It's hard to believe, but the Vegas Golden Knights are about to begin their tenth NHL season.
And what a ride it's been. They've gone from the "Golden Misfits" to, at times, embracing their role in many fans' minds as one of the league's premier villainous franchises.
And what better way to celebrate a decade in the NHL than with the most Vegas-y center ice design the league has ever seen?
Did we expect anything less from a team that puts on the bastard child of the Ice Capades and Medieval Times before every game?
Personally, I think the design looks great — even if it's almost certainly going to be a nightmare to keep tabs on the puck anytime there's a pass through there — but let's see how the always thoughtful citizens of social media feel about it.
Alright, so maybe your perception depends more on your rooting interests than I had initially thought.
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Love 'em or hate 'em, it has been a good nine seasons so far for the Golden Knights, who have already proven themselves to be one of the most successful expansion teams the league has ever seen.
They, of course, pulled off a stunner and made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural campaign back in 2017-18, only to lose to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
In 2023, the team made it back to the Stanley Cup Final; this time they defeated the Florida Panthers for the franchise's first championship.
They tried for a second just this season, but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
Still, over those nine seasons, three trips to the Cup Final are impressive. But what's more impressive is the consistency the club has shown. They've only missed the playoffs once in their existence, and they still came in fourth in the division that season.
Vegas also continues to be a top choice for a lot of free agents and players asking for trades, so expect the Golden Knights to continue being among the league's perennial contenders.