Browsing: Knights

Another star from the 2015 draft put pen to paper on a long-term deal.

The deal carries a $13.5 million AAV. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025-26 season.

His representatives and Vegas’ front office reached the agreement roughly six hours before the start of the season. Asked before training camp opened if he would shut down negotiations once meaningful games get going, Eichel brushed off the question.

“If a contract happens organically, then it happens,” Eichel said last month in Las Vegas at the NHL/NHLPA pre-season player media tour. “You can only control so much, right, and thatâ€s sort of in my mindset. What are the things that I focus on? Preparing for the season, getting my mind and body in the best place to be successful and help our hockey team. Thatâ€s more so my focus. I think anything else sort of just takes care of itself when you do your job well.â€

The move to sign Eichel comes after the fellow 2015 draftees Connor McDavid, Kirill Kaprizov and Kyle Connor signed lucrative multi-year extensions in the last week.

Eichel, selected second overall that year by the Buffalo Sabres, is the fifth-leading points-getter from the 2015 class, tallying 608 points (239 goals, 369 assists) in 616 career games.

The 28-year-old took another step last season, picking up a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists) in 77 games while finishing top-five in voting for the Hart and Selke trophies.

Vegas finished with a 50-22-10 record, good for the third-best points tally (110) in the NHL. They won the Pacific Division, but were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the deal, Eichel is set to be under contract through the 2033-34 season, joining Mitch Marner, Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin as the Golden Knights players signed on until at least 2032.

Since undergoing artificial disk replacement, Eichel has produced above a point-a-game level for the Knights. He was the No. 1 center for the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off and was already named to the Olympic team.

— With files from the Associated Press

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The Vegas Golden Knights will be your 2026 Stanley Cup champions, according to the official season simulation done by EA SPORTS in NHL 26.

The Golden Knights defeated the Canucks and Oilers in seven games before defeating the Avalanche in six to advance to the Finals. They took down the Rangers in seven games with Mitch Marner taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy. Marner led the playoffs in scoring followed by Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin.

The San Jose Sharks earned a surprise playoff berth on the back of 95 points from Macklin Celebrini while the Avalanche won the Presidents Trophy.

Connor McDavid took home the Art Ross and Hart Trophy after posting 134 points during the regular season.

Auston Matthew won the Rocket Richard with 61 goals, Cale Makar won the Norris, while Connor Hellebuyck repeated as the Vezina winner.

Anthony Cirelli won his first career Selke Trophy, Ivan Demidov won the Calder after notching 75 points while Bruce Cassidy won the Jack Adams.

NHL 25 predicted the New York Rangers to win the Stanley Cup last season, we will see if the simulation jinx continues this year.

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LAS VEGAS — A day before they open the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday signed veteran forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year, $1.675 million contract.

Holtz, traded to Vegas last offseason from the New Jersey Devils, was on a professional tryout agreement with the Golden Knights this fall after a topsy-turvy first season.

The 23-year-old played in 53 games last season for the Golden Knights, recording just four goals and eight assists. The former first-round selection split his time between Vegas and its AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights.

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Where Holtz settles this season remains to be seen, but he could wind up as one of Bruce Cassidy’s 12 active forwards, a group the coach has been impressed with.

“This could be the best group in terms of player one to 12 that I could ever coach just because of the depth and how it’s lining up for the Vegas Golden Knights,” Cassidy said. “Other teams have ways they access and that’s not disrespect. … Now we’ve got to get it off the paper and onto the rink looking like it’s supposed to.”

For his career, Holtz has garnered 23 goals and 46 points.

Vegas opens up at home Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sam O’Reilly’s second goal of the game, scored 58 seconds into overtime, lifted the London Knights to a 5-4 Ontario Hockey League victory over the visiting Flint Firebirds on Friday at Canada Life Place.

Linus Funck, Cohen Bidgood and Jared Woolley also scored for the Knights (1-2-2-0), who outshot the visitors 44-31 and went 1-for-3 on the power play for their first win of the season.

