Real Talk: Vegas Golden Knights (LTIR, strategy, success)

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Chapters:
0:00 Vegas comes up... a lot
1:15 That Expansion Draft
3:16 They've been great, since then
4:55 Still in the Honeymoon phase
6:27 Welcome to the NHL "struggle" club
7:55 Appreciate good ownership
10:27 Vegas Born
12:12 LTIR, Salary Cap, Cheating?
15:35 Hockey "wouldn't work" in Vegas
17:45 Logo, colors, branding
21:36 Conclusions
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#nhl #hockey #vegas

[@scottlinting6308]

Residents of Las Vegas when asked where we live, we say Vegas. So Vegas Golden Knights Makes sense.

[@rileyholden-zc9ip]

A lot of people don't know last Vegas has had hockey teams in the past before the golden knights played a game the golden knights made me fall in love with hockey again

[@darioprime]

True, I was there for the Wranglers first echl game, and I saw Solar Bear games

[@bustertn2014]

@@darioprime I used to go to Thunder games years ago. Met lots of NHL players that came down to the Thunder as well since my cousin was a house mother or whatever they called them.

[@wskeyson3382]

The team does not decide if & when a player comes off LTIR. That decision is made by an independent medical professional. No VGK player was ever on LTIR longer than legally necessary.

[@azisles02]

Those that said "hockey won't work in Vegas" are mostly Canadian fans who think a team belongs in Moose Jaw or Saskatoon than Tampa or Dallas simply because "Canada has hockey weather". That is such a bs excuse as you go where the money is. I will say that I love how Vegas has adopted the Knights. You can see their stuff in pretty much every casino in fact some actually use a Knight puck as a marker at craps tables.

[@Fitzsimmons.]

Jets fan, not a Vegas boy. Hate the Knights for continually knocking us out in round one... BUT Brodie you are so off about Vegas GK branding. Great logo. Colours are cool. Golden helmets fit the over-the-top excess of Vegas. Never change VGK. I wanna see a Jets game there.

[@danmarsh5949]

Come on down! Heck, it's even snowing in the mountains outside town right now; you should feel at home.

[@Fitzsimmons.]

@@danmarsh5949 i actually don’t live in Winnipeg; near Vancouver (still a Jets fan) where we basically rarely if ever have snow and palm trees grow. But yeah I’d love to come down to Vegas again; haven’t been in probably 15 years.

[@katemoo9581]

Me too

[@jeffadventures1]

90% of Vegas fans we're hockey fans of other teams... it was a thing during the first season to wear your old teams jersey and then during the game you would take it off and wear VGK. Vegas being a transplant town already had a HUGE hockey base here because of people moving here from other hockey cities... we KNEW how special that first team was and how special winning the Cup is. Also Bill Foley is a great owner and his experience in business has helped us tremendously. His hiring of George McPhee and Kelly McCrimmon to lead us has been the key. As long as we have these guys running the team, we will be contenders.

[@bustertn2014]

Generally true, but there were alot of homegrown hockey fans as well. I was a Pens fan growing up, in Vegas, used to watch Lemieux on the big screens as a kid in the casinos sitting outside of the sportsbooks.

[@aaronreeve1414]

Some people seem to think VGK is playing 4-D chess by putting one of their best players on LTIR, going on a losing streak, and being on the verge of dropping out of the playoffs.

[@Lucky30Ape]

Love this channel and your insight about the goings on not just with the sharks, but other teams in the hockey world. Keep at it, Brodie. Youre awesome.

[@diffizzle8630]

The passive aggression just oozes from your mouth when VGK is involved 😂😂

[@anthonyf2796]

Any team could have stepped up and traded with Buffalo for Jack Eichel. Only one team did.

[@jeffadventures1]

Blackhawks used the cap rule w Kane, Lightning did it w Kucherov... Golden Knights are actually in danger of missing the playoffs this year like we did 2 years ago, we would rather have had Stone healthy.

