List of Vegas Golden Knights general managers explained

The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey expansion team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team began play in the 2017–18 NHL season, a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is owned by Black Knight Sports & Entertainment, a consortium led by Bill Foley,[1] [2] and plays its home games at T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.[3]

There have been two general managers in franchise history. George McPhee, who had most recently served as an advisor to New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow, was named the first general manager in franchise history on July 13, 2016.[4] McPhee led the franchise through its expansion draft in 2017, followed by a historic inaugural season that resulted in a Pacific Division championship and an appearance in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals;[5] [6] he subsequently received the NHL General Manager of the Year Award after the season.[7] During the 2018–19 season, McPhee additionally acquired future captain Mark Stone from the Ottawa Senators via trade. Following McPhee's second season as general manager, the franchise promoted assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon to general manager amidst rumors of interest from the Edmonton Oilers,[8] [9] with McPhee retaining his role as president of hockey operations.[10]

In the following five seasons under McCrimmon, the Golden Knights reached the playoffs a further four times,[11] including two Pacific Division titles,[12] [13] but also missed the playoffs for the first time in 2021–22.[14] McCrimmon became known for aggressive trades during his tenure;[15] [16] [17] while general manager, Vegas traded away three of their four first-round prospects drafted between 2019 and 2023,[18] as well as the franchise's first-round picks in 2022, 2025, and 2026, in order to acquire players such as Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev, Noah Hanifin, and Tomas Hertl. McCrimmon's actions sometimes caused controversy, including trading away Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury in order to create salary cap space for other contracts,[19] [20] as well as a voided trade, with an attempt to send Evgenii Dadonov to the Anaheim Ducks falling through due to non-compliance with Dadonov's no-trade clause.[21] Ultimately, McCrimmon led the Golden Knights to their second Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2023,[22] resulting in their first Stanley Cup victory,[23] and becoming the fastest expansion team in NHL history to win the Cup.[24]

General managers

General managers of the Vegas Golden Knights
NameTenureAccomplishments
1George McPheeJuly 13, 2016 – September 1, 2019 [25]
2Kelly McCrimmonSeptember 1, 2019 – present

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Introducing the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas Golden Knights. November 22, 2016. February 26, 2018. February 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000946/https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/introducing-the-vegas-golden-knights---newest-nhl-franchise/c-283997132. live.
  2. Web site: Rosen. Dan. Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise. National Hockey League. June 22, 2016. June 22, 2016. December 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202065746/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to-las-vegas/c-281010682?tid=281011650. live.
  3. News: Mitanis. Marcus. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to Open Spring 2016. November 22, 2016. Skyrisecities. February 19, 2016.
  4. Web site: McPhee named GM of Las Vegas expansion team . Scott . Burnside . . July 13, 2016 . November 22, 2016.
  5. Web site: Schoen. David. Golden Knights win, 3–2, clinch Pacific Division title. Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 5, 2018. March 31, 2018. April 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180405153757/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-win-3-2-clinch-pacific-division-title/. live.
  6. Web site: Kaplan . Emily . Fifteen days that defined the Golden Knights' season . . June 12, 2018 . September 5, 2024.
  7. Web site: Golden Knights' George McPhee named general manager of the year . . June 21, 2018 . June 20, 2018.
  8. Web site: Leavins . Kurt . Kelly McCrimmon the front-runner to become the new Oilers GM and other assorted NHL All-Star break musings: 9 Things . . January 27, 2019 . September 5, 2024.
  9. Web site: Friedman . Elliotte . 31 Thoughts: Penguins’ big decisions include what to do with Malkin . . April 30, 2019 . September 5, 2024 . Now that the Under-18s are over, we’re going to find out if Ken Holland and Kelly McCrimmon are legitimate possibilities for the Oilers... As I write this, Vegas has not yet granted official permission for Edmonton to meet with McCrimmon, although an answer is expected at some point this week. He is, however, expected to ask for autonomy, and it will be interesting to see how the Oilers respond to that..
  10. Web site: Kelly McCrimmon named General Manager of the Vegas Golden Knights . . 2019-05-02 . 2019-05-02.
  11. Web site: Kelly McCrimmon - NHL General Managers . . September 5, 2024.
  12. Web site: Futrell . Ron . NHL Commissioner announces ‘Return to Play Plan’, Knights crowned Pacific Division Champs for 2019-2020 season . . May 26, 2020 . September 5, 2024.
  13. Web site: Delos Santos . Paul . Golden Knights defeat Kraken, win Pacific Division, Western Conference . . April 14, 2023 . April 14, 2023 . April 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230414060354/https://www.nhl.com/news/vegas-golden-knights-seattle-kraken-game-recap/c-343164732 . live .
  14. Web site: Cotsonika . Nicholas J. . Golden Knights eliminated from playoff contention; injuries costly . . April 28, 2022 . June 23, 2023.
  15. Web site: Emerson . Justin . Golden Knights’ aggressive roster-building again has them in Stanley Cup semifinals . . June 13, 2021 . September 5, 2024.
  16. Web site: Delos Santos . Paul . Golden Knights front office aggressive in pursuit of Stanley Cup . . June 3, 2023 . September 5, 2024.
  17. Web site: Yost . Travis . The Golden Knights have turned roster building on its head . . March 11, 2024 . September 5, 2024.
  18. Web site: Webster . Danny . Who are the Golden Knights’ 1st-round picks and where are they now? . . June 2, 2024 . September 5, 2024.
  19. Web site: Emerson . Justin . Marc-Andre Fleury returns to Vegas for first time to oppose Golden Knights . . January 8, 2022 . September 5, 2024.
  20. Web site: Emerson . Justin . Golden Knights trade Marc-Andre Fleury to Chicago . . July 27, 2021 . September 5, 2024.
  21. Web site: Dadonov Trade Canceled. media.nhl.com. March 23, 2022. March 25, 2022.
  22. Web site: Hawkins . Stephen . Golden Knights reach 2nd Stanley Cup Final after Game 6 win over Stars . . May 29, 2023 . September 5, 2024.
  23. Web site: Rosen . Dan . Golden Knights win Stanley Cup with Game 5 victory against Panthers . . June 13, 2023 . June 13, 2023.
  24. Web site: Butler . Alex . Golden Knights become fastest NHL expansion team to win Stanley Cup . . June 14, 2023 . June 23, 2023.
  25. Web site: George McPhee - NHL General Managers . . September 7, 2024.

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