Lawless: Fun Must Be Always

Renowned hockey philosopher Tomas Hertl said it best: “Fun must be always.”

Leaving the rink late Saturday night after the Golden Knights polished off the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins, it struck me that this version of the team was a delight to watch.

Being 8-2-0 over the first 10 games of the season and owning the top spot in the NHL certainly factors into this feeling. But it’s more than just the victories. There is a joie de vivre about this bunch.

They really like each other and it shows. They love the game and playing for one another. One might pose the question, “Well, let’s see how much they like things when they hit a slump?”

Fair question. A losing streak in the NHL's 84-game slate is inevitable. But rather than knock the smiles off the Golden Knights' collective faces, adversity might be a lens onto how together this group is and the zest we’ve noticed could be instrumental in pulling them out of a funk.

There is a joy on the ice and around the team. Veteran Noah Hanifin recently remarked how much he loved the dressing room this season and pointed to the young players GM Kelly McCrimmon had added as a boost to the good feelings.

Management in Vegas does its best to remove any impediment to success. The facilities are top notch as is the staff which supports the players. Coming to the rink on a daily basis for the Golden Knights is designed to be a positive experience.

You don’t work hockey, you play hockey. Fun is intrinsic. It’s fundamental to success. 

The list of joy:

Winning

Competitive desire is almost a genetic trait in NHL players. They all love to win. For most, there is nothing better. And in Vegas, it is a major ingredient in the sauce. From the owner to management to the coaches and players, loving to win is a common trait. Owning an 8-2-0 mark and sitting atop the NHL standings is a big reason for the smiles around Camp Golden Knights.

Scoring

What’s more fun than a goal? The horn goes off, the crowd goes nuts, your teammates mob you. You get to skate by the bench, and everyone gives you a fist bump. Your nanna puts a couple bucks in your piggy bank. Mom and dad buy you fries from the canteen. Vegas has potted 41 goals so far this season, which is the most in the NHL.

The Kids

Braeden Bowman, Trevor Connelly, Raphael Lavoie and Marc Gatcomb are all new to the Golden Knights and going through a lot of firsts in the NHL together. They have energy, skill, drive and enthusiasm. Walking across the tarmac at an airport last week at 2 a.m. they were having an animated conversation and when someone commented on the level of investment in the conversation, Bowman laughed and tilted his shrub of hair. “Yeah, we have a lot of energy.”

Jer-Bear

Playing against Jeremy Lauzon is anything but fun. That’s by design. Telling Lauzon that he is hard to play against might be the greatest compliment in his mind. He hits, he fights, he battles and he chirps. Quintessential, “love him on your team, hate him on the other team,” kind of guy. Oh, and he’s extremely polite and agreeable off the ice to everyone around him.

Charisma On Skates

Mitch Marner is a whirling dervish and a genius. Creativity leaps from him like sparks off a grinder. Bring a first-time spectator to a hockey game and they will gravitate to Marner. He pulls you in, he makes his teammates better, he’s a one-of-a-kind player and elite in so many ways. Marner loves being a teammate and is a leader on an off the ice. Very unique and special player.

Jack, Mark & Ivan

Jack Eichel is at the top of his game and a top-10 player in the world. He can do everything at an elite level. Mark Stone is perhaps the smartest forward in hockey. Ivan Barbashev is a crushing body checker with an undercover skill set. Together, they form one of the most consistently dominant lines in the NHL. When they score, Stone and his reactions are something to behold. For the love of hockey, this trio is worth the watch again and again. They are pure puck.

The Goalies

Carter Hart and Adin Hill are statistically the best tandem in the NHL right now with both rating in the top 10 of the NHL’s goalie numbers. This blocker brotherhood has found its stride and is backstopping the good things this team is doing so far this season.

The Misfits

History and nostalgia make fans smile. And in Vegas, history means the Golden Misfits. Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb and William Karlson have been here for it all and are still key contributors to the team’s success. VGK fans love to watch them play. 

Howden’s Hair

Brett Howden has scored 18 goals in his last 32 games including last season’s playoffs and the start of the 2026-27 campaign. McCrimmon traded for Howden when the NHL was ready to give up on him. Steadily, he has grown his game and developed into a top-six winger with speed, power and finish. And his hair is ridiculously unruly. Howden is a smile maker.

The Bench Boss

Ryan Craig is a Vegas Born story. Brought on for Year 1, he spent six seasons on the NHL bench as an assistant and then three as head coach of the organization’s AHL affiliate in Henderson. Now, he’s the top knock in Vegas. Presence, humility and candor make him a respected leader and a likable person. The entire organization is pulling for him. And so is the city.