Warren Gatland has admitted he would not have returned to the Wales job had he known the true scale of the problems facing Welsh rugby.

Gatland believes that adversity can galvanise his team at this autumn's World Cup in France.

However, the Wales coach said of the several high-profile withdrawals from his plans, it is the loss of young centre Joe Hawkins that hurts the most.

Gatland told the Scrum V podcast he had little idea of the mess he had walked into when he returned in December for a second stint as head coach.

A Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) sexism scandal, the chief executive resigning, coaches being sacked or suspended, Wales players threatening to strike over contractual chaos, a struggling national team and continued regional failures.

All of this has been played out against a grim financial backdrop with the four professional sides facing more hard-hitting austerity measures.

"When I came into the Six Nations, I had no idea. I didn't realise a lot of the things that were going on and the issues that were behind rugby and the squad and the players," he said.

"At the time if I had known, I would have made a different decision and probably gone somewhere else.

"Welsh rugby's going to go through [more] pain from a financial perspective for the regions.

"These issues were here before, but there's no doubt that the success of the national team in the past probably papered over the cracks.

"Now, probably for the better, they have come to the fore and there is a chance to focus on the things that needed fixing.

"There's a great chance for us to have a really positive reset on a number of things.

"I feel like we're in that place now that's exciting with some of the young talent that's coming through."

Player withdrawals

Gatland named a 54-strong extended training squad in May, but has already seen four players players pull out, while a fifth - Rhys Carre - was released.

He revealed Alun Wyn Jones' retirement was not a surprise following "constant discussions" on the subject since the Six Nations, while injuries had left Justin Tipuric feeling unable to compete for a World Cup place.

Gatland said: "Justin said his body wasn't 100% and didn't think he could get through World Cup preparation.

"But they all understood that while they may have been first choice in the past, there was no guarantee they're going to make the World Cup squad. There's a lot of competition.

"It reminds me of 2011 when we had a group of older, experienced players and a young generation that came through and were absolutely outstanding. However the Joe Hawkins one is disappointing."

Hawkins was ruled ineligible for Wales following his decision to join Exeter Chiefs after his international debut. Had he been uncapped, like Cardiff's Gloucester-bound centre Max Llewellyn, he could still have played.

Hawkins, 20, was Gatland's first-choice number 12 during the Six Nations, but said the "turbulence" in Welsh rugby that meant players losing their jobs had "reinforced" his choice to leave the Ospreys.

Gatland said: "That's the one that really disappoints me. The others I can cope with because we've got depth in certain positions and people make those personal decisions for their families.

"But I was just really surprised that a 20-year-old would throw away the chance to be involved in international rugby, particularly a World Cup, which would have been huge for his development.

"Joe was a player that we were looking at for the future as a number 10. Neil Jenkins spoke to him and said: 'I just don't get it. Why are you giving away this chance? You've got a Lions tour in a couple of years that you could potentially be a part of.'"

Also withdrawing are Rhys Webb, who turned down an offer from Ospreys, with Biarritz strongly linked to the 40-cap scrum-half, and lock Cory Hill, who will now remain in Japan.

However Gatland has left the door open for Hill's return for next year's Six Nations.

He said: "Cory had finished in Japan and was desperate to find a region in Wales, but that didn't eventuate. There was nothing in England or France and he's ended up going back to Japan. He didn't have a choice.

"Hopefully he can come back around Christmas and there might be something available for him that he can pick up and potentially be available for the Six Nations."

World Cup prospects

With the loss of three former captains in Jones, Tipuric and Hill, Gatland said he may now opt for co-leaders at France 2023.

Six Nations skipper Ken Owens may not be guaranteed a starting spot, aged 36, while Dan Biggar is another option.

However Gatland insisted he remains upbeat over Wales' chances at the finals, despite the odds seemingly stacked against them.

"What gives me an edge or a buzz is when the expectations aren't there or the challenges appear to be greater. That drives me even more," he said.

"We can't forget about what's happened in the past and there are a lot of things that have been addressed and questions asked.

"If some of the Welsh media can keep writing us off that would be great because they're doing us a huge favour.

"It's allowing us to come in under the radar and there's nothing the Welsh boys love better than being written off and backs-to-the-wall, they tend to respond to that."

Wales' updated preliminary Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Will Davies-King (Cardiff), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Henry Thomas (Montpellier), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Will Rowlands (Dragons), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), Taine Basham (Dragons) Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Josh Macleod (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Toulon), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Owen Williams (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff), George North (Ospreys), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Keiran Williams (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Cai Evans (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Cardiff).

LOS ANGELES – As Stanford senior Barclay Brown struck some putts on Los Angeles Country Club’s ninth green on Tuesday afternoon, a familiar voice pierced the air.

“Hey, Barc!” said Cardinal head coach Conrad Ray as he rolled a ball toward Brown. The Englishman had just shanked the scuffed Titleist over near a grandstand and some trees right of the green, and Ray had dutifully retrieved it.

The job of a coach never stops.

But why would it? Especially considering Ray has four active players teeing it up in this week’s U.S. Open, a number that is believed to be a record for college programs at a major championship.

