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VGK fans should expect nothing less than a seventh postseason appearance

Posted on by darion

(Photo: SinBin.vegas photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Tonight, the Golden Knights will host the newly formed Utah Hockey Club in their third preseason game in Vegas. Through six periods in the first two televised fights, there were mostly positive signs. That was certainly enough for analysts around the league to consider the Golden Knights an expected playoff team. Why not? The 31st franchise has history on its side.

As of 2018, all eight Pacific Division teams have participated in at least one playoff series. Only the Golden Knights missed the postseason once, while every other Pacific team was on the outside having played two or more seasons. Los Angeles has made the playoffs four times since 2018. Edmonton has made five consecutive postseason appearances and is likely on its way to a sixth. Meanwhile, Vegas qualified at an 87.5% rate and is the only Pacific Division team to win the Stanley Cup since VGK’s inception.

Pacific Division playoff appearances since 2018

  • VGK – 6: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
  • EDM – 5: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • LAK – 4: 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • KAL – 3: 2019, 2020, 2022
  • VAN – 2: 2019, 2024
  • SJ – 2: 2018, 2019
  • SEA – 1: 2023
  • ANA: 1: 2018

With Anaheim and San Jose both seasons away from winning the division crown, that leaves five Pacific teams with three guaranteed playoff spots. Realistically, Vegas is in a better place to qualify for the postseason than Calgary and Seattle, which took a step back in the 2023-2024 season. Overall, historical averages predict that VGK will be in the playoffs and competing for the league. The Flames and Kraken are projected to finish 17 points behind the Golden Knights this season.

Late in the season, Vegas captain Mark Stone suggested to local reporter Danny Webster that he was going to prove the doubters wrong this season. Many, including myself, couldn’t help but chuckle and look around the room for the so-called critics. Fortunately, he doesn’t read any articles coming from Anaheim, Calgary, Los Angeles or Seattle.

Is someone writing fake articles and posting them all over the Golden Knights locker room saying this year is going to be terrible? I don’t know a single person who thinks the Golden Knights are bad. They’re going to be really good and everyone knows it’s going to be bad. Not that again. I haven’t seen any article that says the Knights will be terrible. –Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast

Currently on the William Hill Sports App, the Golden Knights have the 10th lowest odds (+2000) to win the Stanley Cup in the 2024-2025 season. Vegas is behind only Edmonton, Dallas, Colorado and Nashville for winning the Western Conference and second place for the Pacific Division crown. According to handicappers and bettors, the Golden Knights have a real chance to win their second Stanley Cup trophy this season.

To dig even deeper, Vegas is expected to be in the playoffs and fighting for the division. Most models top the Golden Knights at 97-100 points, which has historically been good enough to reach the postseason, even in the most competitive years.

Another element that should make VGK’s top winger happy is the average time it will take for the Pacific team to secure a playoff spot after missing last season. Anaheim has missed its last six games and San Jose hasn’t played more than 82 games in five years. Calgary and Seattle could face postseason droughts themselves. Generally speaking, Pacific Division teams need 3.3 seasons between playoff appearances. Hopefully this will cool down Stone’s redemption a bit.

It’s time to discover the dozens of Golden Knights pessimists who have yet to be found.