Vegas Golden Knights Advance to Stanley Cup Finals
The Vegas Golden Knights have secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals by eliminating the Colorado Avalanche with a decisive 2-1 victory on Tuesday, sweeping the series. The achievement marks the franchise’s third Finals appearance in the past nine years.
Former Predators Players Lead Vegas to Victory
Three players who recently departed Nashville will compete for hockey’s highest prize with the Knights. Forward Cole Smith, acquired by Vegas at the trade deadline in March in exchange for a 2028 third-round draft pick and defenseman Christoffer Sedoff, provided the game-winning tally with approximately six minutes remaining. His goal came off a tip-in from Dylan Coghlan’s shot, representing his third playoff score this postseason.
Additionally, forwards Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon made the jump to the Finals after being traded to Vegas in late June. The Predators received defenseman Nicolas Hague and draft compensation—initially a 2027 third-round pick that was subsequently upgraded to a second-round selection following Vegas’s advancement past the Western Conference Finals.
Playoff Performance and Finals Experience
Throughout the playoff run, Sissons has recorded six points (two goals, four assists) across 15 games, while Smith has tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in the same number of contests. Lauzon has appeared in six playoff games.
For Smith and Lauzon, the Finals represent their first opportunity to compete for the Cup, whereas Sissons previously reached the championship series in 2017 with Nashville, falling to Pittsburgh in six games. In that particular postseason run, Sissons amassed 12 points (six goals, six assists) through 22 games.
Trade Analysis and Upcoming Finals
The trades have been viewed as victories for Vegas, particularly given the Predators’ acquisition of defenseman Nicolas Hague, who recorded 15 points across 62 regular-season contests with a minus-10 rating. Nashville’s 2024 free-agent signing of Jonathan Marchessault, who spent seven seasons with the Golden Knights, has underperformed expectations, generating 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 62 games this season.
The Golden Knights await the Finals opponent, which will be determined by the ongoing series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. The Finals schedule remains to be finalized.
