Scratch that idea. The Golden Knights wasted little time in reaching the field of 16. They didn't sneak in either.
An 8-1-0 start set the foundation for one of the most remarkable seasons in NHL history: 51 wins, 109 points, the third expansion team since 1968-69 to clinch a playoff berth and the first to do so starting from scratch. The Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers made the postseason after joining the League from the World Hockey Association in 1979-80.
"We had a great season," Gerard Gallant said. "Everything has gone real well in the regular season for us so far. But we have no time to [reflect] right now. We'll worry about that in the summer time and it'll be fun."
Led by Gallant, who was fired by the Florida Panthers on Nov. 27, 2016, the Golden Knights started fast, didn't look back but never looked too far ahead.
Every day the focus was the next game without getting caught up in a season of historic proportions. Getting his players to buy into that philosophy has Gallant as the unanimous choice to win the Jack Adams Award, according to a panel of voters from NHL.com.
"We just talk about the next game," Gallant said. "It doesn't matter what we've done in the past. It's just the next game and guys committed from Day 1 to playing hard and working hard in practice, and doing the right things. It's easy to get going when you get on a winning streak like we got early on in the season. It grew a lot of confidence in our group and our team, and it just carried over."
Center William Karlsson's NHL career high in goals was six entering the season. He's scored 43 with 78 points and is a League-leading plus-49. David Perron (66 points; 16 goals, 50 assists) and Erik Haula (55 points; 29 goals, 26 assists) are also enjoying career seasons. Marc-Andre Fleury's goals-against average (2.24) and save percentage (.927) are the lowest and highest, respectively, in his 14 NHL seasons.
"I just think it's an opportunity," Gallant said. "Guys that have played on the third and fourth line somewhere else have come here and gotten an opportunity to play in the first line and the first power play and they take advantage of it. It happens to a lot of players. William Karlsson is a perfect example this year and [Jonathan] Marchessault last year (with the Florida Panthers). Guys get an opportunity and take advantage of it and they turn into top-line players."
Gallant earned 85 points from the NHL.com panel, 40 more than Bruce Cassidy (Boston Bruins). Jared Bednar (Colorado Avalanche) finished third with 36 points and John Hynes (New Jersey Devils) fourth with 31.
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Gerard Gallant, Golden Knights, 85 points (17 first-place votes); Bruce Cassidy, Bruins, 40; Jared Bednar, Avalanche, 36; John Hynes, Devils, 31; Paul Maurice, Winnipeg Jets, 27; Peter DeBoer, San Jose Sharks, 10; Peter Laviolette, Nashville Predators, 8; Bob Boughner, Florida Panthers, 6; Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay Lightning, 4; Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals, 3; Dave Hakstol, Philadelphia Flyers, 2; Mike Sullivan, Penguins, 2; Mike Babcock, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1
NHL.com correspondent Derek Van Diest contributed to this story.