Nathan Aspinall scored twice for the Firebirds (1-2-1-0), who lead 2-0 after the first period but went into the third tied 3-3. Charlie Murata and Matthew Wang also scored for the Firebirds, who went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. Jimmy Lombardi and Alex Kostov each had two assists.

Knights netminder Aleksei Medvedev kicked out 27 of 31 shots, while Firebirds netminder Mason Vaccari stopped 39 of 44 shots.

Elsewhere in the OHL on Friday:

GUELPH, Ont. — Leo Serlin scored at 1:18 of overtime to lift the Guelph Storm to a 3-2 win over the visiting Saginaw Spirit.

Simon Belohorsky and Mykhailo Haponenko scored in regulation time for the Storm (3-2-0-0), who outshot the visitors 38-30.

Nikita Klepov and Nic Sima scored for the Spirit (1-1-2-1), who went 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Storm were 1-for-5.

Spirit goaltender Stepan Shurygin stopped 35 of 38 shots, while Storm goalie Zachary Jovanovski stopped 38 of 30 shots.

KINGSTON, Ont. — Aleks Kulemin had a goal and two assists as the Kingston Frontenacs beat the visiting Oshawa Generals 5-2.

Maleek McGowan, Tomas Pobezal, Robin Kuzma and Matthew Frost also scored for the Frontenancs (3-1-0-1), who outshot the visitors 28-23.

Brooks Rogowski and Jalen Lobo scored for the Generals (1-4-0-0), who trailed 3-1 after the first period and 4-2 heading into the third.

Both teams were 0-for-3 on the power play.

SUDBURY, Ont. — Ryder Cali scored the winner and Cam Warren and Bronson Ride each had two assists as the visiting North Bay Battalion edged the Sudbury Wolves 3-1.

Shamar Moses and Lirim Amidovski also scored for the Battalion (3-2-0-0), who outshot the Wolves 30-25.

Blake Clayton scored for the winless Wolves (0-5-1-0), who trailed 2-1 heading into the third period.

BRANTFORD, Ont. — Jake O’Brien and Marek Vanacker each had a goal and two assists as the Brantford Bulldogs defeated the visiting Peterborough Petes 6-3.

Edison Engle, Adam Jiricek, Luca Testa and Ryder Boulton also scored for the Bulldogs (3-01-0), who outshot the visitors 36-24.

Genc Ula, Leon Kolarik and Yanis Lutz scored for the Petes (2-3-0-1), who trailed 1-0 after the first period and 4-0 heading into the third.

STEELHEADS 5, GREYHOUNDS 0

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Zach Bowen made 36 saves to register the shutout as the Brampton Steelheads blanked the visiting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 5-0.

Jakub Fibigr, Joshua Avery, William Eggleton, Troy Patton (empty-netter), and Matej Stankoven (empty-netter) all scored for the Steelheads (3-2-0-0), who took a 2-0 lead into the third period.

The Steelheads went 1-for-1 on the power play while the Greyhounds (4-3-0-0) were 0-for-4.

Greyhounds netminder Landon Miller stopped 27 of 30 shots.

KITCHENER, Ont. — Christian Humphreys scored twice, including the game-winning goal, as the Kitchener Rangers edged the visiting Owen Sound Attack 4-3.

Luca Romano and Cameron Arquette also scored for the Rangers (4-1-0-0), who outshot the visitors 33-30. Jack Pridham and Tanner Lam each chipped in with two assists, while netminder Christian Kirsch stopped 27 of 30 shots.

Pierce Mbuyi scored twice for the Attack (4-1-0-0), while Jacob Therrien netted a single. John Banks and Harry Nansi each had two assists in their team’s first loss of the season.

The Attack trailed 3-1 after the first period and 4-2 heading into the third.

Attack netminder Carter George kicked out 29-of-33 shots.

