A new season is starting to come into focus for hockey in Nevada, and the latest Golden Knights news gives fans a little bit of everything: a homegrown success story, a look at the next wave of prospects, and a first peek at the women’s game in the state.
The biggest headline belongs to Braeden Bowman, who turned a breakout rookie year into a six-year contract extension worth $3.4 million per year. Bowman put up eight goals and 18 assists in his first season, and the deal reflects how quickly he has become a trusted part of the Golden Knights’ future. For an undrafted rookie, it’s a major step and a well-earned reward after what he did with the Henderson Silver Knights.
While Bowman is settling in for the long haul, the next group of Golden Knights hopefuls is headed to San Jose for the 2026 Rookie Faceoff. Veterans like Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Jack Eichel won’t be there - they’re past that stage now, with a Stanley Cup on their resume - so the spotlight shifts to the prospects. Trevor Connelly and Pavel Moysevich are among the names to watch as they try to push themselves closer to the NHL with strong performances in Northern California.
There’s also fresh news on the women’s side. PWHL Las Vegas has announced its training camp dates for the 2026-27 season, with camp set to begin on Nov.
- Each team will play two scrimmages, and PWHL Las Vegas will host the Minnesota Frost on Nov. 22 and the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Nov. 24 at America First Center in Henderson.
That adds another layer to what’s becoming a busier hockey calendar in Nevada.
And with the NHL season drawing nearer, the Golden Knights’ next big date is already circled: Sept. 29, when they’ll face the Chicago Blackhawks.
In Other News...
Golden Knights Just Secured Their Captain For Another Cup Push
The Golden Knights have taken another important step in keeping their core intact, agreeing to a two-year extension with captain Mark Stone. Coming off a season in which he was one of the teams most reliable producers and a central figure in Vegas push to the Stanley Cup Final, Stones new deal gives the organization some needed stability as it continues to build around a familiar leadership group.
Stones value goes well beyond the box score, but his production still underscored how important he remains to the lineup. After a career season last year, the captain has become one of the clearest anchors on a roster that has also seen recent movement with Braeden Bowmans new contract, and the next question is how Vegas continues shaping the rest of its Cup-caliber core around him. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Just Sent A Clear Message With Mark Stone
Mark Stones long run with Vegas is set to continue after the Golden Knights locked up their captain on a two-year extension, keeping one of the franchises defining early acquisitions in place for the stretch ahead. Since arriving from Ottawa, Stone has spent parts of seven seasons in the organization and has remained a fixture at the top of the lineup, even while injuries have periodically interrupted his availability.
For a team built around stability and star power, the move sends a clear message about how the Golden Knights view their core. Stone still brings the kind of two-way value Vegas has long leaned on, and the new agreement gives the club more certainty around a veteran leader whose fit has never really been in doubt, even as his future has sometimes felt worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Face Huge Pressure As This Core Tries One More Run
The Golden Knights are heading into the 2026-27 season with the sort of pressure that comes only when a franchise believes it is still built to win now. Expectations around Vegas are back in familiar territory, with a Stanley Cup appearance the standard rather than the dream, and the core of Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone carrying most of the burden. The roster also has an older feel to it, which only raises the stakes for a group trying to squeeze one more deep run out of a window that has already produced one championship.
There is still enough uncertainty around the edges to make this a delicate season in advance, even before the games start. A first-time head coach will be stepping into one of the leagues most scrutinized jobs, and the roster could still be reshaped before opening night. For Vegas, the challenge is less about chasing a playoff berth and more about proving this version of the team can still live up to the standard it set for itself from the beginning. [Read more 🡒]