The Golden Knights will seek to win their first title after a five-game loss to the Washington Capitals in the 2018 Cup Final.
Four Vegas players who have played at least one Stanley Cup Playoff game have won the Cup: forwards Chandler Stephenson (2018; Capitals) and Phil Kessel (2016, 2017; Pittsburgh Penguins), and defensemen Alec Martinez (2012, 2014; Los Angeles Kings) and Alex Pietrangelo (2019; St. Louis Blues). Backup goalie Jonathan Quick, who has not played this postseason, has won the Cup twice with the Kings (2012, 2014).
Of the 24 players to play at least one postseason game, 12 were acquired via trade, six were signed in free agency, four were selected by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, one was selected in the NHL Draft, and one was claimed off waivers.
Here’s how the roster of this Stanley Cup finalist was built, with background on the coaching staff and general manager:
FORWARDS
Michael Amadio, RW: Claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 30, 2021, Amadio had 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 67 regular-season games and has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 11 playoff games.
Ivan Barbashev, C: Acquired in a trade with the Blues on Feb. 26 for forward prospect Zach Dean, Barbashev had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 23 regular-season games after the trade and has 17 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 playoff games.
Teddy Blueger, C: Acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1 for defenseman prospect Peter Diliberatore and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Blueger had six points (two goals, four assists) in 18 games after the trade and has two points (one goal, one assist) in six playoff games.
William Carrier, LW: Selected in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017, Carrier had 25 points (16 goals, nine assists) in 56 regular-season games and has two points (one goal, one assist) in 13 playoff games.
Jack Eichel, C: Acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4, 2021, with a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft for forwards Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (forward prospect Noah Ostlund) and a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, Eichel had 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 67 regular-season games and has a team-high 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 17 playoff games.
Brett Howden, C: Acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 17, 2021, for defenseman Nick DeSimone and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft (forward prospect Noah Laba), Howden had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 54 regular-season games and has six points (three goals, three assists) in 17 playoff games.
William Karlsson, C: Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Karlsson had 53 points (14 goals, 39 assists) in 82 regular-season games and has 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 17 playoff games.
Phil Kessel, RW: Signed as a free agent Aug. 24, Kessel had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 82 regular-season games and has two assists in four playoff games.
Keegan Kolesar, RW: Acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 24, 2017, for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (forward Alexandre Texier), Kolesar had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 74 regular-season games and has five points (two goals, three assists) in 17 playoff games.
Jonathan Marchessault, RW: Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Marchessault had 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 76 regular-season games and has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 17 playoff games.
Nicolas Roy, C: Acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on June 27, 2019, with a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (defenseman prospect Oscar Plandowski) for forward Erik Haula, Roy had 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 65 regular-season games and has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 17 playoff games.
Reilly Smith, RW: Acquired in a trade with the Panthers on June 21, 2017, in exchange for Vegas selecting Marchessault in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Smith had 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 78 regular-season games and has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 17 playoff games.
Chandler Stephenson, C: Acquired in a trade with the Capitals on Dec. 2, 2019, for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft (defenseman prospect Ty Murchison), Stephenson had an NHL career-high 65 points (16 goals, 49 assists) in 81 regular-season games and has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 17 playoff games.
Mark Stone, RW: Acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 25, 2019, with forward Tobias Lindberg for defenseman Erik Brannstrom, forward Oscar Lindberg and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (forward prospect Egor Sokolov), Stone had 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 43 regular-season games and has 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 playoff games. Stone was named first captain of the Golden Knights on Jan. 13, 2021.
Nicolas Hague: Selected in the second round (No. 34) of the 2017 draft, Hague had 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 81 regular-season games and has three points (one goal, two assists) in 17 playoff games.
Ben Hutton: Signed as a free agent Oct. 28, 2021, Hutton had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 31 regular-season games and has no points in two playoff games.
Alec Martinez: Acquired in a trade with the Kings on Feb. 19, 2020, for a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (forward prospect Will Cuylle) and a second-round pick in the 2021 draft (defenseman prospect Ben Roger), Martinez had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 77 regular-season games and has five assists in 17 playoff games.
Brayden McNabb: Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017, McNabb had 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 82 regular-season games and has two assists in 16 playoff games.
Brayden Pachal: Signed as a free agent Sept. 20, 2019, Pachel had two assists in 10 regular-season games and has no points in one playoff game.
Alex Pietrangelo: Signed as a free agent Oct. 12, 2020, Pietrangelo had 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists) in 73 regular-season games and has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 16 playoff games.
Shea Theodore: Acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on June 21, 2017, in exchange for Vegas selecting defenseman Clayton Stoner in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Theodore had 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 55 regular-season games and has seven assists in 16 playoff games.
Zach Whitecloud: Signed as a free agent March 8, 2018, Whitecloud had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 59 regular-season games and has five points (one goal, four assists) in 17 playoff games.
GOALIES
Laurent Brossoit: Signed as a free agent July 28, 2021, Brossoit was 7-0-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 regular-season games (10 starts) and is 5-2 with a 3.18 GAA and .894 save percentage in eight playoff games. He has not played since May 8 because of a lower-body injury.
Adin Hill: Acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Aug. 29, 2022, for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft, Hill was 16-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 27 regular-season games (25 starts) and is 7-3 with a 2.07 GAA, .937 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 playoff games (nine starts).
Bruce Cassidy, coach: Hired on June 14, eight days after he was fired by the Boston Bruins, Cassidy led the Golden Knights (51-22-9) to the best record in the Western Conference. He is 343-177-62 with nine ties in 591 games as coach of the Golden Knights, Bruins (2016-22) and Capitals (2002-04).
Ryan Craig, assistant: Hired on June 9, 2017, Craig has been an assistant for all six seasons in Golden Knights history. He played 198 NHL games as a forward from 2005-15.
Misha Donskov, assistant: Hired on Aug. 8, 2016, as director of hockey operations, Donskov was an assistant this season.
John Stevens, assistant: Hired on June 28, Stevens spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with the Dallas Stars. He was coach of the Kings from 2017-19 and the Philadelphia Flyers from 2006-08.
Sean Burke, goalie coach: Hired on June 28, Burke was a scout and goalie coach with the Montreal Canadiens from 2016-22 after he was goalie coach and assistant GM with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes from 2008-16.
GENERAL MANAGER
Kelly McCrimmon: Promoted to GM on May 2, 2019, McCrimmon took over the position for president of hockey operations George McPhee, who also was GM, on Sept. 1. McCrimmon was named assistant GM on Aug. 2, 2016, and played a key role in building the Golden Knights roster from its inaugural season.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
