When the Vegas Golden Knights joined the NHL in the 2017-18 season, it was hard not to view it as some sort of gimmick; an attempt to force-feed NHL hockey to another Sun Belt market that never really wanted it. When the team debuted on the ice, at least initially, that sentiment was solidified by the glitzy, loud, over-the-top show that the Golden Knights put on. In Vegas, hockey was just another show. At first, we here in Minnesota watched with amusement as another one of Gary Bettman's “non-traditional hockey markets” had to work so hard to sell hockey.
Published: 04/20/2025
Author: Hockey Wilderness
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