from Greg Wyshynski of ESPN,
The Golden Knights have packed a lot into six seasons of existence, after entering the NHL as its 31st team in 2017. They are, essentially, hockey's great startup company. A collection of misfits that created instant success and then faced the mounting pressure to grow from those carefree days into a thriving, sustainable company with 10 times growth.
It got real. Hearts were broken. Friendships were severed, as beloved founders were bid farewell.
"It sucks. It's happened a lot here," McNabb said. "But give them credit. They're doing whatever they can to try and win."
'We're Vegas -- we've got to be different'
The difference between other NHL owners and Foley is like the difference between the manager of your local strip mall and Jeff Bezos: One builds for a modicum of success, while the other wants to rule the world.
The following are actual things Bill Foley has said about his NHL team:
- "We want to be a global franchise. The visitors to Las Vegas can't get a ticket because we're sold out, but they're going to buy gear. They're going to be back in Shanghai wearing a Golden Knights hat."
- "My goal is to be a dynasty here. Not to win a Stanley Cup. Multiple Stanley Cups over several years."
more and long...
from Luke Fox of Sportsnet,
Front page of the Las Vegas Review Journal
Champions! Golden Knights win Stanley Cup
from Ben Gotz of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,
The gold jerseys wrapped around Mark Stone as he came to the T-Mobile Arena bench.
The record announced crowd of 19,058 was deafening as hats hit the ice behind the Golden Knights captain. But all that mattered to the Knights was each other, as they pulled in for a tight embrace that was the purest distillation of the bond that brought the team to its ultimate goal.
Spurred by a hat trick from Stone, the group completed its journey to the pinnacle of hockey in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night. The Knights put in one of the best performances of the postseason to eliminate the Florida Panthers with a 9-3 win and become the seventh franchise in NHL history to win a championship in six seasons or less.
Gold streamers fell from the rafters as the team finished its six-year journey from expansion team to championship club by piling on top of one another by the glass behind its net. The Knights are the 21st active franchise to clinch a Cup, and they did it with depth, determination and a deep commitment to one another that will stand the test of time. Their reward is being linked forever, as their names will join the 3,489 already etched on hockeys hallowed hardware.
Owner Bill Foley said Cup in six before his team even played a game. In year six, the Knights got it done.
continued
Create an Account
In order to leave a comment, please create an account.