VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Meet the Champions!

2023-24 Golden Knights roster

By Ben Gotz Las Vegas Review-Journal

Learn about the 2023-24 Golden Knights that will attempt to author a second straight Stanley Cup championship. The team returns almost in full from last season, but there are a few fresh faces that will try to make an impact this season. It's a deep group with lots of different players who can impact a game in different ways. The Knights won it all last year by relying on every single player at their disposal. This season should be no different.

Golden Knights right wing and captain Mark Stone holds up the Stanley Cup after winning Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the against the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS PROFILES

Learn a little more about the Golden Knights players by hovering or clicking on their bio boxes.

CENTERS

William
Karlsson

#71

Nicolas
Roy

#10

Chandler
Stephenson

#20

Jack
Eichel

LEFT WINGS

William
Carrier

#28

Pavel
Dorofeyev

#16

Ivan
Barbashev

#49

Brett
Howden

#21

Paul
Cotter

#43

RIGHT WINGS

Keegan
Kolesar

#55

Mark
Stone

#61

Jonathan
Marchessault

#81

Michael
Amadio

#22

DEFENSE

Nicolas
Hague

#14

Alec
Martinez

#23

Brayden
McNabb

Alex
Pietrangelo

Shea
Theodore

#27

Zach
Whitecloud

Ben
Hutton

#17

GOALIES

Logan
Thompson

#36

Adin
Hill

#33

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

WILLIAM
KARLSSON

Position: Center | Shoots: Left

“Wild Bill” was one of the Golden Knights’ first stars, scoring 43 goals after being picked up in the 2017 expansion draft from Columbus.

His importance hasn’t waned since that first year.

Not because he kept scoring at that incredible pace — though he did this postseason.

He stayed valuable because his tireless work ethic made him one of the Knights’ most consistent players.

Karlsson’s speed, effort and attention to detail in all three zones meant coach Bruce Cassidy trusted him to match up with the opponent’s most dangerous forwards throughout most of the playoffs.

Karlsson had to take on Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Dallas’ Roope Hintz for significant stretches. He succeeded each time. The Knights outscored opponents 18-5 in Karlsson’s five-on-five minutes despite the assignments he was drawing.

He finished as the team’s sixth-leading scorer in the playoffs, and was tied for the second-most goals with captain Mark Stone.

His reward for all that work was being the fourth Knights player to lift the Cup once they finished the job against Florida.

It was a fitting tribute to all the work he put in to help the franchise find its footing the past six years.

Karlsson also got to celebrate with someone special: his son Beckham, who was born during the team’s second-round series with Edmonton. The little guy got to celebrate a championship by sitting in the Cup at T-Mobile Arena after Game 5 of the final.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Jan. 8, 1993
Birthplace: Marsta, Sweden
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 191 lbs
Draft: 2011, second round (53rd overall), Anaheim Ducks
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: 11 goals and six assists in 22 games

JONATHAN
MARCHESSAULT

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

Short in stature but large in heart.

That sums up Marchessault, the leading scorer in Golden Knights history and the first member of the franchise to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP.

The sniper had a tremendous impact on the team’s playoff run. He was tied for first in the NHL in goals and finished second in points behind linemate Jack Eichel. He came through at key times, too. Ten of his goals either tied games or gave the Knights the lead.

That includes a hat trick in Game 6 of the second round against Edmonton that finished the Oilers off, and a late third-period goal in Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars.

Marchessault also scored four times in the Stanley Cup Final against the team the Knights picked him up from in the expansion draft: The Florida Panthers.

He became the first undrafted player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy since some guy named Wayne Gretzky in 1988. But even all the goals and all the points don’t describe Marchessault’s impact on the team.

His outgoing, competitive personality has made him one of the Knights’ central figures since the day he arrived. He brings energy to every practice, every pregame soccer warmup and every other little contest the locker room can come up with.

