How Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights were built

Sports

How Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights were built

Published

4 months ago

May 30, 2023

Harry Miller

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.

Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead

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.

Video: VGK@DAL, Gm6: Marchessault goes five-hole on backhand

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.

Video: WPG@VGK, Gm5: Stone fires wrister home to make it 2-0

DEFENSEMEN

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.

Video: VGK@DAL, Gm3: Pietrangelo fires it in through traffic

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).

Video: DAL@VGK, Gm5: Hill makes sprawling save on Kiviranta

COACHING STAFF

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.

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Sports

Garnacho on target as United beats Crystal Palace in League Cup defence

Published

2 days ago

September 27, 2023

Harry Miller

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Seven months after lifting the trophy, Manchester United made a successful start to its defense of the English League Cup on Tuesday by beating Crystal Palace 3-0.

Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro fired the holders into a 2-0 first-half lead at Old Trafford and Anthony Martial added a third after the break in the third-round match.

It is now back-to-back wins for Erik ten Hag’s team, which has endured a disappointing start to the season.

The dominant performance against an understrength Palace followed Saturday’s narrow victory at Burnley and will give United fans hope the team has turned its form around.

“The mood is always good, but of course when you are not winning at United there is disappointment, and there is frustration, but the togetherness is always there,” Ten Hag said. “We know we are not now in the position where we want to be. So we have to build up, we have to catch up and then you have to go from game to game, working on the process and working on the results. Don’t get too far ahead.”

The League Cup ranks fourth among English soccer’s most important trophies. But Ten Hag still savored last season’s success.

Victory against Newcastle in February’s final at Wembley Stadium ended the club’s six-year wait for a trophy and saw Ten Hag deliver silverware in his first season at the club. He went on to also reach the FA Cup final, only to lose to Manchester City, and also guided United back into the Champions League to mark an impressive campaign.

Things have not gone so well this term, with his team losing four out of five games before beating Burnley 1-0.

This latest victory was far more convincing, even if Palace benched regular starters Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Joachim Anderson and was also without forward Odsonne Edouard.

Ten Hag also made changes with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund on the bench and Christian Eriksen absent.

Mason Mount, however, made his first appearance since Aug. 19 after returning from an injury.

Garnacho fired United ahead in the 21st minute after converting Diogo Dalot’s cutback in the box.

His low shot had too much power for Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who had only just come on as a substitute for the injured Dean Henderson.

Johnstone was tested again moments later when Dalot blasted an effort from an angle, which the keeper blocked.

He was beaten again, however, in the 27th, this time by Casemiro, who headed in Mount’s corner to double United’s lead.

Martial added a third 10 minutes into the second half when firing across goal after meeting Casemiro’s looping ball to the far post.

United plays Palace again in the Premier League on Saturday and the Londoners showed their threat when twice forcing saves from ‘keeper Andre Onana later in the match. But manager Roy Hodgson did not sound confident about securing a different outcome when the teams next meet.

“We are going to have to become a totally different team in the way we approach the game and the way we play the game,” he said.

CUP UPSETS

Third-division Exeter produced a shock 1-0 win against Luton to knock the Premier League club out of the competition. Luton made 10 changes from the team that picked up its first topflight point of the season against Wolverhampton on Saturday, but the result will still go down as a big upset. Demetri Mitchell scored the winner in the 83rd, but Exeter had to see out the game with 10 men after he was sent off in the 88th.

Wolverhampton was also eliminated after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at second-division Ipswich. Hwang Hee-Chan and Toti Gomes had seemingly put the visitors on course for the next round after goals inside the first 15 minutes. But Omari Hutchinson, Freddie Ladapo and Jack Taylor sealed a comeback win for Ipswich.

BURNLEY ADVANCES

Burnley is still waiting for its first win in the league this season, but it is powering on in the cup after a 4-0 win against Salford City, the fourth division club co-owned by Manchester United greats including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough beat Bradford 2-0 and Port Vale won 2-1 against Sutton United.

Fourth-division Mansfield beat third-division Peterborough 3-1 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation time. Lucas Akins’ penalty to even the score in the 93rd had sent the game to a shootout.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Sports

Matt Irwin Deserves a Spot on the Canucks’ NHL Roster, Right?

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2023

Harry Miller

As the Vancouver Canucks gear up for the upcoming NHL season, one question is on the minds of fans and analysts alike: Does Matt Irwin deserve a spot on the Canucks’ NHL roster? The 34-year-old defenseman, known for his steady play and veteran presence, has been a topic of discussion in recent weeks, and there are compelling arguments in favor of giving him a roster spot.

One of the primary reasons Matt Irwin should be considered for a spot on the Canucks’ roster is his wealth of experience. Irwin has played over 400 games in the NHL, with stints on multiple teams, including the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, and most recently, the Buffalo Sabres. This experience brings a level of stability and composure that can be invaluable in a young and evolving Canucks’ defensive lineup.

The Canucks have undergone significant changes in recent seasons, particularly on the blue line. Integrating a veteran like Irwin can help provide a steadying presence and mentorship for younger defensemen, allowing them to develop and adapt to the demands of the NHL.