[@carparthero]

@Brodie Brazil just wanna say i really appreciate your nhl videos! it's nice to learn about other folks' viewpoints in different markets, especially non-traditional ones. i discovered by accident your atlanta expansion video the other day, and there were great points for/against ATL. as you can appreciate, atlanta is a very controversial topic here in canada lol. personally i would like arizona get sold and relocated to either salt lake or houston. quebec to be honest won't happen because the nhl doesn't want to go there, plus the market is very economically challenged. about VGK, many fans here in canada do bellyache about vegas' operating methods lol. some of vegas tactics may be questionable. i don't like or hate vegas. rest assured, eventually VGK will have to rebuild. it's the way the salary cap and draft system is designed. but i really appreciate the american-style ruthlessness in putting a stanley cup team on the ice. many teams and fans bellyache that it's hard to win stanley cups. but they don't want to trade picks and prospects to take the risks involved. am looking forward to more nhl content as your videos go live in the future. cheers from southern ontario, canada 🍁

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Canadians should want Atlanta to get a third shot at a team. The first one moved to Calgary. The second one moved to Winnipeg, though the third one won't come to Canada if they relocate again (which is highly unlikely in and of itself IMO) as I don't think Bettman wants a team in Quebec City, which would be the only Canadian city that would even be mentioned in relocation or expansion chatter.

[@SaintSpire]

US Army Golden Knights

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Leafs haven't won the Cup since 1967 when there were only six teams in the league. Longest period without winning the Cup of any team in the league. If they ever do win it, fans will probably top the Raptors Championship Parade in 2019 when in excess of 1M people showed up along the parade route and at the plaza at City Hall for the speeches.

[@johnedwards5575]

Reiterate Brodie’s point on LTIR… 11 teams are over the cap with LTIR in consideration. Vegas is not the worst offender-See TML. Given rules in play, they are doing what they are allowed to do. On the league to agree to modified rules going forward?

[@christopherboyd3311]

So Paradise NV is a township - something created in NV law that creates a specified area for common planning purposes in unincorporated Clark County. More importantly, it was created decades ago to prevent the City of Las Vegas from annexing the Strip into the City limits. In Nevada, you can't annex an area of the County into a City that is within a township.

[@StevenPalmer-cs5ix]

Finally the NHL figured out that it is important to give new franchises a solid footing in expansion! Having new fan bases deal with being the whipping boy of the league is not a sound business strategy.

[@danmarsh5949]

I expect other leagues to follow the NHL's example when they expand. It's good for the league when the new market is pretty good right out of the gate.

[@michaelmarkowski204]

Agree. Charge a huge expansion fee so the other owners get a decent payday, then give them a competitive team year one via the expansion draft. Bettman is arguably the best commissioner out of the four big time pro sports leagues in North America.

[@danmarsh5949]

Do other sun-belt cities attract northern visitors with their hockey teams? Does a Sabres fan decide to go to Dallas or Carolina for a game to get out of the snow? I feel like Vegas is a unique draw for that. Technically Paradise, Nevada, isn't a city, it's a "town." I didn't get the difference so I looked into it. (I live in Whitney, another "town" that's part of the LV valley.) A "town" in Nevada is basically . . . nothing. They do have a town council but everything they do has to be approved by the county. It's the county that does things like local roads, libraries, fire service, etc, not the town. I'm completely okay with the team being "Vegas" rather than "Las Vegas." I don't mind the helmets. Interestingly they're fairly recent, and a lot of fans didn't like them at first because the Knights had a bad record whenever they wore them.

[@katemoo9581]

Vegas is a very successful franchise right now even though I’m not a golden knight fan

[@jameszygadlo5560]

good video. I disagree with you on some opinions, but you are entitled to them. Good work!

[@sdeepj]

It’s good for teams to be successful right away, look at the Islanders. They went from expansion to dynasty in less than a decade. The dynasty got the Isles out of the Rangers’ shadow, established the fanbase, and created immense goodwill. That goodwill helped the Islanders get through some really dark times. From the Spano debacle, Lighthouse fiasco, trading away Luongo, etc, the Islanders went through enough to merit a move. The League was patient because of the dynasty.