SARNIA, Ont. — Kevin He had a goal and assist as the visiting Niagara IceDogs scored the first four goals of the game and then hung on for a 4-3 win over the Sarnia Sting.

Ivan Galiyanov, Riley Patterson and Ryan Roobroeck also scored for the IceDogs (4-2-0-0), who were outshot 36-23. Alexander Hage chipped in with two assists, while goaltender Charlie Robertson stopped 33 of 36 shots.

Beckham Edwards, Jack Van Volsen and Easton Walos scored for the Sting (2-3-0-0), who trailed 4-1 heading into the third period.

Sting goaltender Evan Maillet stopped 19-of-23 shots.

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This past off-season for the Vegas Golden Knights was defined by a major addition, with top free agent Mitch Marner joining from the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, it was also marked by a significant loss, as Alex Pietrangelo announced a step back from hockey due to ongoing injury concerns.

Regardless of these changes, the Golden Knights are once again expected to contend for the Stanley Cup as they head into the 2025-26 campaign, their ninth in the league. Coming off a first-place finish in the Pacific Division — becoming just the second expansion-era team to win at least four division titles in their first eight seasons — and a second-round playoff exit, Vegas is poised to make another run at the trophy theyâ€ve competed for twice and lifted once.

When their post-season run ended in May against the Edmonton Oilers, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon reflected on the loss at his year-end media availability, calling it “a missed opportunity because I felt our team was good enough to win.†He added that the group “genuinely believed we had what it takes†and that it was “disappointing because we fell short of what we anticipated we would.â€

Since entering the league in 2017-18, the Golden Knights have carried an expectation to win, which has helped build a strong culture and identity along with consistent, tangible success. As Jack Eichel recently told NHL.com, “Our standard is the Stanley Cup. Expectations are super high. I think thatâ€s a great problem.â€

Apart from the Marner trade, in which Nicolas Roy was sent to Toronto, the other noteworthy moves the Golden Knights†front office made this past summer were re-signing Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad to one-year contracts, locking up Kaeden Korczak on a four-year deal, acquiring Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon from the Nashville Predators in exchange for Nicolas Hague and a 2027 conditional third-round pick and letting unrestricted free agents Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov walk. They also drafted four players in June: Jakob Ihs-Wozniak (55th overall), Mateo Nobert (85th), Alex Weiermair (186th) and Gustav Sjoqvist (187th).

With their season and home opener exactly a week away — Oct. 8 against the Los Angeles Kings — our 32-teams-in-32-days preview series now shifts to the entertainment capital of the world.

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Newcomer to watch: Mitch Marner

Coming from an intense hockey market like Toronto, Marner is used to having lots of eyes on him. After leaving the only NHL organization heâ€s known — where he played his first nine seasons — the star forward is set to remain in the spotlight as he begins a new chapter in Vegas with an eight-year, $96 million contract in hand. Ample curiosity will follow Marner, not just to see how he fares with his new team, but also how the Maple Leafs adjust now that the Core Four has been disbanded.

Marner, 28, recorded a career-high 102 points in 81 games last season, the most on the Maple Leafs and the fifth-highest total in the NHL. His 75 assists were also a career-best, ranking third league-wide. Joining a Golden Knights team that finished fifth in the league in goals per game in 2024-25 (3.34), the three-time all-starâ€s elite offensive touch should help vault their attack to another level. With nine straight playoff appearances in Toronto and 63 points in 70 games during that stretch, heâ€ll also inject more post-season experience into an already seasoned lineup.

Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy has hinted at trying Marner and Eichel together on the top line, though it remains to be seen how well the two stars will mesh. â€œSometimes on paper you look at chemistry and think itâ€s going to work, and it doesnâ€t,†said Cassidy. “And sometimes other lines just come together naturally. So that, to me, is a little bit unpredictable.†He also pointed out that “those guys both like to hang onto the puck.â€

Heading into a contract year, Dorofeyev is positioned for a notable payday if he can match or build on last seasonâ€s production. The 24-year-old Russian is in the second season of a two-year, $3.67 million deal and is set to become a restricted free agent after 2025-26. Heâ€s coming off a breakout campaign in which he set career highs across the board — playing all 82 games and posting 35 goals, 17 assists and 52 points — while recording a 13.8 shooting percentage and averaging 16:32 of ice time. His goal total led all Golden Knights skaters, and his 13 power-play markers were just one shy of the single-season franchise record Tomas Hertl set with 14.

