Vegas Golden Knights players watch the raising of a 2023 Stanley Cup championship banner before an NHL hockey game between the Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023.
Published Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 8:56 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 11:32 p.m.
No team in professional sports puts on a better show with its in-game presentation than the Vegas Golden Knights.
That’s been a fact ever since the franchise debuted at T-Mobile Arena six years ago, and a title that was reinforced to start the 2023-2024 season tonight. It was banner night for the defending Stanley Cup champions, and as expected, the Golden Knights’ production staff made sure it wasn’t any ordinary celebration ahead of an eventual 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken.
“It’s a little bit the end of the achievement we did,” forward Jonathan Marchessault said earlier in the day after morning skate. “But we’ve got to turn the page and it’s a new season. It’s sad at the same time, but all the memories are definitely stuck in your brain.”
The franchise’s most memorable moments were also right in the sold-out crowds’ faces in the minutes before the championship banner lifted into the rafters. A short video played on the arena’s jumbotron and projected onto the ice commemorating the history that led up to the championship.
The presentation included NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially awarding Las Vegas an expansion franchise in June 2016 at Encore, former defenseman Deryk Engelland’s emotional post-October 1 speech in the first-ever home game six years ago and coach Bruce Cassidy’s introductory news conference from last year.
Plenty of highlights involving the players were also stitched together, including Mark Stone accepting the honor of becoming the first captain in team history and a couple of William Karlsson’s flashiest goals.
The team took the ice after the video concluded, with Stone given the honors of coming out last with the Stanley Cup. He hoisted it for one last trip around the rink with his teammates skating slowly behind him and lifting their sticks in a salute to the crowd.
“We love living here; we love playing here," Stone said after the game. "Whenever you can tie Vegas into the theme, it’s great.
An extra touch of Vegas flair took over after the Stone-led lap. Stone placed the Cup on a table next to an oversized slot machine, and pulled the handle.
The reels popped up with a trio of Stanley Cups, and the banner raised out of the machine and towards the ceiling in the southeast corner of the venue to the soundtrack of local stars The Killers’ “Shot at the Night.”
"The slot machine was freaking cool," Cassidy said in his postgame news conference.
The banner hung relatively low in the corner throughout Tuesday’s game but will take up a permanent spot as the centerpiece in the collection of Vegas’ other banners in the center of the arena.
"It was cool seeing the banner go up," goalie Adin Hill said. "I haven’t seen a banner with that much detail on it before."
The players wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders for much of the ceremony, and posed for a picture with the banner before it ended. Team owner Bill Foley, who famously prophesied his team would win the “Cup in six,” did the traditional siren-crank honors to signal the start of the game.
“The banner goes up and you enjoy that; that thing will be up there forever,” defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said earlier in the day. “But then that flip will switch because I don’t think the other team really cares. As soon as the puck drops, it’s a new season. I think it’s a good opportunity to enjoy it but then put it behind us and get ready.”
The Golden Knights did just that, showing little signs of lingering emotion affecting their performance while getting out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Stanley Cup Playoff hero goalie Adin Hill had a handful of early saves, including a couple on a Seattle power play, and one turned into a rush going the other way for Vegas.
Stone roped a pass to Brett Howden who then found Chandler Stephenson streaking in front of the net for the first goal of the season. Later, Marchessault chipped in an unassisted goal and smirked in excitement.
The score was a continuation of a torrid postseason run that saw Marchessault score 13 goals and earn the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ most valuable player. Marchessault showed up to the arena with the hardware and walked it down the “golden carpet” pregame, just as Stone did with the Cup itself.
Karlsson got a loud roar as he showed up in a cowboy hat and signed a barrage of autographs. The Golden Knights made the most of their celebratory night but clicked right back into game mode as promised.
“I thought maybe I’d lay off the pedal a little but it’s not me,” Marchessault said of his offseason. “It was so fun the whole summer, the whole winning experience especially in Vegas. It was unreal. We tasted it but we want more…and I think the goal of all those guys in the locker room is the same as me.”
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or
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