[@shinyuta]

my take on the "vgk wont work" argument. I still consistently see the argument thrown at us saying, "you guys are casual fans that dont know hockey". When plenty of us have played hockey or watched hockey for years. The gatekeeping and downplaying from other fans get really annoying.

[@jamesondsampson]

Can I get your blessings to do a *RESPECTFUL* reaction video to this? Most of what you said is correct/spot on, few things I'd love to dive into from a VGK fan perspective and a few details that I recently learned that would be valuable knowledge for many

[@DarkLobster69]

People hate the success, hate how aggressive and ruthless they are in the trade market, hate how they’ve done players dirty at some points (especially MAF). Most people label them as cheaters for breaking rules they didn’t break and other teams have broken more. A lot of Canadian fans hate that the southern US got an expansion team before their poverty hamlet (especially fans outside of the zones of current teams’ fandom. A lot of hate comes from the fact it’s such a desirable city for the players, and many want to be there. Honestly, even though I hate them just as irrationally as most fans, most of it is unwarranted. They definitely did MAF extremely dirty though.

[@BoulderCityBlues]

Success comes with a good owner and appreciated players , good coaching and the best fans ..Go Knights Go ..Back to Back …

[@evanschemenauer1356]

From a part time resident, Las Vegas refers to the city of Las Vegas and Vegas refers to the metropolitan area. If you're including Paradise which isn't in the city, it's Vegas.

[@aaronreeve1414]

And “Las Vegas” is commonly shortened to just “Vegas” anyway. No one shortens “New York” to “York” or whatever other examples he used. That whole slide was stupid.

[@mosinc7388]

After the Thrashers the NHL didn't want to make it so hard for expansion teams. After VGK the NHL didn't want to make it so easy for expansion teams.

[@donnybrook5671]

Seattle had the same expansion rules as Vegas. They did get a pretty good team, just not as much success to this point. BTW, Vegas was 500 -1 odds to win the Cup that first year and predicted to finish last in the Pacific.

[@mosinc7388]

@@donnybrook5671 no they didn't

[@donnybrook5671]

@@mosinc7388 Not sure what you're disputing. If Seattle had the same expansion rules, or, if they were able to put together a pretty good team. I realize one is fact and the second is only an opinion. IMO, the Kraken did get a pretty good team and made the playoffs their second year.

[@mosinc7388]

The way it worked for Seattle was ideal. They got a competitive team unlike the previous 9 expansion teams. The rules may have been the same but GMs in the VGK expansion made deals they wouldn't make again for the Kraken expansion. Seattle is ok, in no way were they as well off as Vegas after the expansion draft and league draft. Now the NHL as a whole knows how expansion should be done. No issues with Vegas, they just benefitted from going first.

[@donnybrook5671]

@@mosinc7388 I agree, Vegas was very fortunate and Seattle is doing very well. ✌️

[@jeffadventures1]

so Bill Foley originally wanted to call the team the Nevada Black Knights... People in Vegas freaked out about our first team being called Nevada and thats why HE decided to call it Vegas and then. Army threatened him to not call them the Black Knights which is why they are Golden... and we in Vegas are with you on the gold helments, we ALL hate them lol

[@bustertn2014]

I truly hate those gold lame jersey's. I still have my first season ticket holder jersey and a few others, but that gold has GOT TO GO.

[@andytitcomb9463]

As a Sharks fan, and what we got in the expansion daft, compared to what VGN got, and then the LTIR BS, makes me lose faith in the NHL.

[@goal23lv]

Hockey players sucked in your expansion era tho. League is much better now

[@jeffa.7618]

Disagree, respectfully. I've been avidly following the NHL through both of those expansion eras - it's definitely the expansion rules​ more than anything @@goal23lv. Props on LV for taking advantage and being really smart. It's the perks they got for paying the steep $500 mil fee, SJ did not. Don't let other salty fans get to you with their own resentments, but it also doesn't mean those resentments are unfounded. Multiple things can be true 😅 cheers

[@mattsmith4063]

They also got the team for 1/5th the cost.

