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SportsPulse, USA TODAY
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
And for the NHL champion Golden Knights, who captured their first NHL title at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, that could mean other runs for the Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights are a deep team with scoring throughout the lineup, big defensemen who block shots and clear the middle of the ice and a goaltending corps that succeeded even though injuries forced the team to use five in the regular season and two in the playoffs.
They got past the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers to win the Cup in 22 games.
What awaits in the offseason for the Golden Knights and Panthers:
What’s next for the Vegas Golden Knights?
The Golden Knights, who reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural 2017-18 season, showed that last season’s playoff miss was a fluke fueled by major injuries.
They’re in good shape up front because most of their forwards are signed through at least next season, and Mark Stone, William Karlsson, Jack Eichel are under contract for longer. The contracts for playoff MVP Jonathan Marchessault, Game 4 hero Chandler Stephenson and original Golden Knight William Carrier run out in 2024 and those players can be signed to extensions after July 1. Key trade deadline acquisition Ivan Barbashev is unrestricted, and Brett Howden is restricted. Ironman Phil Kessel and Teddy Blueger are unrestricted but got little playoff time.
In net, Adin Hill is unrestricted, as is Laurent Brossoit, who started the playoffs. All-Star Logan Thompson, who got hurt in the regular season and missed the playoffs, is signed for two seasons. Jonathan Quick could move on.
All of their top defensemen are signed through at least next season.
What’s next for the Florida Panthers?
Panthers coach Paul Maurice mentioned after the game about all the injuries the team played through, including a broken sternum for Matthew Tkachuk. He mentioned other broken bones, shoulder injuries and oblique tears, which will require offseason treatment. He said some players might not be ready for the start of next season.
The Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22 but fell to the eighth seed at 92 points this season before going on a run of upsets against the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes. They play in the tough Atlantic Division but financially, they’re in good shape.
Seventeen players are under contract for next season and Tkachuk, captain Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky are signed long-term. Forward Eric Staal, defensemen Radko Gudas and Marc Staal and goalie Alex Lyon are unrestricted.
Forwards Sam Reinhart, Anthony Duclair, Nick Cousins and Ryan Lomberg, plus defensemen Brandon Montour and Gustav Forsling have one year left before hitting unrestricted free agency.
