The Vegas Golden Knights history is one of the most remarkable stories in modern sports. Since joining the NHL in 2017, they have redefined Vegas Golden Knights hockey with their electrifying style, record-breaking playoff runs, and passionate fan base, making them one of the league’s most exciting and successful expansion franchises.
Established
2017
City
Las Vegas
League History
2017 – Present / National Hockey League
Team History
2017 – Present / Vegas Golden Knights
Nickname
Golden Knights – The Vegas Golden Knights have become one of the most beloved teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) since their debut in 2017. The team has already made a deep playoff run, and fans are eager to see what else they can accomplish. But where did their name come from? Let’s look at how this unique nickname was created for Sin City's first major professional sports franchise.
Vegas Golden Knights Origin
It all began with owner Bill Foley’s vision for an exciting hockey experience to unite people and honor Las Vegas' rich military history. He chose “Golden Knights” as his team name because it symbolized strength, courage, and power – values he wanted his players to embody on the ice each night.
Additionally, he felt it represented Las Vegas perfectly: golden represented its vibrant energy. At the same time, knights signified protecting those who live there or visit worldwide, seeking entertainment within its bright lights and casinos.
Foley also drew inspiration from the U.S Army Parachute Team ‘The Golden Knights,' based out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina - home state to many staff members, including General Manager George McPhee himself.
However, His connection with them gave him even more motivation behind picking such an iconic moniker, one that could represent both America's proud military tradition and give back something special to those who serve our country every day by offering free tickets throughout seasons past & present!
Overall, we can say that Foley successfully created a powerful brand identity through this choice—one that resonates with locals and visitors alike when cheering on their hometown heroes at T-Mobile Arena each game night!
So, next time you hear someone talking about "Vegas Strong" or see any reference explicitly related to The Golden Knight's logo/name... remember how much thought went into making sure everyone knew exactly what kind of legacy these guys were aiming for when they took flight onto NHL ice surfaces everywhere.
Championship
Stanley Cup 1
2023
Arena
2017 – Present / T-Mobile Arena
Owner
2017 – Present / Bill Foley
- 2014
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2016
- 2023
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Rumors of Hockey in Vegas
Rumors of a Las Vegas expansion team surfaced again in August 2014, prospecting a new indoor arena on the Strip (built as a joint venture between Anschutz Entertainment Group, owners of the Los Angeles Kings, and MGM Resorts International) as the potential home arena. The Vancouver newspaper The Province reported that a Las Vegas team was a “done deal”, but ... -
Season Ticket Drive
On December 8, 2014, following a meeting with the NHL’s board of governors, commissioner Gary Bettman announced that he would not object to Foley holding a season-ticket drive to gauge interest in a Las Vegas team, indicating the possibility that the league may actually consider a Las Vegas team. However, Bettman also warned the media to “[not] make more out ... -
NHL Open for Expansion
On June 24, 2015, the league officially opened up the window for prospective owners to bid on expansion teams. By this point, Foley had secured more than 13,200 season-ticket deposits for the arena. Bettman expressed the league’s intrigue of expanding into such a non-traditional market, especially in the wake of Foley’s ticket drive, but warned that the NHL wanted to ... -
Vegas Won Expansion bid
Leading into the league owners’ meetings and the NHL Awards ceremony held on June 22, 2016, the Associated Press reported that Las Vegas had won an expansion bid and that terms for the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft were being finalized. During a press conference later that day, Gary Bettman officially announced that the expansion franchise had been awarded to Las ... -
Naming – Vegas Golden Knights
Foley’s original preferred name for the proposed team was the “Las Vegas Black Knights”—in tribute to the Army Black Knights, his alma mater. When he hired McPhee, Foley stated that he was working with the league to determine a suitable brand for the team, but that “it may not be until September that we have our name and logo. But ... -
Vegas Over Powers the Panthers for the Stanley Cup
The 2023 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) 2022–23 season and the culmination of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The series was contested between the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers and the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas won the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to earn their first championship in ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Vegas Golden Knights History
The Vegas Golden Knights history stands as one of the most remarkable stories in modern sports. Since joining the NHL in 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team became the first major professional sports franchise based in Las Vegas. Their inaugural season was an unprecedented success for an expansion franchise and quickly established a notable rivalry with the Colorado Avalanche.
The Vegas Golden Knights history began with an extraordinary first season. They finished with 109 points, winning the Pacific Division title and becoming only the third team to win its division in its first year of existence. This historic performance in Vegas Golden Knights hockey continued as they went on an incredible playoff run, reaching Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Washington Capitals.
What makes the Vegas Golden Knights history even more impressive is how rapidly the franchise achieved success after being awarded a team by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in June 2016. General Manager George McPhee built a roster of proven veterans such as Marc-André Fleury and James Neal, alongside rising stars like Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson, acquired through trades and free agency during the expansion draft process leading up to opening night against the Dallas Stars on October 6, 2017.
This formula proved successful, with players exceeding expectations during the regular season and leading the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team into the playoffs. They became only the fourth modern-era expansion team since 1967 to make it past the second round, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 4–2 in the Western Conference Finals to set up their historic Stanley Cup Final appearance against the Washington Capitals. Although they ultimately lost the series 4–1, their magical inaugural campaign left a lasting impression on the league and hockey fans worldwide.
Golden Knights Achievements
The Vegas Golden Knights history also includes remarkable achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic when the league paused before the start of the 2020 playoffs. Despite the lack of preparation, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team captured the hearts of fans across Las Vegas and beyond, proving their resilience and earning a place as one of the city’s most beloved teams thanks to the extraordinary efforts of players, coaches, and front-office staff.
Building upon their early success, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey franchise secured multiple division titles and consistently reached the playoffs, cementing their reputation as one of the NHL’s elite teams. Their historic 2023 season culminated in the ultimate triumph: capturing their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship by defeating the Florida Panthers. This victory solidified the Vegas Golden Knights history as one of the most successful expansion stories in league history.
In addition to their on-ice accomplishments, the Vegas Golden Knights hockey organization has developed a strong fan base and vibrant community presence. Their charitable initiatives, youth hockey programs, and partnerships with local organizations have strengthened ties with Las Vegas residents. These efforts ensure that the Vegas Golden Knights history is defined not only by victories but also by its impact on the community and the growth of hockey in Nevada.
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From Expansion to Stanley Cup: The Vegas Golden Knights Story
The Vegas Golden Knights have quickly carved out a remarkable legacy in the NHL, making them one of the most successful expansion teams in sports history. From their historic inaugural season to their thrilling playoff runs, the history of the Vegas Golden Knights is...
Retired Number
99 / Wayne Gretzky
*Blue is this team’s history