It was only fitting he was the third member of the team to receive the Stanley Cup. He did as much as anyone to make that championship possible.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Dec. 27, 1990
Birthplace: Cap-Rouge, Quebec
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Weight: 180 lbs
Draft: Undrafted
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: 13 goals and 12 assists in 22 games

NICOLAS
ROY

Position: Center | Shoots: Right

Roy was acquired before the Knights’ third season in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes for center Erik Haula.

It was one of many shrewd moves that put the team on the path towards a championship.

Roy developed more and more as the years went on to become a player with enough size, skill and versatility to make an impact all over the lineup.

He spent time up the middle and on the wing in the playoffs, but the Knights were at their best with him anchoring the fourth line. Roy was overqualified for the role — he spent a lot of time in the team’s top six the last two seasons — but that’s what made the move so successful.

Coach Bruce Cassidy could trust Roy to steal shifts against the opponent’s best forwards and set up the Knights’ other three lines with easier matchups. And if Roy faced off against other depth forwards, he had enough tricks in his toolbox to burn them offensively.

Never was that more apparent than in Game 6 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars.

Cassidy moved Roy back to the fourth line after using him with left wing Reilly Smith and center William Karlsson for a seven-game stretch. Roy was on the ice for three first period goals — two at five-on-five and one on the power play — to help close out the series with a 6-0 win and send the Knights back to the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida didn’t have many answers for him, either.

Roy scored two goals against the Panthers — including one with 1:02 of the decisive Game 5 — to help clinch the Cup.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Feb. 5, 1997
Birthplace: Amos, Quebec
Height: 6 feet 4 inches
Weight: 205 lbs
Draft: 2015, fourth round (96th overall), Carolina Hurricanes
Stanley Cups: First
Playoff stats: Three goals, eight assists in 22 games

CHANDLER
STEPHENSON

Position: Center | Shoots: Left

The Golden Knights took a major step toward their first Stanley Cup on Dec. 3, 2019.

That was the day they made what may go down as the best trade in franchise history. They got Stephenson, a 2023 All-Star as well as their fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs, and all it took was a fifth-round pick.

He was a bottom-six grinder at the time, playing a depth role on the Washington Capitals team that defeated the Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. A change of scenery gave him a chance to spread his wings in the top six. He soared, increasing his point total in each of the next four seasons.

Stephenson found the perfect partner to take his game up a notch in captain Mark Stone. His speed and skill fit right alongside Stone’s stick work and vision, and the two have become central to so much of the Knights’ success. The team has outscored opponents 123-68 at five-on-five with the duo on the ice.

Stephenson continued to show how much his game has grown in the postseason. He shined on the highest levels hockey has to offer, recording the first two-goal game of his playoff career in the Game 5 clincher against Winnipeg, then pulling off the same feat in Game 4 of the final against Florida.

He also completed a key Knights comeback in Game 2 of the Western Conference final against Dallas by scoring the OT winner off the rebound of a Shea Theodore shot. The goal came a day before his son Ford’s first birthday, meaning the puck got to serve as a special last-minute gift.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: April 22, 1994
Birthplace: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 199 lbs
Draft: 2012, third round (77th overall), Washington Capitals
Stanley Cup: Second
Playoff stats: 10 goals and 10 assists in 22 games

WILLIAM
CARRIER

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Left

Carrier, one of the six original Golden Knights still with the organization, has been a mainstay among the team’s bottom-six forwards since being taken from Buffalo in the expansion draft.

The speedy winger has been known for his grit and tenacity throughout his career more than his skill, but he showed a little more flash this season.

Carrier finished with a career-high 16 goals and 25 points despite missing the last 26 games with a lower-body injury. He led the Knights in game-winning goals with seven.

Carrier wasn’t able to return until Game 5 of the first round against Winnipeg. He needed time to get back up to speed, yet he and the rest of the Knights’ fourth line continued to play a key role in the team’s success.

Coach Bruce Cassidy trusted the group to start games and eat minutes against some of the opponent’s top forwards. The depth advantage that gave the Knights helped them roll through the postseason.

