Rasmus Andersson didn’t hide how he feels about being in Vegas.
On Tuesday, the defenseman spoke to the media and offered a blunt, three-sentence answer about his move to the Golden Knights:
"Ever since I got traded here, I’ve loved it. Couldn’t be happier. We really fell in love with the city, as well."
That gratitude comes with some baggage, though. Andersson’s first season in Vegas didn’t exactly win over the fan base. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he finished with just six assists, and in his first year with the Golden Knights he produced seven goals and 10 assists.
For plenty of Golden Knights fans, those numbers don’t line up neatly with a seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension. That’s the debate hanging over this deal: whether Andersson has earned that kind of commitment, or whether the early returns were too ordinary to justify it.
Still, there’s a clear reason the Golden Knights believe in him. General manager Kelly McCrimmon has built a reputation for making aggressive moves when he likes a player and trusts the fit, and that process usually comes with a real understanding of market value and what someone can bring to the roster. The question now is whether Andersson can live up to that belief.
Vegas also acquired him for a specific skill set. Andersson has long wanted to play for a team like the Golden Knights, a club with Stanley Cup ambitions, and his puck-moving ability was a big part of the appeal. He can distribute in different ways, from quick short passes to longer stretch looks, and that kind of range helps open up the ice.
That matters even more after the summer changes to the team’s scoring. With key goal scorers such as Pavel Dorofeyev gone, Vegas has a hole to fill on the offensive end, and Andersson is supposed to help keep that side of the game moving.
His first chapter in 2025-26 wasn’t ideal, but the story isn’t over. Andersson knows it’s a new year, and the Golden Knights are counting on a rebound that could help push them toward another run at the Stanley Cup in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Former Golden Knights Goalie Just Landed In A Familiar Rival Spot
Ilya Samsonov is back in the Pacific Division mix, this time landing with the San Jose Sharks on a one-year, two-way contract. For the Golden Knights, it is a familiar name in a familiar place, since Samsonov spent time in Vegas before moving on, and now he finds himself joining a Sharks goaltending group that already includes Alex Nedeljkovic, Yaroslav Askarov and Eric Comrie.
The move gives San Jose another experienced option for a position that can change quickly over the course of a season, especially with a roster built to sort out depth as much as upside. Samsonov brings a six-year professional track record that has included stretches in the KHL and in the NHL, but the real intrigue for Vegas fans is less about the contract itself and more about how a former Knight fits into one of the clubs divisional rivals. [Read more 🡒]
Shea Theodore Has One Big Chance To Quiet A Growing Vegas Concern
Shea Theodores value to the Golden Knights has never come from one side of the puck alone, but this past season offered a slightly different picture than the one Vegas had grown used to seeing. His offensive production dipped from the year before, even as he found a way to chip in more goals and sharpen his defensive impact, including a noticeable bump in blocked shots. In 70 games, he looked more sturdy and more responsible in his own end, which matters for a team that leans heavily on its blue line to drive play.
Still, for a player whose game is built around tilt-the-ice production from the back end, the concern in Vegas is whether the offense will fully return. The projection for next season suggests a modest bounce back, with Theodore expected to land around nine goals and 35 assists while keeping that stronger defensive profile intact. If he can thread that needle, the Golden Knights will feel a lot better about where his game is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Fans Will Notice A Big Change Outside T-Mobile Arena
Visitors heading to T-Mobile Arena this week will spot a new look outside the building, as the outdoor entertainment area is being renamed Paramount+ Plaza under a multiyear partnership with the streaming service. The agreement also makes Paramount+ the arenas exclusive streaming partner and is set to bring branded fan experiences and programming tied to the companys content into the space around the venue.
The timing gives the change immediate visibility, with the partnership launching during the Garcia vs. Benn boxing event week. The plaza is expected to be part of the action around that event, while also serving as a showcase for UFC programming and the kind of pregame atmosphere Golden Knights fans are already used to seeing before big nights in Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]