[@trismaster]

The ocean is salty due to Shark tears.

[@jeffadventures1]

whitecloud was not part of the expansion draft and didn't play season 1 fyi

[@eijirosensei7637]

People who live in Las Vegas and are raised there just say Vegas. It’s like calling any part of SF, Oakland or San Jose “the bay”.

[@jeffadventures1]

the strip still uses Las Vegas addresses... Paradise is not a city

[@mikehenson9984]

Whitecloud is not an original misfit. He is only his 3rd season I believe. There were 5 last season and 4 now that Smith was traded bedore this season.

[@bigrobfff2398]

Just move here already... I got a house in spring valley for sale👍

[@wainber1]

Elvis, if he were alive this month, probably wouldn’t be too happy right now lol.

[@loC2ol]

It’s because anyone who lives in Vegas doesn’t call it Las Vegas it’s just Vegas

[@zeromaz6618]

its typical to call Las Vegas just simply "Vegas" ... you've heard it "VEGAS BABY!" .. unlike New York, people don't say "Lets go to York"... so just "Vegas" is a very common way to say Las Vegas. And everyone hates the helmets... They look like cheap chinese helmets

[@dmvtrax645]

Why do you care so much what Vegas does? You are in the Bay Area correct? So why not focus on that market for sports.

[@wskeyson3382]

Whitecloud is NOT a "Golden Misfit".

[@colefreer]

really gonna nitpick the name? it’s vegas cmon

[@volrath247]

Brb slandering Brodies words just cause (I’m an A’s fan been following for a minute 💀💀)

[@wskeyson3382]

Whitecloud is NOT a Golden Misfit.

[@christopherboyd3311]

I sooooo appreciate you "sportsplaining" how tough it will be for VGK fans when they finally have to go through a rebuild. As if thousands of us aren't fans of other teams in other sports / more than one team in the NHL. Here's what your real talk about Vegas misses - Vegas is a heavy sports town and always has been. Before the NHL, before the NFL, before any other sport came here, we had multiple bars and restaurants dedicated to specific NFL teams. They were packed on Sundays. Similar for College Football. Similar, but a bit smaller, for NBA, MLB and NHL. We were huge fans the whole time and we've been through the ups and downs of our other teams. Detroit is my lifelong team. Did Detroit's fanbase fall off as the team finally missed the playoffs after 25 years? Of course. I watched it happen. Are they a bad fanbase? Of course not.

[@aaronreeve1414]

The logo isn’t a “V with a shield” - it’s a helmet and the V is the visor. This guy is supposed to be an actual professional sports commentator?

[@bustertn2014]

Anymore, Vegas refers to the ENTIRE VALLEY. This includes Summerlin, Green Valley, and their original name, Henderson and North Las Vegas etc. I still laugh when I hear I don't live in Vegas but I live in Green Valley, which is Henderson, but since the only difference are some taxes and local codes, they are all the same. I grew up there and lived there for 54 years.

[@adrinhimmelheber2479]

Haters gonna Hate

[@seanmagee471]

The "Vegas" Golden Knights, not Las Vegas Golden Knights, its named that way because the Locals here call It "Vegas". When someone asks us where we are from: "Vegas" is always the answer. Trying not to be rude about it but That is What I have always done and what I have been told from other Locals here.

[@wskeyson3382]

BB is an SJS guy, clearly!

[@donnybrook5671]

Yes, he's from that area I believe, and, he's part of the Sharks broadcast team. Nothing wrong with that. He's definitely more knowledgeable and level headed than many sports fans.

[@giomole]

Man those gold helmets look tacky.... Perfect for a Vegas team IMO

[@bustertn2014]

As a Vegas fan, your right, what makes me chuckle is the fact the Kings have a chrome version.