Carrier also found ways to contribute in key situations.

He had a goal and an assist in Game 6 of the Western Conference final to help the Knights close out the Dallas Stars. He also had two assists in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against Florida.

Performances like that helped show the value Carrier brought to the lineup each game.

He’s also been one of the franchise’s key glue guys off the ice, as his impressive carpentry and handyman skills have kept his teammates’ household appliances up and running for years.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Dec. 20, 1994
Birthplace: LaSalle, Quebec
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 218 lbs
Draft: 2013, second round (57th overall), St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Two goals and four assists in 18 games

KEEGAN
KOLESAR

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

Kolesar was one of the first prospects the Golden Knights acquired, trading a second-round pick to pry him from the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2017 NHL draft.

He was part of the Knights’ first championship team six years later.

Kolesar was a regular on the fourth line, providing a physical forechecking presence while being unafraid to stand up for his teammates.

He landed one of the hardest hits in the postseason in the final against Florida, crushing Panthers leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk in the open ice during Game 3.

Tkachuk was limited in Game 4 and couldn’t play in Game 5 after suffering a fractured sternum on the play.

That wasn’t the only impact Kolesar made.

He and linemates William Carrier and Nicolas Roy were a major reason the Knights enjoyed the depth advantage they did over opponents. They provided energy when given the opportunity to start games and could be trusted against opposing top players.

The trio’s finest moment came in Game 6 of the Western Conference final against the Dallas Stars.

Kolesar had a goal and assist in the first period to help the Knights kick off a 6-0 rout that gave them their third series victory.

His give-and-go with left wing William Carrier on his team’s first goal was a thing of beauty, and showcased the soft skill that made him and his companions special compared to the average bottom of the lineup grinder.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: April 8, 1997
Birthplace: Brandon, Manitoba
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 217 lbs
Draft: 2015, third round (69th overall), Columbus Blue Jackets
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Two goals and three assists in 22 games

MARK
STONE

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

General manager Kelly McCrimmon called Stone “the straw that stirs the drink” for the Knights, and there is no better description for the team’s emotional leader.

The franchise’s first-ever captain wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s an intense competitor who willed himself from a sixth-round pick into an All-Star. The phrase “expressive Mark Stone” was soon coined after he joined the Knights in a blockbuster 2019 trade with Ottawa because of his wild celebrations whenever the team scored a goal.

Stone is also one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. His stickwork is incredible, batting passes out of the air like he’s holding a tennis racket.

He also has the vision and passing acumen to take the turnovers he causes and immediately set up a scoring chance the other way.

His all-around impact was a major reason the Knights lifted the Stanley Cup, but his presence wasn’t a guarantee.

Stone underwent back surgery Jan. 31, after undergoing a previous procedure in May 2022. He returned in time for the first game of the playoffs and somehow didn’t miss a beat.

He finished as the Knights’ third-leading scorer in the postseason and had an incredible Final series against Florida.

Stone’s nine points in the final were the seventh-most ever by a captain.

He also scored his second-ever hat trick in the deciding Game 5.

He was the third player in NHL history to score three goals in a Cup-clinching game, and the first since Babe Dye in 1922.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: May 13, 1992
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Weight: 202 lbs
Draft: 2010, sixth round (178th overall), Ottawa Senators
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: 11 goals and 13 assists in 22 games

NICOLAS
HAGUE

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Left

Hague was the fourth-ever draft pick in the history of the Knights, taken with the third pick of the second round in 2017.

He’s since become a homegrown success story as one of the biggest, baddest members of their blue line.

Hague’s game has grown a tremendous amount in the six years following his selection, with his skating sharpening to the point that he was trusted to defend Florida’s top scorer Matthew Tkachuk for large stretches of the final.

His improved stride, combined with his size and reach, help him cut off his opponents’ angles to the net and make it difficult for them to get to the dangerous areas of the offensive zone. That defensive ability led to a lot of frustration for his foes during the playoffs.

