As fans woke up on the summer solstice Thursday morning, the Vegas Golden Knights unveiled their 2024-2025 preseason schedule, which kicks off on September 22nd, 2024, against the San Jose Sharks. While this announcement might not be the most thrilling news (despite the cool pin giveaways for attendees), it’s a sign of the season’s approach. Preseasons are rarely about headline-grabbing news but rather about providing a sneak peek at what’s to come. Let’s delve into the six-game lineup that caught our attention.
The Vegas Golden Knights Preseason and A California Twofer
The Golden Knights are continuing a tradition dating back to their inaugural preseason, featuring frequent matchups with the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks will bookend the preseason, with games on September 22nd and October 5th at T-Mobile Arena, while the Kings will visit for the first home preseason game on September 25th.
The Sharks’ main point of intrigue is their first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Macklin Celebrini. Unless they pull off some impressive free agency moves, they remain a team far from competitive glory. So, make the most of any “Baby Shark” jokes while you can.
In contrast, the Kings are poised for a strong season despite being ousted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. With Pierre-Luc Dubois departed and Darcy Kuemper as the new goalie, alongside talents like Quinton Byfield and Adrian Kempe, they promise to be an exciting team to watch.
New Name, Same Vibes
The newly minted Utah Hockey Club is another team to watch, facing the Golden Knights on September 27th at T-Mobile Arena. With new owner Ryan Smith and substantial salary cap space, they could be a formidable opponent. Fans are also eager to see their new jersey design and colors in action.
Comin’ Down the Mountain…
The Golden Knights will also face their rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, in a mini-series on October 1st in Denver and October 3rd back at T-Mobile. Last year’s preseason games between these teams were highly entertaining, and this year’s should be no different.
The Avalanche have some significant changes to address, including the suspension of Valeri Nichushkin and the ongoing saga of Gabriel Landeskog. Additionally, question marks hover over players like Jonathan Drouin and Yakov Trenin. Despite these uncertainties, the Avalanche will still be a formidable team, anchored by stars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen. These late preseason games are set to be a thrilling conclusion to the Golden Knights’ preseason schedule.
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