Currently sidelined with a lower-body injury suffered in Vegas†second pre-season game against the Kings, itâ€s unclear if Dorofeyev will be ready for opening night. His name is being floated as a candidate to join Eichel and Marner on the left side, though Ivan Barbashev has been given the first go. Pairing last seasonâ€s team goals leader with two of the leagueâ€s top playmakers seems like a natural fit. Dorofeyev spent most of last year alongside Hertl and Saad and on the top power-play unit, but if he does get time with Eichel and Marner and the additional opportunities that come with that, another breakout season with even bigger numbers is well within reach.

The Golden Knights donâ€tboast the deepest of prospect pools, hardly surprising considering theyâ€ve made only two first-round picks and two second-round picks over the past four drafts, and just four total selections in each of the last three. But currently at the top of their list is forward Trevor Connelly, taken 19th overall in 2024 from the USHLâ€s Tri-City Storm, the organizationâ€s earliest pick since selecting Peyton Krebs 17th overall five years earlier.

Connelly, 19, spent the 2024-25 season at Providence College, where he posted four goals and nine assists in 23 games as a freshman. Days after his NCAA season ended, Connelly signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Vegas and joined the AHLâ€s Henderson Silver Knights, posting a goal and three assists in six games. He also recorded four points in seven games for the gold medal-winning United States at the most recent World Juniors tournament. As he makes the jump to pro hockey, Connelly is expected to spend the 2025-26 season in Henderson.

1. Will Jack Eichel sign an extension during the season?

Since acquiring Jack Eichel from the Buffalo Sabres in November 2021, the Golden Knights have made him a cornerstone of their roster. Heâ€s coming off a 2024-25 season in which he set career highs in assists (66), points (94), average ice time (20:32), shooting percentage (12.0), power-play points (34), and plus-minus (plus-32) over 77 games. Eligible to sign an extension since July 1, the 28-year-old is entering the final year of his eight-year, $80 million contract.

Eichel has nearly averaged a point per game over his career, with 608 points in 616 contests between Buffalo and Vegas, plus 43 points in 40 playoff appearances. In May, shortly after Vegas was eliminated from the post-season, GM Kelly McCrimmon called re-signing Eichel “an important order of business†and emphasized his value, saying, “Heâ€s one of the top guys in the NHL. Heâ€s got great character and great leadership. You see night in and night out what he does for our team.â€

Following Kirill Kaprizovâ€s record-setting extension with the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, Sportsnetâ€s Elliotte Friedman suggested the eight-year, $136-million deal could raise Eichelâ€s asking price. “And Iâ€m not sure Vegas is comfortable with that,†said Friedman. “I just donâ€t think the two sides are comfortable where theyâ€re at yet, but what I do think is it gives Eichel and the Golden Knights a better idea of what theyâ€re really dealing with.â€

2. How big a hole does Alex Pietrangeloâ€s absence leave?

In a statement released on June 30, Pietrangelo announced that, after consulting with doctors and his family, it had been decided that he would step away from hockey to allow his body to recover from a hip issue that he had played through for most of last season and into the playoffs. At the time, it sounded as though the defencemanâ€s career might effectively be over. But just a few months later, Pietrangelo walked back some of the implied permanence of his decision, telling reporters, “Nothing is really concrete. Iâ€m just going to continue to take it day by day and go throughout my process and see where it goes.â€