Hague was a frequent target after the whistles for players like Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse, Dallas’ Max Domi and Tkachuk, but he took it all in stride.

He often laughed or flashed a thumbs up when an opponent tried to goad him into a fight when the Knights had a game well in hand.

Hague made sure to showcase his offensive gifts a few times as well.

His teammates call his blast of a slap shot a “Haguerbomb,” and he got one by Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner in Game 5 of the second round.

Hague also scored the Knights’ second goal in the team’s deciding 9-3 Game 5 win against the Panthers. He followed up a 2-on-1 by center Jack Eichel and left wing Ivan Barbashev to shovel a loose puck into the net.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Dec. 5, 1998
Birthplace: Kitchener, Ontario
Height: 6 feet 6 inches
Weight: 230 lbs
Draft: 2017, second round (34th overall), Golden Knights
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Two goals, four assists in 22 games

ALEC
MARTINEZ

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Left

Martinez has a nickname in the Golden Knights locker room. It’s one he despises, but it’s apt. “Warrior.”

Martinez earned the moniker because he’s willing to put his body on the line no matter the score, no matter the circumstance.

He didn’t miss one of the Knights’ 19 postseason games in 2021 despite playing with a broken foot. He also led the NHL in blocked shots this season, eating 46 more pucks than the next-closest player: teammate Brayden McNabb.

There’s a reason Martinez is one of 10 active players — along with teammates Phil Kessel and Jonathan Quick — with three Cups on their resume. He does what it takes to win.

Martinez’s selflessness has seeped through the lineup in his time with the Knights. He’s become of the team’s veteran leaders since arriving before the 2020 trade deadline in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he won his first two Stanley Cups.

The Knights, following his example, led the league in blocked shots in the regular season and playoffs.

Martinez — who scored the Cup-clinching goal in overtime for the Kings in 2014 — also came up with some key offensive contributions in the final.

He scored two goals against Florida, including one in the deciding Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.

Martinez became the sixth U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to win the Cup at least three times.

The victory completed an amazing comeback for him, as he missed 56 of the Knights’ games last season after suffering a scary cut below his left eye from an opponent’s skate blade.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: July 26, 1987
Birthplace: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Weight: 209 lbs
Draft: 2007, fourth round (95th overall), Los Angeles Kings
Stanley Cup: Third
Playoff stats: Two goals and five assists in 22 games

BRAYDEN
MCNABB

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Left

McNabb has been one of the bedrocks of the Golden Knights’ blue line since being plucked from the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017 expansion draft.

He doesn’t stuff the stat sheet and he doesn’t always put plays on the highlight reels. But he’s tough, physical and such a defensive stalwart that he was the first Knights defenseman to lift the Stanley Cup.

McNabb strikes fear into opponents despite not being much of a threat to score.

They’re aware if they wander along the walls in the neutral zone without their head up, they’re liable to be on the receiving end of one of his crushing hip checks that can shake the T-Mobile Arena glass.

McNabb is also a tough customer in his own zone, working hard to clear the front of the crease while also putting his body on the line when shots start flying toward the net.

He led the NHL in blocks last season and finished second this season behind only teammate Alec Martinez.

McNabb’s willingness to do the dirty work makes him a great fit next to fellow original misfit Shea Theodore. His steady play gives Theodore confidence to use his skating and skill to jump up into the rush to create offense, knowing McNabb will be in the right spot defensively if a puck gets turned over.

It only made sense that Theodore was the one McNabb handed the Cup to after his celebratory lap was finished. The exchange put the duo in the Knights’ history books together forever.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Jan. 21, 1991
Birthplace: Davidson, Saskatchewan
Height: 6 feet 4 inches
Weight: 216 lbs
Draft: 2009, third round (66th overall), Buffalo Sabres
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Four assists in 21 games

ALEX
PIETRANGELO

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Right

Pietrangelo remains the most expensive free-agent signing in Golden Knights’ history after signing a seven-year, $61.6 million deal Oct. 12, 2020.

