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3 reasons the Vegas Golden Knights won’t repeat in 2024

By Vincent Parise

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates the Stanley Cup victory over the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 13: William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates the Stanley Cup victory over the Florida Panthers in Game Five of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Vegas Golden Knights, Reilly Smith #19
Vegas Golden Knights, Reilly Smith #19. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Reilly Smith is gone

The Vegas Golden Knights will not have Reilly Smith on their team anymore.

The Vegas Golden Knights are incredibly deep down the middle of the ice. That was one of the biggest reasons that they were able to win the Stanley Cup in 2023.

With Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, and Nicholas Roy at center, only a few teams in the league roll four lines with better centers.

They also have tons of good wingers like Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev, and Jonathan Marchessault. However, they are now missing a player on the wing that meant a lot to the team.

One of the original golden misfits, Reilly Smith, has moved on. He is now a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins following the Stanley Cup victory. Those things happen to champions from time to time.

Replacing a guy that scored over 20 goals and 50 points is not easy. That is what the Knights are losing in Smith. Taking a hit like that will make winning the whole thing even harder, especially when they were as great in the playoffs as Smith was.

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