[@oscarmurillo4067]

Why talk about our rivals? &%$# Vegas!!!

[@konmann1]

Here in Vegas we was thinking the same thing &%$# Yall!!!

[@uncledamfee2347]

The reason why everyone hates Vegas is because they are the trust fund baby of the NHL. Nobody has ever started as well off as the VGK did for their Expansion draft. The amount of draft picks and players teams threw to them in panic of not taking certain players was absurd. Like Florida giving Vegas Reilly Smith for taking Marchessault and a 4th round pick was absurd. Penguins giving them a 2nd for taking Fleury. They attained an absolutely absurd amount of draft capital and had a team of 2nd/3rd liners. Clearly they weren’t supposed to be that good but I don’t fault Vegas for taking what the NHL set up for them. They are akin to the billionaire asshole who know how to avoid taxes, and manipulate the law to increase profit but in a Hockey team. From an outside perspective it’s brilliant because they’re just playing by the rules to the most extreme and exploiting loopholes. What bugs people the most is when their team came into the league they were not handed such an advantage. San Jose’s expansion draft was a bag of used pucks in comparison. It was just how it was. Teams like the Wild, Blue Jackets, And Panthers have not enjoyed this much success combined in the 60+ years they’d collectively been around compared to Vegas’ 6 measly years. That’s why we all hate the VGk - they were given so much. I think Vegas is going to decline really quickly though. They do have a huge advantage as no taxes, cheap property, and a playground for rich young athletes make it a destination for players who most of live in their teams city only for the season before moving back home in the summer and who wouldn’t wanna do that in Vegas! lol I hate the VGk and their hideous name, jerseys, and colors but I respect their hustle.

[@bustertn2014]

Property here isn't cheap and hasn't been for years.

[@uncledamfee2347]

@@bustertn2014 Are you high? You can get a 1500 square foot 3 bed 2 bath house for $300,000 in Vegas which is FAR below the national average....You can get a Condo for under $200k and a good home for under $400k those are insanely cheap prices for a home.

[@bustertn2014]

Not in a good area. I grew up there and built some, graded for others. I even ran the crew that did all the grading, excavating and paving so i do have some idea of current costs. I sold MY 1900 sq ft 25 yr old home in a good neighborhood for 400k. U may find a 1500 ft2 home in North Las Vegas or in the center of the city or mabye old Henderson, but not anything newer or in a good area. Living there for 54 years and buying and selling multiple homes, I have a pretty good idea of cost. U wont even get a home for that price in Pahrump either.

[@Haniger17Munoz75]

This team is cheesy

[@davidricards5262]

Wow, your a hater.

[@bustertn2014]

Yep. We put that Cheese in our Cup and dip it at parties..... You can stand outside.

[@Haniger17Munoz75]

Every call in every game goes there way , nhl caters to this horrible franchise

[@davidricards5262]

Wow, your a hater.

[@bustertn2014]

Umm. It's "their" way not "there". So if your going to talk a bit, at least spell it right. As for catering to them. Tell me how they catered to them, considering the fact they had zero first line guys in their first couple of years but still got it done better than many teams.

[@rainbowmade1880]

Hate VGK. I’m out.

[@davidricards5262]

Wow, your a hater.

[@ObsceneLobster]

I have no love for Vegas. But I’m absolutely with you. VGK is a very smart Org, they know the rules and know how to play around them. They got very Favorable expansion rules, and they used it to their limits. The LTIR loophole isn’t against the rules, they just know how to he thrifty and work around it. They’re crafty, they’re smart. They know how to bend and manipulate the rules given to them to the fullest extent and that is genuinely impressive. Now, I think the only thing I disagree with you on is the colors and logo. I think the Logo kinda fucks. It goes hard. Using the visor of the helmet to make a V, that’s slick. But what I don’t like are the colors. Gold is an amazing accent color, but as a main one it’s a bit tacky imo. But their helmets are just atrocious. As a whole I am very happy for VGK fans. And I really hope they stick with the team when or if they ever start to falter.