So far, he’s lived up to his price tag.

Pietrangelo has continued to perform like one of the NHL’s top two-way defensemen since joining the Knights.

He matched his career high with 54 points this season, while still playing shutdown minutes against opposing top forwards with partner Alec Martinez every night.

His teammates often use the same word to describe Pietrangelo when summing up his all-around impact: “Horse.”

He played 23:59 per game for the Knights in the regular season, 2:33 more than his next closest teammate. That gap grew to 3:17 in the playoffs.

The Knights never had someone capable of handling that kind of workload and doing it well before Pietrangelo’s arrival. His addition to the top of the depth chart had a domino effect on the rest of the blue line, putting everyone else into roles they could thrive in.

It transformed the Knights from a strong defense corps into one that has an argument — and likely a winning one — at being the NHL’s best, one through six.

Pietrangelo’s importance is such that he was the first player after captain Mark Stone and the six original members of the Knights to lift the Stanley Cup.

His leadership and experience were crucial in getting the team over the hump, given he also captained the St. Louis Blues to a championship in 2019.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Jan. 18, 1990
Birthplace: King City, Ontario
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Weight: 210 lbs
Draft: 2008, first round (fourth overall), St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup: Second
Playoff stats: One goal and nine assists in 22 games

SHEA
THEODORE

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Left

Theodore has been one of the Knights’ shining stars on the back end since being acquired in an expansion-draft trade with the Anaheim Ducks.

There simply aren’t many defenseman who can match his sudden skating and silky-smooth hands.

He’s like a point guard on skates who can beat opponents off the dribble.

So many forwards who have come out to challenge him at the offensive blue line through the years have wound up on their backsides because they can’t keep up. That unbelievable skill level is why Theodore is the highest-scoring defenseman in franchise history and the Knights’ fourth-leading scorer of all time

He’s also shown incredible resiliency in his career, overcoming a testicular cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2019.

Theodore wasn’t always at his best during the Knights’ Stanley Cup run after missing seven of the team’s final eight regular-season games with an undisclosed injury.

He did turn it on late.

He provided the winning assist on center Chandler Stephenson’s overtime goal in Game 2 of the Western Conference final. He earned the Knights’ Elvis wig and glasses as the player of the game.

Theodore carried that momentum into the Stanley Cup Final, scoring his first goal of the playoffs in his team’s 5-2 opening win at home. He had three assists in the decisive Game 5 against Florida for his second career three-point postseason game.

That performance included a secondary helper on fellow original misfit Reilly Smith’s Cup-clinching goal.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Aug. 3, 1995
Birthplace: Langley, British Columbia
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 195 lbs
Draft: 2013, first round (26th overall), Anaheim Ducks
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: One goal, 12 assists in 21 games

ZACH
WHITECLOUD

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Right

Whitecloud was a free-agent find for the Knights who signed out of Bemidji State in Minnesota in 2018.

He’s turned into a critical piece of one of the best blue lines in the NHL.

Whitecloud and partner Nic Hague came up through the organization together, starting in the minors. They then played a huge role in the Knights’ first-ever Stanley Cup victory, being trusted with difficult assignments despite being the youngest members of the defense corps.

Coach Bruce Cassidy gave Whitecloud and Hague the most minutes against Florida’s leading scorer Matthew Tkachuk the first two games of the final.

Whitecloud earned that trust because of a combination of poise, smarts and toughness that go beyond his years.

He’s not the flashiest player, but he’s a competitor who rarely makes a mistake. His plus-13 rating at five-on-five during the playoffs led all Knights defensemen.

Whitecloud also came through offensively when his team needed it.

Three of his eight points came versus the Panthers, including the winning goal in Game 1.

There’s no doubt Whitecloud will use the victory as an opportunity to make an impact far beyond the world of hockey.

