Quote (Kamahl16 @ May 2 2018 11:00pm)
There is just this sense of totally undeserved arrogance in the town right now for the Knights, like they've earned something or their fans are somehow legitimate. I'd contend they haven't experienced one aiota of adversity since their inception, minus their goaltending injury issues early on, and that if they weren't the powerhouse that they are, for example if they won 20-25 games nobody would give a fuck.
Not going to flame you here, but just provide with some insight.
To contend that they haven’t experienced one aiota of adversity since their inception; is completely a moot point.
Previous expansions had to build from scratch. Draft, slowly develop and trade which 100% was a whole lot harder than what Vegas got to do by drafting one NHL caliber player from every team. But it’s not like they had prime picking a of the cream of the crop. They literally chose players exposed and deemed not worth protecting. Not to mention many teams offered picks as compensation to NOT pick the better players exposed.
Why is this relevant?
The average age of a Vegas Golden Night player was 27.7. The vast majority of players had a great amount of NHL experience, and had experienced loss, defeat, success, and most importantly - they were all completely “expendable” to their team
To discredit their experience or their time put into the game makes no sense
“If they weren’t the powerhouse that they are”
There is no sense in stat dumping how many players had career years this season on the team, but fundamentally it has shaken the entire NHL organization and I believe for the better.
Pre Salary Cap era was about who had the most money to spend I who, And post cap has been who’s the best we can draft and acquire and build around a core.
The past few years specifically we’ve seen teams having to commit to stronger 3rd and 4th lines to make a more complete team. It’s easy enough to bank on proven talent - but Vegas took their own gamble in choosing based on what each individual could provide and contribute. Suddenly every GM is more responsible in figuring out how they too can make some positives from Vegas doing what they’ve done
I’m not a Vegas fan, and I understand how it would kind of suck for a new team to come out and clean house like that - but the only thing new is the building, location and jersey. These were NHL caliber players given the opportunity to play their way, without a “core” and without the expectations
But if I was left open, discarded and shipped off to a new team expecting to be patted on the head like some new infant team expected to lose - then you’re god damned right I would have a chip on my shoulder.