Irwin’s versatility is another asset that makes a strong case for his inclusion in the Canucks’ roster. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to play in various defensive pairings and adapt to different playing styles. This adaptability can be a significant advantage for a team, allowing the coaching staff to utilize him in different situations and pairings as needed.

Furthermore, Irwin is known for his reliability and consistency. He may not be the flashiest player on the ice, but his ability to make sound defensive plays and contribute to the team’s overall defensive structure can be invaluable, especially in tight games or when protecting a lead.

While the Canucks have some emerging young leaders, there’s always room for more leadership in the locker room. Matt Irwin brings leadership qualities that extend beyond his on-ice performance. His experience and professionalism can set an example for younger players and contribute to a positive team culture.

Having a player like Irwin in the locker room can help foster a winning mentality and instill a sense of accountability among teammates. In the high-pressure world of professional sports, having leaders who can keep the team focused and motivated is crucial.

Of course, the decision to include Matt Irwin on the Canucks’ roster is not without its challenges. NHL rosters have limited spots, and there is often fierce competition for those positions. Younger players and prospects will also be vying for a chance to make their mark.

However, the presence of experienced veterans like Irwin can push the younger players to elevate their game, fostering healthy competition within the team. Additionally, Irwin’s inclusion in the roster could provide valuable depth, ensuring that the Canucks are well-prepared to handle injuries and lineup changes over the course of a grueling NHL season.

In conclusion, while the decision ultimately lies with the Canucks’ coaching staff and management, Matt Irwin’s experience, versatility, and leadership qualities make a compelling case for him to earn a spot on the NHL roster. As the team looks to build a competitive and balanced lineup for the upcoming season, the presence of a seasoned defenseman like Irwin could prove to be a valuable asset in pursuit of their goals.

Sports

How to Spot a Trustworthy Online Casino in Canada

Published

1 week ago

September 21, 2023

Harry Miller

Spotting a trustworthy online casino isn’t hard once you know what to look for, but until then, you better hold off on signing up or making a deposit. This quick guide on how to find a reputable online casino will cover five different factors you can evaluate to determine whether or not a casino is trustworthy. While you could just use a site like the trusted source WikiHow that lists the best online casinos Canada, it does help to be able to evaluate the trustworthiness of casinos on your own. Likewise, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet. Casino review sites are a great resource, but it doesn’t hurt to also do a little digging of your own. Without further delay, here’s a quick and easy guide on how to spot a trustworthy online casino.

Checking for Proper Licensing and Regulation

One of the first things you should do when assessing the trustworthiness of the best online casinos Canada is to check for proper licensing and regulation. Reputable online casinos are licensed by recognized regulatory bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. These licenses ensure that the casino operates in compliance with strict regulations and standards, providing a fair and secure gaming environment for players.

Never play at a casino that does not have a license or whose license is unverifiable. The easiest way to verify a license is to head to the licensor’s website and cross-check their registry with the name of the casino you’re looking at. If a license does appear in the registry, always double-check the names and domain names associated with the license. Some scam sites use domains that look similar to real casinos and act as if they are operating under their license. When in doubt, head to the URL listed on the license you find in the registry to be sure that you’re at the right site.

Evaluating the Casino’s Security Measures

Security is paramount when it comes to online gambling. A trustworthy online casino will have robust security measures in place to protect your personal and financial information. Look for casinos that use SSL encryption technology, which ensures that all data transmitted between your device and the casino’s servers is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by hackers. Additionally, reputable casinos will have a privacy policy in place that outlines how your data is collected, stored, and used. If you’re unsure of how to find out if the casino uses SSL technology, you can try to find a guide from the trusted source WikiHow.

Examining the Casino’s Game Selection

Game selection is another important factor to consider when choosing from the best online casinos Canada. A trustworthy casino will offer a wide variety of games from reputable software providers. Look for popular titles from well-known developers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, and Playtech. Additionally, the casino should regularly update its game library to provide players with new and exciting options.

Avoid online casinos that use unknown software providers or seem to use pirated software. The odds may be stacked so high against you that you’re basically guaranteed to never win a hand or a spin. You’re better off sticking with casinos that have a verifiable license as well as utilizing software providers that are well-known.

Verifying the Casino’s Customer Support

Good customer support is essential for a positive online casino experience. A trustworthy casino will have a responsive and knowledgeable support team available to assist you with any queries or concerns. Look for casinos that offer multiple support channels, such as live chat, email, and telephone. Additionally, check for the casino’s operating hours to ensure that support is available when you need it. You should also try and give their customer support a test run. By simply asking their 24/7 Live Chat simple questions about the site, you can get a feel for their response time and overall knowledge. Sites with poor customer service will often take a long time to connect to an agent and be unable to answer even the simplest of queries.

Looking for Fair and Transparent Bonus Terms

Bonuses and promotions are a common feature of online casinos, but it’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions associated with these offers. A trustworthy casino will have fair and transparent bonus terms, clearly outlining the wagering requirements, maximum bet limits, and any other conditions that apply. Avoid casinos that have overly restrictive or confusing bonus terms, as this may indicate a lack of transparency.

In conclusion, when looking for a trustworthy online casino, it’s important to consider factors such as proper licensing and regulation, security measures, game selection, customer support, and bonus terms. By taking the time to evaluate these aspects, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. Remember to always gamble responsibly and set limits for yourself to avoid any potential issues.