He’s tried to serve as a role model as the first member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to play in the NHL.

Now he joins a list of players of Indigenous descent that have won the Cup, including Bryan Trottier, Grant Fuhr, T.J. Oshie, Theo Fleury and Reggie Leach.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Nov. 28, 1996
Birthplace: Brandon, Manitoba
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 211 lbs
Draft: Undrafted
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Two goals and six assists in 22 games

LOGAN
THOMPSON

Position: Goalie | Catches: Right

Thompson was the Knights starter most of last season as a rookie and even represented the team at the 2023 All-Star game. He’s a good athlete in net and a strong competitor, having worked his way up from Canadian college hockey to the NHL. Thompson is also good friends with his goalie partner Adin Hill because they both grew up in the Calgary area together.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Feb. 25, 1997
Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta
Height: 6 feet 4 inches
Weight: 201 lbs
Draft: Undrafted

Adin
Hill

Position: Goalie | Catches: Left

No one expected Hill to be in the net when the Golden Knights won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

But the team was sure glad he was.

Hill spent most of the season as the Knights’ primary backup behind rookie Logan Thompson and didn’t even dress for their playoff opener because he was recovering from a lower-body injury.

An injury to initial postseason starter Laurent Brossoit in Game 3 of the second round opened the door for Hill.

He was 27-years-old, in the playoffs for the first time and tasked with keeping his third NHL team in three seasons afloat.

Hill, acquired for only a fourth-round pick in August from the rival San Jose Sharks, did that and then some. His .932 save percentage led all postseason starters.

Helped by coach Bruce Cassidy’s strong defensive structure in front, which is geared towards protecting the slot area, Hill became only the fifth goaltender in NHL history to secure a Cup-clinching win after not appearing in his team’s opening round series.

He made up for lost time by making some spectacular saves in the final against Florida.

None was more impressive than his incredible stick stop on Panthers left wing Nick Cousins in Game 1.

Hill, after being caught going to his left by right wing Matthew Tkachuk, reached out his stick to his right to block what looked like an easy tap in from the top of the crease by Cousins with the butt end of his blade.

The save kept the game tied 1-1, paving the way for the Knights to later take the lead in an eventual 5-2 win.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: May 11, 1996
Birthplace: Comox, British Columbia
Height: 6 feet 4 inches
Weight: 215 lbs
Draft: 2015, third round (76th overall), Arizona Coyotes
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: 11-4 record, .932 save percentage, 2.17 goals against average

Michael
Amadio

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

Amadio is a perfect example of what’s separated the Golden Knights from so many other NHL organizations.

They don’t just spot the talent that’s obvious. They can see potential where their competitors don’t.

That was the case with Amadio when the Knights plucked him off waivers on Oct. 30, 2021.

They saw a forward that, despite bouncing between five teams in a three-year span, possessed enough skill to play higher up in the lineup and complement good players if given the opportunity.

Amadio repaid that faith by scoring a career-high 11 goals, then bettered that output this season by potting 16.

The rest of his game took tremendous strides as well.

Coach Bruce Cassidy asked him to become better in board battles and develop into more of a netfront driver if he wanted opportunities with the Knights’ top-end talent. Amadio listened, and was trusted to play alongside original misfits Reilly Smith and William Karlsson most of the postseason. The trio outscored opponents 8-0 in the playoffs at five-on-five despite drawing difficult defensive assignments.

Amadio’s best moment of the playoffs came in Game 3 of the first round against the Winnipeg Jets.

The two sides were deadlocked in double overtime before he roofed a loose puck past goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to give the Knights the win.

It was a reminder that anyone on the team had the ability to be a hero, because of all of the under-the-radar finds they unearthed through the years.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: May 13, 1996
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Weight: 204 lbs
Draft: 2014, third round (90th overall), Los Angeles Kings
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Five goals and five assists in 15 games

Ivan
Barbashev

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Left

The Golden Knights thought they were adding the perfect forward to complement their group when they added Barbashev in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26.

