NHL EDGE stats 2026-27 season outlook for Vegas Golden Knights

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, we will identify key NHL EDGE stats for each team to preview the 2026-27 season. Today, we look at three advanced metrics trends surrounding the Vegas Golden Knights:

1. High-danger prowess

The Golden Knights, who are coming off their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in nine seasons of existence, are a dominant team in terms of both net-front scoring and defending. Last regular season, Vegas' defense allowed the fewest high-danger shots on goal (522), while its offense ranked fourth in high-danger shots on goal (718). In addition to having the best high-danger shots on goal differential (plus-196) in the NHL, the Golden Knights scored the third-most high-danger goals (146) and outshot their opponents 62 times, ranking third in that category behind the Carolina Hurricanes (65) and Colorado Avalanche (64). During the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Vegas led the NHL in both high-danger shots on goal (179) and high-danger goals (43).  

Forward Tomas Hertl led Vegas and ranked fourth in the NHL in high-danger shots on goal (113) last season. Vegas captain Mark Stone, who also ranked highly among forwards in high-danger shots on goal (69; 90th percentile), was tied for 10th in high-danger goals (22). In terms of high-danger shots on goal during the postseason, Hertl (23; third), Stone (21; tied for fourth) and Brett Howden (19; tied for 10th) each ranked among the NHL's top 10. Howden was tied for the League lead with eight high-danger goals in the playoffs, while Stone (six) was tied for fourth. 

Mitch Marner had a breakout postseason after joining Vegas from the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading the NHL with 29 playoff points (10 goals, 19 assists) to become the fourth player in the NHL's modern era (since 1944) to finish as the League's playoff scoring leader during his first season with a franchise (others: Ryan O'Reilly in 2019 with Blues, Frank Mahovlich in 1971 with Canadiens, Bill Goldsworthy in 1968 with North Stars). Marner was tied for fourth in high-danger goals during the postseason (six); over his previous four postseasons combined since the start of the puck and player tracking era (since 2021-22), Marner had only one high-danger goal. He also saw a significant uptick in high-danger shots on goal compared to previous postseasons; his 21 high-danger shots on goal (tied for fourth in NHL) were his highest total of the tracking era and significantly more than the six high-danger shots on goal he had in 20 playoff games over the previous two seasons combined.

2. Offensive zone time percentage

Vegas was among the League leaders in offensive zone time percentage (42.3 percent; fourth) and 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (52.3 percent; sixth) last season. The Golden Knights, who ranked sixth in power-play goals (58) and power-play percentage (24.6 percent), also led the NHL in power-play offensive zone time percentage (63.6 percent). Vegas frequently used a five-forward lineup on the top unit, with each of its power-play fixtures ranking in the top 10 of the category: 

• Mark Stone (66.5 percent; second) 
• Pavel Dorofeyev (65.4 percent; fourth) 
• Tomas Hertl (65.3 percent; fifth) 
• Mitch Marner (64.9 percent; sixth) 
• Jack Eichel (64.6 percent; ninth) 

Though Dorofeyev's trade to the New York Rangers this offseason takes away a member of that unit, it's worth noting defenseman Shea Theodore, who could move back onto PP1, brings past prowess in terms of power-play offensive zone time percentage. He led Vegas and ranked seventh in the NHL in that category (65.9 percent) during the 2024-25 regular season. 

Though the Golden Knights (39) were one of two playoff teams with fewer than 40 regular-season wins (Los Angeles Kings, 35) last season, their possession dominance was a strong indicator of postseason success. Vegas led the League in goal differential (plus-47) and shots on goal differential (plus-206) in the third period last season before having an NHL-best seven comeback wins, including four in the third period, during the playoffs.

3. Eichel's skating, shot metrics

After missing the postseason in each of his first seven NHL seasons, Eichel has led the Golden Knights to four straight trips to the playoffs, including two Stanley Cup Final appearances and the franchise's only championship (2023). The 29-year-old remains a juggernaut when it comes to both skating and shot speed; he ranked fourth in the NHL in 20-plus mph speed bursts (370) and tied for seventh among forwards in 90-plus mph shot attempts (10) last season. 

Eichel also ranked highly at his position in 22-plus mph bursts (26; 98th percentile), hardest shot (94.62 mph; 96th percentile) and average shot speed (61.45 mph; 93rd percentile). Eichel led the playoffs in 20-plus mph speed bursts (105 in 22 games), while ranking in the 95th percentile among forwards in max skating speed (23.14 mph) and 22-plus mph speed bursts (five).  

Eichel, who has produced the only two 90-point seasons in Golden Knights history (94 in 2024-25, 90 last season), remained a standout in terms of skating distance, shot location and zone time last season. He ranked in the 87th percentile or higher among forwards in the following NHL EDGE categories and continues to cement Vegas' status as a perennial Stanley Cup contender: 

• Total skating distance: 257.04 miles (97th percentile) 
• Power-play skating distance: 37.58 miles (96th percentile) 
• High-danger goals: 14 (87th percentile) 
• Mid-range shots on goal: 95 (97th percentile) 
• Mid-range goals: 9 (89th percentile) 
• Offensive zone time percentage: 45.2 percent (88th percentile)