from Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,

It can be one of the more contrived sources of motivational tactics in sports.

It can also work if used in the right way.

Us Against the World.

It seems that’s how the Golden Knights might prefer to approach the season, to know what outside noise suggests but certainly not buy into it.

The team that missed the playoffs for the first time in its short franchise history last season opened training camp Thursday and to a man insisted there is much to prove.

“You always try to bring different motivation to the team, a different energy, ideas to bond together and try to generate great chemistry quickly,” forward Reilly Smith said. “We know we fell short last year because of injuries or whatever — it doesn’t matter. We have high standards for this group, and if we don’t make the playoffs, it’s on us.

“We’re focusing on what we can do in this room. We just have to make sure we’re keeping each other accountable.”

They’re certainly not liked by other teams and their fans. Haven’t been since advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in that magical expansion season of 2017-18. Shouldn’t matter. Rarely has.

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