On Tuesday, all four Cardinal – Brown, rising seniors Michael Thorbjornsen and Karl Vilips, and junior Alexander Yang – spent a few hours together dissecting LACC’s front nine – and squaring off in a friendly match. Last week, the foursome had earned their U.S. Open tickets via four different final qualifiers across the country. Now, they were days away from making history.

“It almost feels like a normal college event,” Thorbjornsen said. “Like we’re all practicing together, playing a quick nine. A big thing out here, whether you’re playing any professional tournament or PGA Tour event or major, it’s important to get comfortable, and when you’re playing with guys who you’ve played with for the past few years, it definitely eases you up.”

Thorbjornsen is the star Card, likely to rise to No. 2 in Wednesday’s updated World Amateur Golf Ranking. Not only did he win twice this season, at a loaded Olympia Fields event in the fall and the Pac-12 Championship this spring, but he also boasts quite the USGA pedigree, having won the 2018 U.S. Junior and qualified for two previous U.S. Opens, in 2019, when he made the cut at Pebble Beach, and last year at The Country Club. He medaled at his final qualifier a week ago in Summit, New Jersey. And then there was the solo-fourth performance last summer at the Travelers Championship, which he’ll return to next week, one of two upcoming sponsor exemptions (John Deere being the other).

With so much attention on him at Brookline, where he competed just miles from his hometown and drew countless comparisons to Francus Ouimet before missing the cut, Thorbjornsen was looking forward to keeping a lower profile heading into this year’s championship.

“Last year was a lot,” Thorbjornsen said. “We had that first tee time, did a lot of media. It feels good to come here and almost be a nobody again. But hopefully still make some noise, too.”

Vilips knows a thing or two about the spotlight. He arrived at Stanford with an impressive junior record and a massive YouTube following. But injuries and Thorbjornsen’s rise have seen Vilips shed a lot of that extra attention. He had an indifferent start to his college career, at one point even entering the transfer portal before deciding to remain at Cardinal two summers ago, but this past season, he enjoyed his most consistent campaign yet, notching six top-20s and notching a T-22 at the NCAA Championship.

“I’ve been fortunate in a way to not have gotten off to such an awesome start coming out of junior golf and having to rebuild my game from the ground up a little bit,” Vilips said, “so it was definitely a little humbling first couple years. The expectation is probably still there a little bit, but I don’t think about it as much anymore.”

Added Ray: “Sometimes when you have a junior record like Karl did, it really does become about scores and rankings and stuff like that, and I think Karl has grown out of that.”

This is Vilips’ PGA Tour debut, but he feels more prepared than most likely would be in his position. Though he had to withdraw from last week’s Arnold Palmer Cup with a minor back issue, Vilips has a veteran presence on his bag, Colin Swatton, his instructor who used to caddie for Jason Day. Plus, he’s delivered in pressure-packed situations in recent months, from Stanford’s postseason to his U.S. Open qualifier in Rockville, Maryland, where he tied for medalist honors.

“This will obviously be the biggest,” Vilips said. “So, I’m really curious to see how I can handle it.”

Brown is the most seasoned Card, having already opted to return for a fifth year. By then, he’s also hoping to have represented Great Britain and Ireland in a third Walker Cup this September at St. Andrews. It wasn’t the greatest fourth year for Brown, though he is trending, going T-20 at Pac-12s, T-14 at regionals and a team-best T-4 at the NCAA Championship.

“I’ve finally managed to put some rounds together,” Brown said.

Yang can attest to that feeling. Unlike Brown, though, the former Junior President Cupper, who grew up in Newport Beach, about an hour from LACC, has struggled to take hold in the Stanford lineup since stepping on campus two falls ago. He made just four starts this past season and didn’t crack the top 50; in his most recent college event, he was T-117.

Asked to identify the culprit of his struggles, Yang replied, “Everything.”

But not making the postseason travel squad was a blessing in disguise for Yang, who hung back at Siebel, the team’s practice facility, to sharpen a few things up. He also got some reps in an Asher Tour event in Reno, Nevada, and with the Los Angeles qualifier that would Brown advance through full, Yang instead was shipped to Lakewood, Washington, where he earned one of just two U.S. Open tickets.

“We all know on a daily basis how many birdies he can go make and what a talent he is,” Ray said. “To me, it’s no surprise to our camp.”

Before Yang got to college, he received some advice from former Stanford great and current PGA Tour pro Maverick McNealy, who stressed to Yang that he should be keen to learn from each one of his teammates, regardless of their world rank. Sure, it also helped to have Rose Zhang across the hall, but when it comes to his three fellow U.S. Open competitors who currently rep Nerd Nation, Yang sees one major correlation.

“All three just possess this incredible confidence,” Yang said. “You have to have that belief in yourself, and even when things aren’t going right, you have to be able to maintain that belief.”

Case in point: Stanford flirted with a match-play berth at Grayhawk, but ultimately a slow start by Thorbjornsen (he didn’t count the first two rounds), some big numbers and a playoff loss to Arizona State left the Cardinal as the first team out of the knockout portion. Yet, Ray and Co. already talk of that experience as being proud of the fight displayed to even get into that position.

