(Photo Credit: @GoldenKnights on X/Twitter)

The calendar has turned to 2026, which for most means a chance to start fresh. The 2025-26 Golden Knights are still searching for themselves as they’ve battled through injuries and could use a fresh start as well. Throughout the franchise’s history, though, January has offered anything but.

In the previous seven “normal” seasons (excluding the shortened COVID year), Vegas has never posted a record in January that was better than in December. In most cases, it’s been much worse.

SeasonDecemberDec Points %JanuaryJan Points %

17-1811-1-1.8857-3-2.667

18-199-3-3.7006-4-0.600

19-209-4-2.6674-5-1.450

21-2210-3-0.7694-4-3.500

22-238-6-1.5674-6-2.417

23-247-5-1.5777-5-1.577

24-2510-2-0.8336-6-3.500

25-266-4-3.577??????

Since January 2020, VGK have posted a combined record of 25-26-10, the worst month of the year by a wide margin.

Typically, January is a crowded month with lots of games, bundles of travel, and often numerous back-to-backs. This was exacerbated last year with the introduction of the 4 Nations Faceoff, and it’s even worse this year with the extended break for the 2026 Olympics.

That being said, this year’s schedule is extremely light regarding quality of competition. VGK will play 16 games in the next 30 days, but just four are against teams currently in a playoff position. There’s not a single game against one of the four teams holding the top spot in their division, and a home game against Dallas is the only game against a team even in 2nd.

at STL (6th in Central)
at CHI (7th in Central)$
at WPG (8th in Central)
vs CBJ (8th in Metro)
vs STL (6th in Central)$
at SJS (4th in Pacific)*^$
at LAK (6th in Pacific)
vs TOR (6th in Atlantic)^
vs NSH (5th in Central)$
vs PHI (3rd in Metro)*
at BOS (7th in Atlantic)
at TOR (6th in Atlantic)^
at OTT (8th in Atlantic)$
at MTL (3rd in Atlantic)*
vs DAL (2nd in Central)*
vs SEA (5th in West)*

*Currently in playoff position
^Back-to-back for Vegas
$Back-to-back for opponent

Even the back-to-backs aren’t terrible. Trips from Vegas to San Jose and then Los Angeles back to Vegas are not too taxing while Boston to Toronto is less than a two-hour flight.

This would be a good time for the Golden Knights to put together their most successful January in team history. Next month will be dominated by the Olympics, which means a lot of looking at stagnant NHL standings. If VGK can put together a winning first month of the calendar year, they’ll be easily on the right side of the cut line and the 19-day break will be without stress.