They had no idea how right they were.

Barbashev provided a gritty, physical presence in the offensive zone that helped open up the Knights’ attack and make life easier on two of their most talented forwards. The 27-year-old slotted in immediately with right wing Jonathan Marchessault and center Jack Eichel, and pretty much never looked back.

Marchessault referred to Barbashev as “the answer” to their line in March. Eichel is one of the best passers on the team. Marchessault one of the top shooters. Bringing in Barbashev rounded out the trio by throwing someone to the mix that could do the dirty work along the walls, in the corners and by the crease to create space for everyone else.

The results spoke for themselves. Eichel and Marchessault were first and second on the Knights in even-strength points this postseason, while Barbashev was fourth. He scored two goals in the team’s 6-4 win in Game 1 of the second round against Edmonton and had three points in the club’s 4-0 Game 3 rout in Dallas during the Western Conference final.

His efforts earned him his second championship after also winning it all in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues. He wasn’t the flashiest trade-deadline pickup the Knights could have made, but they found the guy that fit them best.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: December 14, 1995
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Height: 6 feet 1 inch
Weight: 195 lbs
Draft: 2014, second round (33rd overall), St. Louis Blues
Stanley Cup: Second
Playoff stats: Seven goals and 11 assists in 22 games.

Paul
Cotter

Position: Center | Shoots: Left

Cotter is a speedy, talkative former fourth-round pick the Knights developed into an NHL player. The 23-year-old won a roster spot in training camp in 2022 and proceeded to become a lineup regular for most of the season. His strength stands out on the puck, plus he’s shown plenty of offensive pop. Cotter scored 13 goals in 55 games as a rookie. That was the 11th-most on the Knights.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Nov. 16, 1999
Birthplace: Canton, Michigan
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 212 lbs
Draft: 2018, fourth round (115th overall), Knights

Pavel
Dorofeyev

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Left

Dorofeyev is a young, skilled forward the Knights took in the third round of the 2019 draft. The 22-year-old has a strong shot, but has worked to score more of his goals closer to the net. He found the back of the net seven times in only 18 NHL games last season. He’ll look to build upon that as he tries to take the next step in his career and become a regular with the Knights.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Oct. 26, 2000
Birthplace: Nizhny Tagil, Russia
Height: 6 feet 1 inches
Weight: 194 lbs
Draft: 2019, third round (79th overall), Knights

Jack
Eichel

Position: Center | Shoots: Right

Jack Eichel was the No. 1 center teams weren’t supposed to win with. That is, until the Golden Knights won it all with him leading the way.

The 26-year-old didn’t reach the playoffs until his eighth NHL season after being drafted second overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015. Once he got there, he shined. Eichel became the third player since 1943-44 to lead the league in scoring during his first postseason.

He put on dazzling offensive displays most nights, with his speed, size, stick handling and vision resulting in standout play after standout play. Eichel also did far more than fill the stat sheet. He played a complete 200-foot game, leading all forwards in blocked shots in the playoffs while showing a constant commitment to defense.

His performance answered all the critics that were curious if the Knights gave up too much to acquire him in a blockbuster deal with the Sabres on Nov. 4, 2021. Eichel was on the shelf then, in dispute with Buffalo on how to best treat a herniated disk in his neck.

The Knights let him get his preferred artificial disk replacement surgery — which had never been done on an NHL player before — and he hasn’t looked back.

He was the team’s leading scorer in the regular season and played a key role in the locker room by purchasing the Elvis wig and glasses given out after every win to the team’s player of the game.

No longer will anyone question whether he has what it takes to play late into the summer. Eichel has the Cup to prove he can.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: Oct. 28, 1996
Birthplace: North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Height: 6 feet 2 inches
Weight: 207 lbs
Draft: 2015, first round (second overall), Buffalo Sabres
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats: Six goals and 20 assists in 22 games

Brett
Howden

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Left

Howden was one of the key role players that made the Golden Knights’ success possible.

