(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

It’s summertime, so how about we have some fun? For all of us concerned about where the Golden Knights goals will come from next season, let’s do a simple exercise. Based on career bests from everyday players on VGK’s projected 2025-26 roster, the team potentially could score an unrealistic 382 goals in 82 regular season games, over 100 more than last year when they set the franchise record for most goals.

Golden Knights Career Highs In Goals Scored

William Karlsson – 43 (2017-18)
Jack Eichel – 36 (2019-20)
Mitch Marner – 35 (2021-22)
Pavel Dorofeyev – 35 (2024-25)
Tomas Hertl – 35 (2018-19)
Mark Stone – 33 (2018-19)
Brandon Saad – 31 (2015-16)
Reilly Smith – 27 (2019-20)
Ivan Barbashev – 26 (2021-22)
Brett Howden – 23 (2024-25)
Shea Theodore – 14 (2021-22)
Noah Hanifin – 13 (2023-24)
Keegan Kolesar – 12 (2024-25)
Zach Whitecloud – 8 (2021-22)
Brayden McNabb – 5 (2017-18)
Ben Hutton – 5 (2016-17 & 2018-19)
Kaeden Korczak – 1 (2023-24)

In 2024-25, the Golden Knights recorded 274 regular season tallies. Vegas scored 27 more goals than the league average and landed 5th in the NHL by season’s end. The four clubs ahead of them, Tampa (292), Washington (286), Dallas (275) and Winnipeg (275) also qualified for the postseason. Unfortunately, all five were eliminated before the Stanley Cup finals. However, their potent offenses rewarded most of them with home ice advantage. One thing that greatly benefited the Golden Knights in 2023.

Since the 2017-18 season, the Golden Knights have averaged 258 goals over 82 games. History suggests it’s unlikely Vegas will reach last year’s 274 but they could get close if some players match or pass their career highs. For example, if VGK can receive 30+ goals from four stars, they would only need 150 from the other 13 skaters. That’s an average of 11.5 goals per player. Considering how blessed they are with scoring talent, that shouldn’t be a problem for VGK’s current roster.

If Vegas can get peak Eichel and Marner in the same season than they can easily remain a top-five scoring offense. The duo will create dozens of goals for their teammates, but should net the puck 50-60 times between themselves. The 2024-25 team averaged 3.34 goals per game, and overall, the club has maintained that range since 2022-23. In that timeframe, the Golden Knights have a .648 Points %. With the addition of the former Maple Leaf, matching that percentage should be within reach.

(Credit: NHL.com)

If the 31st franchise historically overachieves by having every player on the roster reach their career high, they would average 4.66 goals per game. That would earn them a place in the top 20 offensive seasons in league history. It’s implausible, but it’s the offseason, and it’s amusing to envision.

Now, the real question for the 2025-26 Golden Knights is scoring goals in the postseason. We all expect Vegas to qualify for the playoffs next April, so our only concern is advancing further than they did last May. Those are the expectations after Vegas won the offseason by acquiring Marner. Now, if Vegas players can exceed career bests in the postseason, fuhgeddaboudit, prepare for another parade.