what can happen when you do that. Plus screwing over guys like Gallant, Fleury and Dadonov like they did does not sit well in a locker room. Yes, its a business but there is a right way and a wrong way to handle things. I predict Vegas misses the playoffs this season and is a lottery team the year after.
- Sams_Dog

This. Its clear too many changes and trying to win it all right now and the Owner seems far too heavily involved. I think Vegas is trending the wrong way and definitely hurt themselves with a lot of their moves.

The Vegas knights are not in trouble for barely missing the playoffs 1 time.

Nah. Year one they were just a great hard working team. They weren’t playing hung over teams as there were very strict rules put in place by teams going there.
Year two they got robbed by refs. Years three/four they were best team in the league but got taken out by a fluke runs by the Habs and stars.
- TurdFergeson

You're right about the strict rules but wrong about everything else.

Refs made 1 bad call but did not "rob' them. One bad call does not constitute being robbed or else every losing team in professional sports would be robbed in every game.

They tied for as the best team in 1 season, not 2. And their team makeup was certainly not the best. They got easy points from 4 terrible teams in their division during that year.

The Stars run was not a fluke. They had more depth than any Western Conference team other than the Avs that year and better goaltending than VGK and Avs.

The Habs run was largely unexpected, but not a fluke. Also, VGK were not as good as their record showed (see above). Fleury pulled a standard Fleury-in-the-playoffs manoeuver and the team lost confidence after that.

Had the Knights stayed the course with the expansion roster and then drafted well with the picks they had, they may well be a better team today with feeer cap issues.

I don’t know if it’s the owner or McCrimmon, but the short sited, half truth telling, … well, it appears to be coming home to roost.

Lol. All you do is cry. About Bettman. Vegas. Tavares. And on and on.

Do you want to challenge me or anyone else on this thread to another fight??
- TurdFergeson

I’d like to fight. It’s been a while. But he has to come to Ottawa. I’m not travelling outside the province this summer.