The 35-year-old led the Golden Knights in average ice time (22:24) last season across 71 games, and again in the playoffs (23:03). His 7,823 total regular-season minutes over the past six seasons are over 800 ahead of the next closest Golden Knight, Brayden McNabb. He also led the team in shifts during that span with 8,750. Vegas still has a strong blue line, led now by Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin, and McCrimmon has identified 24-year-old Kaedan Korczak as a defenceman poised to take on a bigger role. According to McCrimmon, Pietrangelo himself has voiced confidence that Korczak is “ready to be a really good NHL player for a long time.â€

3. Could they land Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames?

And on the note of filling a hole on defence… with Andersson likely to depart the Flames before the March trade deadline, itâ€s not hard to imagine Vegas taking a swing at him, given their history of bold moves. Entering the final season of a six-year deal with a $4.55 million cap hit, the pending free agent is expected to be a hot commodity. Over the summer, rumours circulated that Andersson was only interested in signing with one team — the Golden Knights — though he denied that, saying it “couldnâ€t be further from the truth†and that he “would never handcuff (GM Craig Conroy) and give him one team.â€

Still, Vegas may very well be at the top of his list in terms of a sign-and-trade scenario, as The Athleticâ€s Pierre LeBrun reported at the end of June. However, according to LeBrun, the Flames werenâ€t excited about what the Golden Knights were offering at the time. While Andersson doesnâ€t need to be extended to be moved, and he only has a six-team no-trade list, sending the right-shot somewhere heâ€d be willing to sign long term would likely bring the best return. Although Vegas is currently well over the cap, Pietrangeloâ€s move to LTIR starts to open the door, and the team has shown it can make the necessary maneuvers and adjustments in these scenarios. Andersson would be a suitable replacement and could slot in next to his former teammate Hanifin.

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Mitch Marner didn’t take long to make an impact for his new team — albeit in a low-stakes situation.

Making his pre-season debut for the Vegas Golden Knights, Marner set up Jack Eichel for the club’s first goal midway through the third period against the visiting Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.

Marner made a nice backhand pass from behind the goal line to the slot for Eichel, who beat Mammoth goalie Vitek Vanecek to cut Utah’s lead to 2-1. Vegas went on to win 3-2.

“There’s not a lot of people in the world who can make that pass,” Eichel said in a post-game interview.

Golden Knights fans will be quite happy if they see similar scenes many times this season. The team hopes to establish strong chemistry between two former rivals from the Atlantic Division.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy liked what he saw from the Eichel, Marner and Shea Theodore trio and said he’s sure “those three guys will play together in overtime quite a bit.â€

Marner, of course, was sent to the Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade this past summer. He reached an eight-year, $96-million deal with the Golden Knights.

The Thornhill, Ont. native had 741 points in 657 career games with his hometown team, but the Leafs failed to get past the second round during Marner’s time in Toronto.

Eichel also scored the tying goal Thursday late in the third period and then assisted on Theodore’s overtime winner.

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The San Jose Sharks hosted the Vegas Golden Knights in their first preseason action of the 2025-26 season on Sunday night.

In the first period, we got our first look at head coach Ryan Warsofskyâ€s special teams units. Egor Afanasyev was sent to the penalty box for tripping at 5:20, and the penalty kill held strong. There were a few interesting names getting time as well. Sam Dickinson got a shot on the blue line, while Michael Misa and Will Smith were paired together on the penalty kill as well.

Alex Nedeljkovic made a phenomenal save while shorthanded as well, denying Raphael Lavoie on a cross-crease attempt. Misa was tripped up by Cole Schwindt at 8:14 in the first period, making a nice falling pass and drawing a penalty. Quentin Musty had a great chance off a pass from Dickinson as the penalty expired, but was denied by the Golden Knights†22-year-old goalie, Carl Lindbom.

One play that stood out to me early was off of an offensive zone turnover by the Sharks. Vegas attempted to break out of their defensive zone, and Pavol Regenda pulled off a perfectly timed stick lift to dispossess the Golden Knights and regain the puck in a dangerous area.