He found his niche after being acquired for a fourth-round pick in a July 2021 trade with the New York Rangers, killing penalties and providing secondary scoring the last two seasons.

He spent most of the Knights’ playoff run complementing center Chandler Stephenson and captain Mark Stone. His hard work on the forecheck, ability to get behind the defense with his speed and willingness to drive to the net opened up room for his talented teammates.

Howden’s hard work resulted in one of the best two-month stretches anyone could ask for. He became a father for the first time when his son Charlie was born April 13, then got to celebrate a championship with his whole family not long after.

Howden provided several shining moments along the way that made the Knights’ run to the Cup possible. He scored his first two playoff goals in a 4-2 Game 4 win against Winnipeg in the first round, delivering a dagger to the team he grew up rooting for.

Howden also scored the overtime winner in Game 1 of the Western Conference final against Dallas. He banked the puck off the pad of goaltender Jake Oettinger before being mobbed in celebration by his teammates.

Howden came up with another huge performance in the Stanley Cup Final, scoring twice against Florida in the Knights’ 7-2 victory in Game 2. He had never had a multigoal game entering the playoffs. Howden exited this postseason with two.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: March 29, 1998
Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Weight: 200 lbs
Draft: 2016, first round (27th overall), Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup: First
Playoff stats:: Five goals and five assists in 22 games

Ben
Hutton

Position: Defenseman | Shoots: Left

Hutton is the Knights’ happy-go-lucky seventh defenseman that always seems to step up when called upon. The 30-year-old played in 31 regular-season games last year and appeared twice more in the playoffs, stepping in for Game 5 of the first and second round. The Knights won both times. That speaks to Hutton’s value. He keeps the Knights’ blue line a strength even when injuries arise.

PERSONAL STATS

Born: April 20, 1993
Birthplace: Brockville, Ontario
Height: 6 feet 3 inches
Weight: 201 lbs
Draft: 2012, fifth round (147th overall), Vancouver Canucks

Meet the Champions!

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS PROFILES

CENTERS

LEFT WINGS

RIGHT WINGS

DEFENSE

GOALIES

WILLIAM KARLSSON

PERSONAL STATS

JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT

PERSONAL STATS

NICOLAS ROY

PERSONAL STATS

CHANDLER STEPHENSON

PERSONAL STATS

WILLIAM CARRIER

PERSONAL STATS

KEEGAN KOLESAR

PERSONAL STATS

MARK STONE

PERSONAL STATS

NICOLAS HAGUE

PERSONAL STATS

ALEC MARTINEZ

PERSONAL STATS

BRAYDEN MCNABB

PERSONAL STATS

ALEX PIETRANGELO

PERSONAL STATS

SHEA THEODORE

PERSONAL STATS

ZACH WHITECLOUD

PERSONAL STATS

LOGAN THOMPSON

PERSONAL STATS

Adin Hill

PERSONAL STATS

Michael Amadio

PERSONAL STATS

Ivan Barbashev

PERSONAL STATS

Paul Cotter

PERSONAL STATS

Pavel Dorofeyev

PERSONAL STATS

Jack Eichel

PERSONAL STATS

Brett Howden

PERSONAL STATS

Ben Hutton

PERSONAL STATS

WILLIAM
KARLSSON

JONATHAN
MARCHESSAULT

NICOLAS
ROY

CHANDLER
STEPHENSON

WILLIAM
CARRIER

KEEGAN
KOLESAR

MARK
STONE

NICOLAS
HAGUE

ALEC
MARTINEZ

BRAYDEN
MCNABB

ALEX
PIETRANGELO

SHEA
THEODORE

ZACH
WHITECLOUD

LOGAN
THOMPSON

Adin
Hill

Michael
Amadio

Ivan
Barbashev

Paul
Cotter

Pavel
Dorofeyev

Jack
Eichel

Brett
Howden

Ben
Hutton