The stage is set for the 2025 NHL Conference Finals. The Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers will meet once again in the West, a year after the Oilers claimed a hard-fought series in six games. In the East, the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are poised for a high-stakes showdown, with both teams eyeing a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights, who last reached the Western Conference Final in 2023 and went on to capture their first Stanley Cup, now find themselves watching from the sidelines.
After getting ousted in a seven-game first-round battle against the Stars in 2024, they fell short again this postseason, losing to the Oilers in five games. It was quick, but the series was much closer with two overtime games and three games decided by one goal.
Related: Does the Path Forward Get Murkier for the Golden Knights After Second-Round Stumble?
Winning a championship in any league is difficult, but the Golden Knights’ pursuit of a second Stanley Cup appears to be moving in the wrong direction, almost like they’re going backwards.
With a core of players who aren’t getting any younger, the Golden Knights appear to be losing ground to the league’s best, and doing so quickly.
Where Do the Golden Knights Rank Among Other Elite Teams?
It’s easy to see why the Golden Knights remain one of the NHL’s top teams. In their first eight seasons, they’ve claimed the Pacific Division title four times and finished this season with the league’s third-best record, amassing 110 points.
“I think it was a really good regular season, (with) 50 wins,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in exit interviews. “It’s disappointing to have our season end.”
Despite their regular-season success, the Golden Knights are now left searching for answers. With superstar Jack Eichel at the helm and a talented supporting cast, they have all the pieces to win, and they’ve proven it time and again. Yet after their Round 2 exit to the Oilers, the only thing in question remains: Where do the Golden Knights rank among the NHL’s best?
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…