Thornbjornsen hasn't been deterred, either.

“It hurt a lot,” Thorbjornsen said. “You could see it in our last picture. But it feels good that we can all bounce back, be together again, be happy again and enjoy this U.S. Open.”

And regardless of how they each perform, this much is known: The Cardinal will be the only ones able to post a team score.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is currently recovering from an unspecified “medical situation,” the Tour announced Tuesday night.

The Tour did not provide any details about the procedure or Monahan’s status.

Chief operating officer Ron Price and Tyler Dennis, the Tour’s executive vice president and president, will lead the day-to-day operations during Monahan’s absence.

It’s been a tumultuous week for the Tour, which last Tuesday announced that it had entered into a partnership with the controversial Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the DP World Tour. Monahan said only that they had reached a “framework” agreement to create a new for-profit company, but that many of the details would be ironed out over the coming weeks and months.

Monahan was expected to be at the Tour’s next stop, the Travelers Championship, next week in Connecticut.

Monahan, 53, has been the Tour commissioner since 2017.

“Our thoughts are with Jay and his family during his absence, and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Price and Dennis said in a statement. “We have a strong and experienced leadership team in place, and our priority is to support our players and continue the work underway to further lead the PGA Tour and golf’s future.”

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has said elite players need more rest between matches to reduce risk of injury and believes it is "mad" some clubs play around 20 more games per season than others in the same division.

United's 62-game campaign ended with an FA Cup Final defeat to Manchester City, who completed the treble in the 60th game of their season by beating Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League showpiece.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

That number contrasts markedly with several other Premier League teams -- including Aston Villa, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Everton, who all played 41 times -- and Rashford claimed the disparity is placing excessive strain on the game's biggest players.

After an exhausting fixture list that included the first-ever winter World Cup in the middle of the European season, an international window completes the schedule with England facing Malta and North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualification double-header, concluding on Monday.

Asked if the calendar needs looking at, Rashford replied: "To be honest, I think that is evident. It is mad that we were playing at club level against teams that are playing one game a week and we're playing three game a week from November up until we got knocked out of the Europa League. It is difficult but at the same time we are used to doing it. But I don't think it is right."

Pushed on if he'd spoken to other players about the greater risk of injury, Rashford continued: "Not this season but in the earlier stages of my career, I just couldn't make sense of it.

"I know some managers have spoken out about it. But if one team is playing 60 games and another team is playing 38, there needs to be some time for teams playing those 20 extra games to recover and to be able to prepare properly for the game.

"Listen, the players are going to push ourselves to the absolute limits. It is nothing new. So it is not a complaint or a dig, I'm just giving you my honest opinion. I don't think it is correct. I think we should be given more time to recover in between certain games and at different stages of the season as well.

"That's just my personal opinion on it. The players shouldn't have to put ourselves in a position to speak out about something that we're not in control of or are going to make the final decision on."

Rashford withdrew from England's previous squad in March through injury only to then fly to New York for a short break.

Although England boss Gareth Southgate defended Rashford's decision to travel, the 25-year-old faced criticism in some quarters over his commitment to the cause.

While he played at last year's World Cup and the delayed Euro 2020 finals, Rashford's last start in a qualifier came against Kosovo in November 2019.

"I didn't see it [the criticism] until I got home," said Rashford. "Obviously I need time to switch off and recover. So I took a short trip, four days, and then went back to do rehab and just try and get ready as soon as possible.

"Injuries, you can't predict when they are going to happen. Thankfully, I have had very few muscle strains and those type of injuries. Occasionally you do get impact injuries and the majority of my injuries have been that.

"Honestly, I know that I am committed to it 100%. People are going to say what they are going to say. It doesn't really bother me."

Five players from United's fierce rivals Manchester City -- Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden and John Stones -- joined up with their England team-mates at St George's Park late on Tuesday and Rashford admitted City's treble celebrations had an effect on him.

"To be honest, it is not nice but at the same time, it is football," he added. "The best team that is consistently playing the best football is going to win the most trophies. They've managed to win three this year and well done to them.

"Obviously, we just move on now. It is up to them to keep it up and up to the rest of us to try and catch them up. Does it give me extra motivation? Yeah, 100%."

Bracewell, 32, is equally handy with bat and ball, and has played eight Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut last year. He also played in the IPL this season, coming in as replacement for Will Jacks at Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up six wickets in five matches. One of four from his family to represent New Zealand, including his uncle John and his cousin Doug, Bracewell shot to prominence during New Zealand's tour of Europe in 2022. He did even better on a tour of India, smashing 140 off 77 to pull his team up from 131 for 6. New Zealand appreciated his ability to score quick runs in the middle-order and contribute with some handy offspin by naming him their ODI Player of the Year.

LOS ANGELES -- PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is recovering from an undisclosed medical situation, according to a joint statement from Monahan and the PGA Tour Policy Board on Tuesday night.

The statement indicated that in Monahan's absence, chief operating officer Ron Price and executive vice president and president Tyler Dennis will take over the "day-to-day operations" of the circuit.

