How Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights were built

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup with a 9-3 win against the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

It was their first title in their six-season history.

Vegas entered the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing the regular season with a 51-22-9 record. They defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games in the first round, the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the second round and the Dallas Stars in six games in the conference final.

Of the 24 players to play at least one postseason game, 12 were acquired via trade, six were signed in free agency, four were selected by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, one was selected in the NHL Draft, and one was claimed off waivers.

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Here's how the roster of this Stanley Cup finalist was built, with background on the coaching staff and general manager:

FORWARDS

Michael Amadio, RW:Claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 30, 2021, Amadio had 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in 67 regular-season games and had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 16 playoff games.

Ivan Barbashev, C: Acquired in a trade with the Blues on Feb. 26 for forward prospect Zach Dean, Barbashev had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 23 regular-season games after the trade and had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 22 playoff games.

Teddy Blueger, C:Acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1 for defenseman prospect Peter Diliberatore and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Blueger had six points (two goals, four assists) in 18 games after the trade and had two points (one goal, one assist) in six playoff games.

William Carrier, LW:Selected in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017, Carrier had 25 points (16 goals, nine assists) in 56 regular-season games and had six points (two goals, four assists) in 18 playoff games.

Jack Eichel, C:Acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 4, 2021, with a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft for forwards Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (forward prospect Noah Ostlund) and a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, Eichel had 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 67 regular-season games and led the playoffs with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 22 playoff games.

Brett Howden, C:Acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on July 17, 2021, for defenseman Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft (forward prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead), Howden had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 54 regular-season games and had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 22 playoff games.

William Karlsson, C:Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Karlsson had 53 points (14 goals, 39 assists) in 82 regular-season games and had 17 points (11 goals, six assists) in 22 playoff games.

Phil Kessel, RW:Signed as a free agent Aug. 24, Kessel had 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 82 regular-season games and had two assists in four playoff games.

Keegan Kolesar, RW:Acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 24, 2017, for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft (forward Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead), Kolesar had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 74 regular-season games and had five points (two goals, three assists) in 22 playoff games.

Jonathan Marchessault, RW: Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Marchessault had 57 points (28 goals, 29 assists) in 76 regular-season games and had 25 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 25 playoff games. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Nicolas Roy, C: Acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on June 27, 2019, with a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (defenseman prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead) for forward Erik Haula, Roy had 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 65 regular-season games and had 11 points (three goal, eight assists) in 22 playoff games.

Reilly Smith, RW: Acquired in a trade with the Panthers on June 21, 2017, in exchange for Vegas selecting Marchessault in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Smith had 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 78 regular-season games and had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 22 playoff games.

Chandler Stephenson, C: Acquired in a trade with the Capitals on Dec. 2, 2019, for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft (defenseman prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead), Stephenson had an NHL career-high 65 points (16 goals, 49 assists) in 81 regular-season games and had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 22 playoff games.

Mark Stone, RW:Acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 25, 2019, with forward Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead for defenseman Erik Brannstrom, forward Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (forward prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead), Stone had 38 points (17 goals, 21 assists) in 43 regular-season games and had 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 22 playoff games. Stone was named first captain of the Golden Knights on Jan. 13, 2021.

DEFENSEMEN

Nicolas Hague:Selected in the second round (No. 34) of the 2017 draft, Hague had 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 81 regular-season games and had six points (two goal, four assists) in 22 playoff games.

Ben Hutton: Signed as a free agent Oct. 28, 2021, Hutton had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 31 regular-season games and had no points in two playoff games.

Alec Martinez:Acquired in a trade with the Kings on Feb. 19, 2020, for a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (forward prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead) and a second-round pick in the 2021 draft (defenseman prospect Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead), Martinez had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 77 regular-season games and had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 22 playoff games.

Brayden McNabb: Selected in the 2017 Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017, McNabb had 17 points (one goal, 16 assists) in 82 regular-season games and had four assists in 21 playoff games.

Brayden Pachal: Signed as a free agent Sept. 20, 2019, Pachel had two assists in 10 regular-season games and had no points in one playoff game.

Alex Pietrangelo: Signed as a free agent Oct. 12, 2020, Pietrangelo had 54 points (11 goals, 43 assists) in 73 regular-season games and had 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 21 playoff games.

Shea Theodore:Acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on June 21, 2017, in exchange for Vegas selecting defenseman Video: VGK@EDM, Gm3: Eichel gives Golden Knights 3-goal lead in the 2017 Expansion Draft, Theodore had 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 55 regular-season games and had 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 21 playoff games.

Zach Whitecloud: Signed as a free agent March 8, 2018, Whitecloud had 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 59 regular-season games and had eight points (two goal, six assists) in 22 playoff games.

GOALIES

Laurent Brossoit: Signed as a free agent July 28, 2021, Brossoit was 7-0-3 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 regular-season games (10 starts) and is 5-2 with a 3.18 GAA and .894 save percentage in eight playoff games. He did not played after May 8 because of a lower-body injury.

Adin Hill: Acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Aug. 29, 2022, for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft, Hill was 16-7-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 27 regular-season games (25 starts) and was 11-3 with a 2.17 GAA, .932 save percentage and two shutouts in 16 playoff games (14 starts).

COACHING STAFF

Bruce Cassidy, coach: Hired on June 14, eight days after he was fired by the Boston Bruins, Cassidy led the Golden Knights (51-22-9) to the best record in the Western Conference. He is 343-177-62 with nine ties in 591 games as coach of the Golden Knights, Bruins (2016-22) and Capitals (2002-04).

Ryan Craig, assistant:Hired on June 9, 2017, Craig has been an assistant for all six seasons in Golden Knights history. He played 198 NHL games as a forward from 2005-15.

Misha Donskov, assistant:Hired on Aug. 8, 2016, as director of hockey operations, Donskov was an assistant this season.

John Stevens, assistant: Hired on June 28, Stevens spent the previous three seasons as an assistant with the Dallas Stars. He was coach of the Kings from 2017-19 and the Philadelphia Flyers from 2006-08.

Sean Burke, goalie coach: Hired on June 28, Burke was a scout and goalie coach with the Montreal Canadiens from 2016-22 after he was goalie coach and assistant GM with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes from 2008-16.

GENERAL MANAGER

Kelly McCrimmon: Promoted to GM on May 2, 2019, McCrimmon took over the position for president of hockey operations George McPhee, who also was GM, on Sept. 1. McCrimmon was named assistant GM on Aug. 2, 2016, and played a key role in building the Golden Knights roster from its inaugural season.