(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Tonight, the Golden Knights will host the newly formed Utah Hockey Club for Vegas’ third preseason game. Through six periods, there were mostly positive signs in the first two televised scrimmages. Certainly enough for analysts around the league to declare the Golden Knights an expected playoff team. Why wouldn’t they? The 31st franchise has history on their side.

Since 2018, all eight Pacific Division teams have participated in at least one playoff series. Only the Golden Knights have missed the postseason once, while every other Pacific team has been on the outside looking in two seasons or more. Los Angeles has been to the playoffs four times since 2018. Edmonton has been to five consecutive postseasons and is likely on its way to a sixth. Meanwhile, Vegas has qualified at 87.5% and is the only Pacific Division team to win the Stanley Cup since VGK’s inception.

Pacific Division Playoff appearances since 2018

• VGK – 6: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
• EDM – 5: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• LAK – 4: 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024
• CAL – 3: 2019, 2020, 2022
• FROM – 2: 2019, 2024
• SJ-2: 2018, 2019
• SEA – 1:2023
• ANA: 1: 2018

With Anaheim and San Jose likely still seasons away from challenging for the division crown, that leaves three guaranteed playoff spots for five Pacific teams. Realistically, Vegas is in a better spot to qualify for the postseason than Calgary and Seattle, who both took a step back in the 2023-24 season. In short, the historical averages have ensured that VGK is in a play-off position and competing for the division. While the Flames and Kraken are projected to finish 17 points behind the Golden Knights this season.

Mark Stone: “I still like our team. Another year, another bunch of articles about writing off the Golden Knights.”

— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) September 3, 2024

Late in the offseason, Vegas captain Mark Stone hinted to local reporter Danny Webster that he wants to prove the doubters wrong this season. Many, including myself, couldn’t help but grin and look around the room at these so-called opponents. Luckily he doesn’t read articles from Anaheim, Calgary, LA or Seattle.

Is there someone writing fake articles and posting them all over the Golden Knights locker room about how this year is going to be terrible? I don’t know a single person who thinks the Golden Knights are bad. They will be very good and everyone knows they will be bad. Not this again. I haven’t seen a single article that thinks the Knights will be terrible. – Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts Podcast

Currently on the William Hill sports app, the Golden Knights have the 10th lowest odds (+2000) to win the 2024-2025 Stanley Cup. Vegas trails only Edmonton, Dallas, Colorado and Nashville to win the Western Conference and wear the Pacific Division crown as runner-up. According to handicappers and bettors, the Golden Knights have a real chance of winning a second Stanley Cup trophy this season.

To go even deeper, the projected data has Vegas projected in a playoff position and contending for the division. Most models have the Golden Knights landing somewhere between 97 and 100 points, which is historically enough to reach the postseason even in the most competitive years.

Another element that should make VGK’s best winger happy is the average time it takes for a Pacific team to clinch a play-off spot after missing out the previous season. Anaheim has missed its last six and San Jose hasn’t played more than 82 games in five years. Calgary and Seattle could be headed for a postseason drought themselves. Overall, Pacific Division teams need 3.3 seasons between playoff appearances. Hopefully that cools Stone’s redemption a bit.

Now it’s time to discover the dozens of Golden Knights pessimists who haven’t been found yet.