"Jay Monahan informed the PGA Tour Policy Board that he is recuperating from a medical situation," the statement read. "The Board fully supports Jay and appreciates everyone respecting his privacy. [Price and Dennis] will lead the day-to-day operations of the PGA Tour with the assistance of the great team Jay has built, ensuring seamless continuity. We will provide further updates as appropriate."

Monahan, 53, has been under intense scrutiny after the PGA Tour's stunning announcement June 6 that it was forming an alliance with the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf League, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The clandestine deal was orchestrated without the knowledge of PGA Tour members, including members of the Player Advisory Council and the Policy Board.

Human rights groups also have criticized the PGA Tour and Monahan for their sudden about-face regarding Saudi Arabia's entry into men's professional golf.

Monahan took over as PGA Tour commissioner in January 2017, replacing Tim Finchem, who had led the circuit since 1994. Monahan had previously served as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer.

LAS VEGAS -- In addition to being one of the Vegas Golden Knights' six "Original Misfits," Jonathan Marchessault can add another title to his name: Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

Marchessault, 32, was named most valuable player of the playoffs following the Golden Knights' commanding 9-3 Stanley Cup-clinching Game 5 victory Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena. Marchessault recorded an assist in the win, which gave the Golden Knights their first title in their six-year history.

"It's one of those things you work all your life for and right now, with what we accomplished with that team, I couldn't be more proud of our team," Marchessault said in an interview with NHL Network. "We've battled through all year, and I'm so happy for them right now."

Marchessault finished the postseason tied for first with 13 goals and ranked second with 25 points. His lone point in Game 5 was a secondary assist on the Nicolas Hague goal that gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead with more than six minutes remaining in the first. The assist gave Marchessault a short-lived lead atop the playoff points standings. He entered Game 5 tied for first in points with Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz and Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk with 24.

Marchessault's lead atop the points standing lasted one period. Golden Knights center Jack Eichel picked up the first of his three assists in the second period. Eichel's three-point effort saw him finish his first postseason campaign with a league-high 26 points.

"Marchy gets so hot, and he went on a heck of a run," Eichel said on the TNT broadcast. "So deserving of the Conn Smythe. I'm so happy for him. He's been here since the beginning."

Marchessault, who spent one season with the Panthers, was selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft. He's one of the six remaining players from the first team and has since become one of the cornerstones of a franchise that has reached the playoffs in all but one season.

His postseason surge was gradual. Marchessault, who scored 28 goals and 57 assists in the regular season, had two points -- both assists -- in the Golden Knights' opening series against the Winnipeg Jets. He started finding more offensive consistency when he scored five goals and eight points in the three Golden Knights victories that saw them close out the second round against the Oilers in six games.

After failing to score in the first game of the Western Conference finals against the Stars, Marchessault finished the playoffs on a 10-game points streak.

"I wasn't happy with my first-round production, but at the end of the day we find a way to win hockey games," Marchessault said at his postgame news conference. "There's a bunch of guys that stepped up at the right time. This year's playoffs, every round, there was somebody that stepped up. You don't get here by just one or two guys. It takes the full effort of the organization. It's something that we can really be proud of."

One of the looming questions facing the Golden Knights entering Game 5 -- aside from if they would clinch the Cup at home -- was centered around who would ultimately win the Conn Smythe.

Several players presented arguments. In addition to leading the league in points, Eichel gave the Golden Knights a top-line center who could drive offensive play while showing he could be trusted in defensive situations. He shrugged off any concerns or questions about being a first-time playoff participant by recording seven multipoint performances, with Game 5 being his third three-point outing.

Adin Hill initially started the playoffs on the bench backing up Laurent Brossoit. Once Brossoit suffered an injury in the second round, Hill took over. His performances made the Golden Knights' already formidable defensive approach even more challenging to play against, given Hill finished the playoffs first in save percentage, tied for first in shutouts and third in goals-against average and saves.

Everything about Mark Stone's shorthanded goal in the first period of Game 5 reinforced why he also made a case. Stone's two-way prowess allowed him to seemingly be everywhere at once and that's what happened when he gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. He forced a turnover for a 2-on-1 chance he buried. Stone then scored two more to record a playoff hat trick that also further legitimized his case for the Conn Smythe with 24 points to tie Hintz and Tkachuk. His 11 goals were tied for third.

The value of two-way play was why William Karlsson became a bit of an underdog pick for the Conn Smythe. Karlsson entered Game 5 just two goals shy of being tied for first place. And while his goals have played a major role in Vegas' success, he has also been at the heart of forecheck that has found success against four of the five players who led the NHL in postseason points before the Cup Final. Of those players, Karlsson was part of the effort that kept four of them pointless for at least one game.

To know Vegas could rely on several players to win games was one of its strengths both in the regular season and in the postseason. It's the kind of depth that led it to a championship but also made it challenging to accurately judge who would be named playoff MVP.

In the end, it was Marchessault who walked away with the Conn Smythe.

"One night, it's one guy. One night, it's another guy," Marchessault said on the TNT broadcast. "That's the mentality we had this year. Just next man has to do the good job. We're a bunch of good teammates in that locker room, and we're always happy for each other. Everybody stepped up at different times and that's why today we are winners."