Warsofsky specifically said he was interested in seeing what Anthony Vincent brought to the table after the non-game groupâ€s morning skate, and it was clear why. He was making smart plays and creating some chances off the rush early on. With that being said, he did make a major error in the second period and was less noticeable as the game went on.

After the first period, it was still a 0-0 deadlock, but the Golden Knights led 9-4 in shots.

Early in the second period, there were a couple of defensive plays that certainly stood out. Nick Leddyâ€s speed is still dangerous, as he rushed back and closed out a Golden Knights zone entry attempt, allowing the Sharks to regain possession. Dickinson also had a great poke-check denying a rush attempt by Vegas forward Brett Howden.

Afanasyev drew a penalty just over seven minutes into the second period, and it didnâ€t take long for the Sharks power play to take advantage. Michael Misa won the faceoff to Tyler Toffoli, who found John Klingberg on the point. Klingberg fired it and found the back of the net through a screen, breaking the deadlock and giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Vegas made a goaltending change shortly after the first goal in an attempt to split time between Lindbom and Jesper Vikman. Lindbom played a total of 31:29 before Vikman took over in the crease.

Jeff Skinner was a major standout in the second period. He created space for himself early in the period and was denied on a rush opportunity. He then scored right before the end of the period, when Will Smith made a great backhand pass to the slot. It landed on Dickinsonâ€s stick, who found Skinner in front of the net, making it 2-0 for the Sharks. Itâ€s important to note that right before getting the secondary assist, Smith was hauled down in the defensive zone and drew a penalty.

Misa took a tripping penalty 11:52 into the second period. Near the end of the penalty, the Sharks were called for too many men, giving the Golden Knights a short 5-on-3 opportunity. The San Jose penalty kill would prevail, and Vegas remained without a goal through two periods.

Toffoli toe-dragged around the Vegas defense early in the third, but after walking in, he was denied by Vikman on the backhand attempt.

Zack Ostapchuk was called for interference with 7:31 remaining in regulation, giving Vegas a golden opportunity to get back in the game. That opportunity would be wasted though, as the Sharks’ penalty kill improved to 4-for-4 on the night.

Despite a late push by the Golden Knights, the Sharks were able to maintain the shutout and, after an empty net goal by Toffoli, they walked away with a 3-0 victory to kick off the preseason.

Nedeljkovic was tested quite a bit early on, but that faded away in the latter half of the game. He made quite a few key saves including a late-game breakaway by Alexander Holtz. So far, he has looked like a solid addition for the Sharks. Considering thereâ€s still uncertainty about how well Yaroslav Askarov will play this season, Nedeljkovic seems like heâ€ll certainly add some stability in the crease.

Philipp Kurashev also looked very solid, making smart plays throughout the night, and overall being in the right spot at the right time.

Quentin Musty was noticeably faster, and his offseason work was paying dividends. Misa was another prospect who definitely didn’t look out of place, he’s adapting to the professional game very quickly and seems primed to have a strong rookie season if what we’ve seen so far continues into the regular season. Dickinson is in a similar situation, as he looked very good as well.

The Sharks will have their second preseason game of the season on Friday, as they once again face the Golden Knights.

Macklin Celebrini and Cam Lund Return to Training Camp
Ahead of tonightâ€s preseason matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, Macklin Celebrini and Cam Lund both returned to the ice this morning at Sharks Ice.

The Hockey News Sunday Recap: San Jose Sharks` – Sunday Sept. 21st
Happy Sunday, San Jose Sharks fans.

Sharks Announce Broadcast Schedule for 2025-26 Season
On Saturday morning the San Jose Sharks announced their broadcast schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

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LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights are always going for it, constantly willing to chase top talent in order to…

Media days have kicked off for the Vegas Golden Knights, and while the main focus is what’s to come on…

Greg WyshynskiSep 10, 2025, 05:45 PM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.HENDERSON, Nev. — Jack Eichel said he’s focused…