The Vegas Golden Knights’ 2024-25 season was a tale of two extremes—regular-season dominance followed by playoff heartbreak. As a die-hard Knights superfan and analytics junkie, I’m here to break it all down, data crown firmly in place. Let’s dive into the highs, the lows, and the numbers that tell the story of a season that had us dreaming of glory but left us asking, “What went wrong?”
Let’s start with the good stuff. The Knights didn’t just silence the skeptics this year—they obliterated them. With 50 wins, 110 points, and a shiny Pacific Division title, Vegas was hotter than the desert sun. Jack Eichel was a man possessed, racking up 28 goals and 94 points, while Pavel Dorofeyev emerged as a sniper extraordinaire, leading the team with 35 goals. And let’s not forget Tomas Hertl, who rewrote franchise history with 14 power-play goals.
Sure, January was a bit of a slog, but when you set a franchise record with 275 goals, who’s complaining? The Knights were firing on all cylinders, and the Strip was alive with Cup dreams. Regular season grade? Easy 92.6.
And now, the heartbreak. The playoffs were supposed to be the Knights’ victory lap, but instead, they felt like a bad beat at the blackjack table. Despite entering the postseason as Pacific Division champs, Vegas stumbled out of the gate and never found their stride.
Key players went cold when it mattered most. Hertl managed just three goals and two assists, while Dorofeyev disappeared with one goal and one assist. The numbers don’t lie—Adin Hill’s 3.15 GAA and .887 save percentage were a far cry from his regular-season form. Ivan Barbashev? One goal, one assist, and a whole lot of frustration.
The Knights managed just one convincing win—a buzzer-beater in Game 1 against the Wild—and fizzled out after Game 3 of the second round. The lack of urgency was glaring, and the postseason earns a harsh 61.1.
So, where does that leave us? Balancing a regular season of fireworks against a playoff dud, the Knights land at a 82.5 overall. The regular season showed us what this team is capable of, but the playoffs exposed a dangerous complacency.
After the 2023 Cup win, it’s fair to wonder if the Knights lost their edge. The “Vegas vs. Everyone” mentality that fueled their rise seemed to fade, and fans are growing restless. If this team doesn’t rediscover its hunger, they risk closing their contention window with just one Cup—and a legacy of “what could have been.”
The numbers tell the story, but the heartache is real. Here’s hoping the Knights regroup, reload, and come back swinging next season. Because in Vegas, we don’t settle for mediocrity. All hail the data crown—now let’s fix this.
Until next time, stay golden!