LAS VEGAS -- When the Vegas Golden Knights entered the NHL in 2017 as an expansion team, their owner Bill Foley said his plan was to win the Stanley Cup in six years.

That prophecy was emphatically fulfilled Tuesday night in Las Vegas, as the Golden Knights blew out the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to win their series, 4-1, and capture the first championship in franchise history.

Captain Mark Stone authored a hat trick and center Jack Eichel had three assists in the win. Goaltender Adin Hill outplayed Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky, making 31 saves in the win.

"I can't even describe the feelings in my stomach right now," said Stone, who received the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "It's everything you can imagine. The grind of an 82-game season, four playoff rounds, you grind and you grind and you grind and at the end of the day you're the last team standing. It's incredible."

Forward Jonathan Marchessault was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as postseason most valuable player.

Marchessault is one of six players from the Golden Knights' inaugural season team that went to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Washington Capitals. Five of the six -- Marchessault, Reilly Smith, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore -- were in the starting lineup for Game 5. After Stone received the Cup, these "Golden Misfits" and fellow inaugural-year Knight William Carrier were the next players to skate with the Stanley Cup.

"This probably doesn't happen without them," Eichel said of the Vegas originals. "They came in here Year 1 and created something special. And not only a culture, but a belief. I'm so happy for those guys. They're ultimate hockey players, but they're some of the best people who'll ever meet."

The Panthers, who were also seeking their first Stanley Cup title, saw their remarkable playoff run from lowest seed in the Eastern Conference to the final round end in frustrating defeat. Florida was without a key contributor to that run in Game 5: star forward Matthew Tkachuk, who leads the Panthers in goals (11) and points (24).

He was limited in their Game 4 loss and wasn't healthy enough to play in Game 5 -- a critical blow to the Panthers' chances to rally in the series.

Coach Paul Maurice revealed that Tkachuk had a fractured sternum that he suffered in Game 3.

"He couldn't dress himself for [Game 4]," Maurice said. "Somebody helped him get his gear on. Somebody helped him tie his skates."

Without Tkachuk to spark the Panthers, the Golden Knights rolled from the moment the puck dropped.

Hill was particularly sharp in the first period, with point blank saves on Anton Lundell and Aleksander Barkov. The latter save on the power play preceded the Golden Knights' first goal. A turnover by Sam Bennett sprung Stone on a 2-on-1 with Chandler Stephenson. Stone patiently waited until defenseman Brandon Montour slid out of position and stopped in front of the crease. He snapped into the top corner of the net for a shorthanded goal and a 1-0 lead at 11:52.

The Knights made it 2-0 just 1:49 later. Eichel flew into the attacking zone and put a backhand shot off of Bobrovsky, who lost his stick. A scramble ensued in the crease until defenseman Nicolas Hague slid the puck into the net at 13:41.

The referee's whistle blew before the puck was put over the goal line. However, the NHL confirmed to ESPN that the goal was allowed under the "culmination of a continuous play" rule, as the puck was in motion towards the goal line when the whistle sounded.

The first period ended with the Knights up 2-0. Florida struck back just 2:15 into the second period. Forward Nick Cousins stripped Knights winger Ivan Barbashev of the puck and passed it back to defenseman Aaron Ekblad, whose shot from the blueline found its way past Hill. It was Ekblad's second of the playoffs.

But the Knights pulled away later in the second period with two goals just 1:45 apart. Their top line completed a long shift with a pass from Eichel to defenseman Alec Martinez, who fired the puck past Bobrovsky for his second goal of the playoffs.

Martinez is no stranger to Stanley Cup Final Game 5 heroics: His double-overtime goal in 2014 won the Stanley Cup for the Los Angeles Kings.

Smith scored his fourth goal of the playoffs at 12:13 to make it 4-1. The onslaught was on. Stone scored again, on a stoppable shot for Bobrovsky, at 17:15. Then the real dagger: Michael Amadio scored with 1.2 seconds remaining in the period on a delayed penalty against Florida to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Knights made it 7-1 with 11:38 left in the third period, as another Eichel backhand shot rebounded off of Bobrovsky and Barbashev to put it home.

Florida winger Sam Reinhart scored a goal just 25 seconds later to make it 7-2. Another Panthers goal by Bennett made it 7-3, but it was too little, too late. Stone completed his hat trick with an empty net goal with 5:54 left in the game to make it 8-3.

It was the first hat trick in the Stanley Cup Final since Colorado Avalanche star Peter Forsberg had one in Game 2 of 1996 -- against the Florida Panthers.

Nicolas Roy added a late goal for the 9-3 win.

The six-goal margin of victory was the largest of the series, surpassing Vegas' 7-2 win in Game 2. It's also officially the second largest ever in a Stanley Cup Final clinching game, topped only by the Penguins winning by eight goals in 1991.

The Knights celebrated at the final buzzer as the gold-clad Vegas fans cheered wildly. Over time they have turned this new NHL market into one of the league's hottest fan bases.

A few fans raised signs that read: "We've Been Waiting 6 Long Years For This."

After the game, Foley revealed why he felt the Knights could win in six years back when the expansion team started.

