Golden Knights
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Vegas Golden Knights, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Mitch Marner, Colton Sissons, Jeremy Lauzon, Dylan Coghlan, Jaycob Megna
Key Departures: Alex Pietrangelo (Health), Nick Hague, Nic Roy, Victor Olofsson, Ilya Samsonov
Overview
The Golden Knights captured their fourth Pacific Division title in eight seasons. The Knights’ 29 home wins were third-best in the Western Conference, as they outscored teams 147-99 on home ice.
Their second-round playoff elimination by the Oilers in five games left players, coaches and management not happy about how they were manhandled, including shutouts in the final two games of the series. To boost their offense, the Knights acquired the most sought-after free agent on the market, Mitch Marner from the Maple Leafs.
Offense
The Golden Knights scored 274 goals, fifth-best in the NHL and their power play was second overall. The Knights were just one of three teams to finish in the top five last season in both categories. Now they add Marner (102 points in 2024-25) to the forward mix that includes Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Pavel Dorofeyev, Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson. Marner’s slick playmaking skills along with his ability to play a 200-foot game make him a perfect fit in the Golden Knights lineup. Look for Marner to be slotted alongside Eichel and Dorofeyev, who led Vegas last season with 35 goals and 254 shots on goal. Right behind Dorofeyev in goal scoring was Hertl and his 32 goals.
Defense
Head coach Bruce Cassidy has always preached that defense is about all five guys on the ice being responsible and not just about the two defensemen. Last season, Vegas finished third overall in fewest goals allowed (214), cutting their goals against by 29 from the previous season. They will be hard-pressed to maintain those numbers this season with the announcement that Alex Pietrangelo will be out for the year (and likely retire) following hip surgery and the trade of Nic Hague to Nashville. With those two gone, Vegas has just three of their top six defensemen from when they won the Stanley Cup three seasons ago.
Still, the Golden Knights have two elite defensemen in Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin, who can both run a power play, plus Brayden McNabb (167 blocked shots) and Zach Whitecloud are solid defenders. Jeremy Lauzon comes over from Nashville and Kaeden Korczak rounds out the group.
Goaltending
With last season’s trade of Logan Thompson to Washington, Adin Hill went from sharing the net to becoming the No. 1 goalie. His 35 wins last season were just three shy of his two previous seasons combined, and his four shutouts were two more than he had over the same period. Akira Schmid takes over as the backup. He spent the majority of last season in the minors, but in his five games with Vegas he had a 1.26 GAA and a .944 SV%.
Player to Watch
All eyes will be on Mitch Marner, who won’t have the same daily media scrutiny in Vegas like he did in Toronto where hockey is a religion. From the day that he was introduced to the Vegas media, Marner looked like a person that has 98 million reasons to be happy to be getting a fresh start. The one prevailing criticism of Marner has been his inability to come up big late in a playoff series. The Golden Knights and their fans are hoping he can re-write that narrative.
Outlook
January 23, 2026, will be one of the most anticipated nights of the regular season as Marner makes his return to Toronto. Sportsbooks have Marner’s point prop at 92.5, a number he has gone Over in three of the last four seasons (only miss was when he was limited to 67 games). Here’s to Marner cashing for the fourth time.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 104.5
To Make the Playoffs: -1100
To Miss the Playoffs: +650
To Win the Pacific Division: +180
To Win the Western Conference: +450
To Win the Stanley Cup: +900
2024-25 Recap
Record: 50-22-10, 110 points (1st Pacific Division)
Over/Under: 37-42-3
Home Favorite: 27-11 // Home Dog: 2-1
Road Favorite: 17-11 // Road Dog: 4-8
Win Score 4 or more: 33 of 50 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 21 of 32
Puck Line Wins: 36 of 50 // Puck Line Losses: 14 of 32
Front End Back-to-Back: 7-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 9-4
Points Leader: Jack Eichel – 94
Goal Leader: Pavel Dorofeyev – 35
Assist Leader: Jack Eichel – 66
Shots on Goal Leader: Pavel Dorofeyev – 253
Blocked Shots Leader: Brayden McNabb – 167
Depth Chart
Forwards
Pavel Dorofeyev / Jack Eichel / Mitch Marner
Ivan Barbashev / Tomas Hertl / Mark Stone
Brandon Saad / William Karlsson / Reilly Smith
Brett Howden / Colton Sissons / Keegan Kolesar
Defense
Shea Theodore / Brayden McNabb
Noah Hanifin / Zach Whitecloud
Jeremy Lauzon / Kaedan Korczak
Goalies
Adin Hill / Akira Schmid
Power Play Unit 1
Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore, Pavel Dorofeyev
