Knights looking to repeat, McDavid's next trick, Bedard's debut among NHL storylines

Jack Eichel felt like the clock was going in slow motion.

The Vegas Golden Knights were well on their way to capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup back in June — up 3-1 on the Florida Panthers in the series and 6-1 through 40 minutes of Game 5.

The teams then proceeded to combine for five goals in the third period, including Vegas captain Mark Stone completing a hat trick.

"The hats come out, that takes a long time," Eichel recalled. "I don't even think we waited until the buzzer to get on the ice ?Ǫ we were already over the boards.

"A lot of emotions."

Having conquered the NHL in just their sixth year of existence, the Golden Knights are back at the bottom of the mountain with the league's 31 other teams heading into 2023-24.

And they're eager to start the climb anew.

"We have confidence in everyone in that room," Eichel said. "That's what makes our team special."

Vegas was able to find its game at the right time, but was also an example of what's often needed to win in the modern game. The Golden Knights used no fewer than five goaltenders during the regular season before going eight deep with their defence corps in the playoffs.

"We utilized our depth," Eichel said. "We played four lines, we played all our defencemen. I think that's something that we feel really good about."

Eichel said the groove Vegas found in series victories over the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars before sinking the Panthers is something teams chasing a title strive for.

"We were consistent, our special teams got better, our goaltending was great," he said. "We found our real identity."

Edmonton captain Connor McDavid, who dominated the stats page during the regular season and the NHL Awards after the final, felt his team