"I was being told by everyone that we're worthless," Foley said. "We're no good. Our team sucks. The players are no good. They're nobody. You're going to lose every game. I got a little irritated. So I said, 'Playoffs in three, Cup in six.'"

The Knights made the playoffs in their first season. And they won the Cup in six.

The first time Brayden McNabb thought about the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Stanley Cup was when owner Bill Foley spoke it into existence in Year 1.

"Playoffs in three. Cup in six," the defenseman said with a grin, recalling the owner's words back in 2017.

Then the Golden Knights went ahead and made the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season of 2017-18.

"After we did that, Bill said, 'OK, now Stanley Cup in three.' I don't know if that got published," forward Reilly Smith said.

From one perspective it was an understandable goal from an enthusiastic new owner. From another, Foley's timeline was completely bonkers.

There had been only six franchises in NHL history that required six or fewer seasons to win their first Stanley Cup. Five of them won between the birth of the NHL and the repeal of prohibition in the U.S. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the first in 1918 when they were the Toronto Arenas. The O.G. Ottawa Senators (1920, third season), Montreal Maroons (1926, second season), New York Rangers (1928, second season) and Boston Bruins (1929, third season) would follow.

The other team was the 1984 Edmonton Oilers, winning in the franchise's fifth NHL season. But the Oilers actually started as a franchise in 1972, arriving in the NHL after the World Hockey Association folded. Also, they had Wayne Gretzky.

But it's not so bonkers now, after seeing the Golden Knights skate hockey's holy grail in front of their euphoric fans on Tuesday night.

"I think the first year we got scared of losing it. And now we wanted to win it," forward William Carrier said. "We've been through a lot the last couple years. We've been through it all."

The Golden Knights have packed a lot into six seasons of existence, after entering the NHL as its 31st team in 2017. They are, essentially, hockey's great startup company. A collection of misfits that created instant success and then faced the mounting pressure to grow from those carefree days into a thriving, sustainable company with 10 times growth.

It got real. Hearts were broken. Friendships were severed, as beloved founders were bid farewell.

"It sucks. It's happened a lot here," McNabb said. "But give them credit. They're doing whatever they can to try and win."

---

'We're Vegas -- we've got to be different'

The difference between other NHL owners and Foley is like the difference between the manager of your local strip mall and Jeff Bezos: One builds for a modicum of success, while the other wants to rule the world.

The following are actual things Bill Foley has said about his NHL team:

• "We want to be a global franchise. The visitors to Las Vegas can't get a ticket because we're sold out, but they're going to buy gear. They're going to be back in Shanghai wearing a Golden Knights hat."

• "My goal is to be a dynasty here. Not to win a Stanley Cup. Multiple Stanley Cups over several years."

Foley was a self-taught investor while attending West Point. He devoured books about technical analysis. He read the Wall Street Journal each day to track around 30 stocks on his self-created charts in growth industries -- like regional airlines, whose consolidation in the market made Foley a considerable profit.

His classmates expected he'd lose all his money. He didn't ... at least until Foley blew the money on "women and alcohol," by his own admission.

Later in life, after a law degree and an MBA, he made enough money to pool it with other investors to buy what would become Fidelity National Financial, the biggest insurance title company in the U.S., as well as other businesses. His investment philosophy will sound familiar to anyone that's followed the Knights: a "value buyer" who made around 80 acquisitions that Foley estimated were valued at $40 million that they paid $20 million to get.

"We were around the fringes," Foley said.

Las Vegas is undeniably a sports town in 2023, with the Knights' fortress -- T-Mobile Arena -- situated a short drive from the Raiders' sleek Allegiant Stadium, seating over 80,000 fans combined for games. But it wasn't a sports town when Foley got his inkling about owning a team there. It's easy to forget how seemingly uninhabitable the Vegas sports landscape was in 2014.

For decades, it was the gambling aspect that kept professional leagues away. That stigma faded in the decade leading up to NHL expansion -- although NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was clear that no betting should be available inside the Vegas arena and that their team name should steer clear of gambling references. The real question vexing owners from the NHL, NFL and beyond was whether this market could support a pro team.

Another Las Vegas owner might have taken the easy path to proving viability by fueling a ticket drive with casino commitments. The genius of Foley's bid -- and one reason the Knights exist today -- is that it had 11,000 deposits for season tickets from non-casino sources.

Without a team yet. Without an arena built.

"People from Las Vegas wanted something more than the Strip. They wanted something that was theirs. So we tapped into that," Foley said.

Getting the first pro franchise in Las Vegas, for a $500 million expansion fee, was Bill Foley's first disruption. It created an immediate bond with fans in a way that relocated teams couldn't, especially a vagabond franchise like the Raiders. The Knights adopted the slogan "Vegas Born" early in their existence.

Their relationship with the fans -- immediately cemented through the team's reaction to the Oct. 1, 2017, deadly mass shooting -- has proved it's more than a marketing ploy.

