Honestly, if you told a hockey fan in 2017 that a team playing in the middle of the Mojave Desert would be hoisting Lord Stanley's Cup within six years, they probably would’ve told you to go sleep it off. But that’s exactly what happened. On June 13, 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 to clinch their first-ever championship.
It was loud. It was flashy. It was quintessentially Vegas.
The Night the Desert Froze Over
The atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena that Tuesday night was electric, almost vibrating. You’ve seen dominant performances before, but this was something else entirely. Mark Stone, the captain who’d been through two back surgeries in less than a year, went out and buried a hat trick. A hat trick! In a clinching game!
The last guy to do that in a Stanley Cup Final was Peter Forsberg back in '96.
But it wasn't just Stone. The depth of that Vegas roster was frankly terrifying for the rest of the league. Jack Eichel, the guy many people doubted would ever reach his potential after that whole neck surgery saga in Buffalo, led the entire playoffs in scoring with 26 points. He looked like a man possessed.
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Who Won the Stanley Cup in 2023 and How They Did It
When we look at who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, the conversation usually starts with the "Original Misfits." This is the group of six players who had been there since day one: Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith, Brayden McNabb, Shea Theodore, and William Carrier.
Coach Bruce Cassidy did something pretty cool in that final game. He started five of those six guys. It was a nod to the history of a franchise that, despite being young, had already felt the heartbreak of losing in the Finals back in 2018.
The Path to Glory
Vegas didn't just stumble into the trophy. They took a sledgehammer to the Western Conference.
- They handled the Winnipeg Jets in five.
- They survived a heavy, bruising series against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in six.
- They outlasted the Dallas Stars in six.
- Then, they met the Florida Panthers.
Florida was the ultimate underdog that year. They barely squeaked into the playoffs and then went on a "Cinderella run" for the ages, knocking out the record-breaking Boston Bruins in the first round. But by the time they hit the Finals, the gas tank was empty. Matthew Tkachuk, their heart and soul, was literally playing with a fractured sternum. It was painful to watch.
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The Unlikely Hero in the Crease
You can't talk about 2023 without mentioning Adin Hill. Most people forget he started the playoffs on the bench. When Laurent Brossoit went down with an injury in the second round, Hill stepped in and turned into a brick wall. That paddle save he made in Game 1 against Florida? People are still talking about that. He finished the postseason with an 11-4 record and a .932 save percentage. Basically, he chose the perfect time to play the best hockey of his life.
Jonathan Marchessault: The Heart of the Misfits
The Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP went to Jonathan Marchessault, and honestly, who else could it have been? He tied for the league lead with 13 playoff goals. What makes his story so "Vegas" is that he was an undrafted player. He’s small, he’s scrappy, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder the size of a Red Rock canyon.
Marchessault became the first undrafted player since Wayne Gretzky in 1988 to win the Conn Smythe. That's elite company. He was the guy the Panthers gave up in the expansion draft years ago—ironic, right? He got his revenge on the biggest stage possible.
Why This Win Changed the NHL
For a long time, the traditional "hockey world" looked down on non-traditional markets. They thought Vegas was a gimmick. But the Golden Knights proved that if you have an owner like Bill Foley—who famously predicted "Cup in Six" years earlier—and a management team that isn't afraid to be ruthless to get better, you can win fast.
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They traded away fan favorites and draft picks like they were playing poker, all in pursuit of one goal. In 2023, that gamble paid off.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a hockey fan or just someone fascinated by how to build a winning culture, there are a few things worth checking out to really "get" what happened in 2023:
- Watch the "Quest for the Stanley Cup" documentary series from that year. It gives you a raw look at Mark Stone's leadership.
- Look up the "Golden Misfits" history. It’s a masterclass in how to use "rejection" as a competitive advantage.
- If you're ever in Las Vegas, visit City National Arena. You can see the practice facility where this team actually came together.
The 2023 Vegas Golden Knights weren't just a championship team; they were a statement. They showed that in modern sports, you don't have to wait twenty years for "your turn." You go out and you take it.
Key Stats from the 2023 Finals:
- Final Series Score: Vegas 4, Florida 1.
- Game 5 Score: 9-3 (A record for most goals by one team in a Cup-clinching game).
- Playoff Points Leader: Jack Eichel (26).
- Playoff Goals Leader: Jonathan Marchessault (13).
- Fastest Expansion Team to Win: 6th season (Modern Era).
The 2023 Stanley Cup win remains one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory. It wasn't just about the hockey; it was about a city that fully embraced a team and a team that gave them a reason to celebrate until the sun came up over the Strip.