In a season full of surprises, the Vancouver Canucks have found themselves stuck at the bottom of the NHL standings since early January. Despite a promising start post-Quinn Hughes trade, their record has taken a nosedive to 6-24-3. Yet, remarkably, another playoff-bound team has spent even more time trailing this season-the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights have clocked an astonishing 1,845 minutes and 12 seconds trailing, just edging out the Canucks by a mere three minutes. This unexpected statistic places Vegas at the top of a list no team wants to lead. Surprisingly, two other playoff contenders, the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks, join them in the top five for time spent trailing, with the New York Rangers rounding out the group, though they've recently been eliminated from playoff contention.
For the Golden Knights, a team once considered a formidable Stanley Cup contender, this season has been a tough pill to swallow. Despite making significant roster moves by signing Mitch Marner and trading for Rasmus Andersson, their performance hasn't matched expectations.
Since the NHL resumed after the Olympics, Vegas has struggled mightily, posting a 5-10-0 record. Only the Canucks and Seattle Kraken have fared worse in that stretch.
A major contributor to their woes has been goaltending. At 5-on-5 play, they hold the NHL’s worst team save percentage.
Adin Hill, despite his past success, has found himself in a slump, with a .868 save percentage ranking him among the league's lowest for goalies who have played at least 10 games.
Connor McDavid’s comment about the Pacific Division being a "pillow fight" rings true, as Vegas, despite their difficulties, remains in third place in the division. This is largely due to the lackluster performance of their closest competitors-the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks-who have collectively managed only seven wins in their last 30 games.
As the season progresses, the Golden Knights will need to find answers quickly if they hope to make a meaningful playoff run and reclaim their status as a top contender.