VEGAS, BABY. VEGAS. @steveaoki IS HERE TO GET EVERYONE FIRED UP FOR GAME 5 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL ? pic.twitter.com/zqcZmYIesJ

— z - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 13, 2023

90+ degrees? No problem. We're out in full force. ? #UKnightTheRealm pic.twitter.com/aZEF4X70Qx

— z - Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 13, 2023

Branding is vital for any startup. Memorable name, eye-catching emblem, quotable slogan. Foley chose Vegas Golden Knights -- "We're Vegas, we've got to be different," he said -- and helped design their logo.

The shield represents how they defend the honor of the city. Foley said the Knight "protects the unprotected" -- ironic, when one considers how vital the "unprotected" were to building this Stanley Cup champion.

---

'We were prepared, I can tell you that'

Foley's second great disruption was the expansion draft, where his management team took full advantage of the NHL's liberal new rules.

Vegas entered the NHL during a time of expansion draft rule remorse. Imagine an owner paying millions to join an exclusive club and then getting to build a team from the four worst players on each roster. That's what happened under the old NHL expansion rules that left teams such as the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets without a playoff appearance for several seasons.

"I really think the NHL erred in how they treated the expansion teams, all the way up until Vegas," former Nashville general manager David Poile told The Associated Press. "We made [the previous teams'] trek much more difficult than it needed to be."

After Foley paid $500 million for entry, the NHL changed its expansion draft rules to make Vegas competitive off the hop: The Knights could draft the eighth-best forward, fourth-best defenseman or second-best goalie from each team.

Ahead of that draft, Foley had interviewed several potential general managers but instantly felt George McPhee, who had led the Washington Capitals for nearly 20 years, was his guy.

"He wanted to win and didn't want anything to stand in his way of the Stanley Cup, period," Foley said.

McPhee hired his scouts. Foley had oversight on other hockey operations jobs, signing off on assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon. McPhee had a law degree. McCrimmon had a business degree.

"It was about putting the right people in place in our hockey operations department. We were prepared, I can tell you that. That's the secret to our success," Foley said.

McPhee and McCrimmon split the league in half. The new rules meant that teams would have to leave players they didn't want to lose unprotected in the draft. The Knights had two undeniable advantages here: The leverage of the draft rules and a clean salary cap.

"They were ruthless and prepared," one NHL source recalled.

The expansion draft was a moment of temporary insanity for many NHL general managers, and the Golden Knights exploited it. Consider the how the following players -- now Stanley Cup champions -- ended up in Vegas:

• The Anaheim Ducks had to expose defensemen Josh Manson and Sami Vatanen. To entice Vegas to ignore them and select defenseman Clayton Stoner, the Ducks traded 21-year-old defenseman Shea Theodore to the Knights. He was second on the team in average ice time this postseason.

• The Buffalo Sabres traded a sixth-round pick to Vegas so they'd select William Carrier in the draft instead of goalie prospect Linus Ullmark. Carrier was the key component of the Knights' bruising checking line this postseason.

• The Los Angeles Kings dangled veteran forwards Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik in front of McPhee. Instead, he selected 26-year-old Brayden McNabb, who appeared in all but one playoff game in 2023.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets traded their 2017 first-round pick and center William Karlsson to the Knights so they'd take David Clarkson's contract instead of either forward Josh Anderson or goaltender Joonas Korpisalo. Karlsson was one of the most valuable players in this Cup run.

• Finally, the Florida Panthers, in one of the most mind-boggling moves in NHL history, traded forward Reilly Smith to the Knights so Vegas would select 30-goal scorer Jonathan Marchessault in the draft; in turn, the Panthers could keep defensemen Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic. GM Dale Tallon said at the time that "you win championships with defense." Turns out you also win them with Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith.

"You know what? I thought they were going to protect me," Marchessault told ESPN this postseason. "I was surprised of the decision. But I mean, that's just the way she goes sometimes. Keeps you honest."

Back then, the Knights knew they had won the draft. Even if they ended up trading these pieces, they did well.

The rest of us? We were so, so wrong about the draft. The sportsbooks had Vegas at 250-1 to win the Stanley Cup -- the worst odds in the league. The actual Newsweek headline on the expansion draft:

"The Vegas Golden Knights Are Going To Suck in 2017-18 And Here's Why"

What neither the team nor its critics realized: The foundation for this championship team was laid by McPhee and McCrimmon in that expansion draft.

Sometimes it was moves that led to future moves. Like when the Minnesota Wild sent top prospect Alex Tuch to the Knights so they'd select forward Erik Haula instead of players such as Matt Dumba or Marco Scandella. Tuch would be a key piece in the Jack Eichel trade in 2021. Other times, it was utilizing their cap space to acquire substantial talent immediately, like when Marc-Andre Fleury was selected from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

But the most important part of that championship foundation were the building blocks themselves. Foley had an edict for his management team: Find players that were "team effort, low ego, low maintenance."

McNabb would add another trait to that list: ferocity.

"We were a ferocious team. We were playing fast, and it was hard on teams to keep up with us. And the belief set in," McNabb said.

Marchessault said that remains the Knights' mindset.

"The guys that have been here since day one, they're all resilient guys and they work hard," he said. "And I think that sets the tone and everybody that comes there and kind of jumps on the same schedule as us."

The thing about a startup: Day 1 is the first day on the job for every employee. Those original Knights -- cast aside by their teams for various reasons, and dubbed the "Golden Misfits" -- all landed on the same roster together at the same time.

