Golden Knights fans have a lot to be grateful for right now, especially when they look at what’s unfolding in Detroit.
Dylan Larkin was introduced to the Red Wings crowd before Detroit’s home opener against the New York Rangers, and the reaction from Little Caesars Arena was easy to imagine. The former captain, a native of Waterford, Michigan, has now become part of a far messier conversation. In this version of the story, Larkin grows frustrated with losing in Detroit, asks for a trade, and includes the Florida Panthers, the Minnesota Wild, and the Vegas Golden Knights on his list.
And he’s not the only one. Simon Edvinsson is also reportedly pushing to leave Detroit while locked in a major contract dispute. That kind of noise says plenty about where the Red Wings are right now, and it’s why fans are demanding change from owner Chris Ilitch and the team’s front office.
Vegas, by contrast, has spent years operating like one of the league’s model franchises. The Golden Knights have missed the playoffs only once, in 2021-22, reached the Stanley Cup Final three times, and won the Cup in 2023. The Red Wings haven’t made the playoffs since 2016.
That gap is what makes the comparison so stark. Strong ownership tends to set the tone, and the Golden Knights have lived that reality.
Bill Foley and company have been aggressive from the start, chasing stars like Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Those moves have helped keep Vegas in the championship picture, with Eichel bringing a Stanley Cup to Las Vegas and nearly winning the Conn Smythe if Jonathan Marchessault hadn’t put together such a strong playoff run.
The contrast with Detroit goes beyond trade requests and contract drama. The Red Wings are the team dealing with the turmoil; Vegas is the team still adding pieces and staying relevant. Keegan Kolesar is part of that picture now, though he was sent to Detroit over the summer because of cap space.
For the Golden Knights, the formula has remained steady: a deep forward group, a balanced blue line, and a front office willing to make bold moves. There are still questions in the mix, including the goaltending and players like Rasmus Andersson not living up to expectations, but the structure is there. That’s more than can be said for Detroit.
So when Golden Knights fans look around the league, the message is pretty simple: it could be a lot worse. And with a former captain now linked to Vegas in pursuit of another Stanley Cup, that reality feels even clearer.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Show How Dangerous They Look When They Keep Pressing
Vegas leaned on the kind of pressure that has made it such a difficult matchup when it is locked in, turning a one-goal edge into a comfortable 5-2 win over Nashville. The Golden Knights carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, then kept attacking instead of sitting back, with the defensemen chipping in five points and helping drive the offense from the back end.
The penalty kill was just as important, going 3-for-3 and helping swing momentum at key moments as the game tightened. It was the sort of night that showed how dangerous this group can look when it keeps pressing, and the players and coach pointed to that third-period push and the special teams work as the difference. [Read more 🡒]
Trevor Connelly Is Giving Vegas Fans A New Calder Reason To Watch
Trevor Connelly has quickly turned himself into one of the early storylines of the NHL season in Vegas, and the Golden Knights have rewarded the rookie winger with real responsibility. He has already found the net three times, including a recent one-timer set up by Noah Hanifin, and his early production has given the club another layer of offense to lean on while fans get a fresh reason to keep an eye on the rookie race.
What makes the start even more interesting is where the Golden Knights have chosen to use him. Connelly is getting chances in meaningful spots alongside veteran talent, a sign that Vegas sees more than just energy and curiosity in his game. With Calder Trophy talk already beginning to form around him, plus names like Roman Kantserov and Gavin McKenna in the conversation, Connelly is giving this season a new subplot worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Adin Hill Looks Different And Vegas Fans Have Every Reason To Care
Adin Hills start to the 2026-27 season has given the Golden Knights something they badly needed: a steadier look in goal. After a difficult 2025-26 campaign marked by lower-body injuries and uneven play, Hill has opened this season with a save percentage above .900 and a 2.27 goals-against average over three starts, a much healthier sign for a team that leans heavily on goaltending to set its tone. His shootout work against the Toronto Maple Leafs stood out, too, offering a reminder of how impactful he can be when he settles into the game.
What has made the early returns notable is not just the numbers, but the way Hill is playing. Observers have pointed to a return to the calmer, more size-driven style that made him effective in the first place, staying composed after conceding goals instead of chasing the game. Vegas has been looking for that version of Hill, and with the season still young, the bigger question is whether this is a real reset or just a strong opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]