They were truly the Island of Misfit Toys. In some ways, they remain that way today.

"We're the guys that weren't wanted," coach Bruce Cassidy said, himself fired by the Bruins weeks before the Knights hired him last summer.

Cassidy points to players like Michael Amadio, a waiver pickup from Toronto, and Brett Howden, acquired via trade from the Rangers.

"They're not walking into a room and saying, 'Geez, these guys were drafted and developed here and I'm an outsider.' They walk into a room where Marchessault and Smith and other guys have been through this," he said. "So they have that togetherness or bond of maybe not being wanted the first time around by their teams."

Of course, everyone's wanted until they're not.

---

'What kind of carnage is left in their wake?'

It's become a cliché part of startup culture: There are those founding members that love making money but really love having created something fun with their friends. The ones that wear Hawaiian shirts to the office instead of a suit jacket.

Eventually, the morose solemnity of capitalism extinguishes that freewheeling spirit. The pinball machines are moved out of the office. Movie night is canceled.

Or, in Vegas terms, Nate Schmidt gets traded.

Schmidt was an original Golden Knight, plucked from the Capitals in the expansion draft. Few players embodied the spirit of their team more than Schmidt: Underestimated on the ice, endearingly quirky away from it. In the COVID-19 playoff bubble, Schmidt was the unofficial president of the Golden Knights' "Fun Committee," which organized rooftop barbecues, a 12-on-12 kickball game, Mario Kart tournaments and, yes, player movie nights.

Less than a month after the Knights' bubble run ended, Schmidt was traded to Vancouver.

McCrimmon, who had been elevated to Vegas general manager in 2019 while McPhee stepped up to a team president role, said he and the Knights management decided that landing a top-pairing defenseman was a priority while watching them fall short in the bubble.

"When you looked at the teams that were winning, we felt we needed a No. 1 defenseman. Like a Victor Hedman. Like an Alex Pietrangelo," he said. "To be a Stanley Cup-contending team, we had to be better there. So we were in aggressive in free agency."

As it turns out, there was an Alex Pietrangelo type available -- the actual Alex Pietrangelo, who couldn't come to contract terms with the St. Louis Blues. He was open to Vegas as an option, and the team aggressively courted him.

"It's always a big change when you change cities, especially for a family," Pietrangelo said. "[The Knights] want to make life as easy as possible for our families and us so that we can worry about doing our job."

But as one family arrives, another one leaves. Foley was concerned team chemistry might suffer without Schmidt. But McPhee and McCrimmon sold Foley on Pietrangelo, and the necessity to move Schmidt's contract off the cap to make room for him.

Schmidt, Fleury, Paul Stastny, Max Pacioretty, coach Gerard Gallant ... at one point, all essential Knights. But the turnover of their roster has been a hallmark of the franchise.

"It happened right after that first year, right? Those were some of the biggest changes," McNabb said. "You kind of just understand the business. You get close to guys, become close friends. The longer you play in this league, the more you know that it's just the way it is."

But at what cost?

It's not that the Knights made these moves. Every team does. It's how they made them that's the problem for some.

"What kind of carnage is left in their wake?" one NHL source asked.

Schmidt was traded to Vancouver on Oct. 12, 2020, the same day Pietrangelo signed in Vegas. The Knights never hinted that he could be moved. No heads-up to an original Misfit. He found out he was traded when the trade was completed.

"It was a tough pill to swallow," a distraught Schmidt said at the time.

Also tough: their treatment of Fleury.

He was the face of the franchise, and the team's first true star, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season and winning the Vezina Trophy in 2020-21.

The story of Fleury's slow divorce with the Knights is hockey lore now, including when his agent Allan Walsh infamously tweeted an image of the goalie with a sword in his back -- adorned with the name of then-Vegas coach Pete DeBoer.

Appearing on "The Cam & Strick Podcast" in 2021, Foley sought to quiet speculation about Fleury's future with the team amid rather loud trade rumors. He told a story about being in an elevator with Fleury and his wife during the inaugural season.

"I told him, 'You're going to retire here.' He said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'This is going where you're going to be. You're going to love Vegas. Vegas is going to love you.' I feel like I made a commitment to him at that point."

Five months after that podcast aired, Fleury was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. Many still feel the Knights did Fleury wrong.

The Fleury debacle was when the Knights lost their innocence. People around the league started to take notice. What motivated some of these decisions? Personality conflicts? Bad cap management? Did the team have too many clients from sports agency Newport Sports -- including Robin Lehner and Pietrangelo -- that influenced their moves? Did they care about the toll on player morale?

McCrimmon's counterargument is that they've actually shown "tremendous loyalty" to the six original Misfits that remain on the roster.

"A lot of people forget that. If you go back to 2017, not a lot of people have more than six players from their core group from then," he said.

He believes every move was in service of improving the team. Gallant, the coach that led the Knights to the Cup Final in 2018? Foley and the team management made a collective decision that he wasn't what the team needed to win the Cup. In fact, that first season was seen more and more as an anomaly.

"No disrespect or disregard to the Year 1 team, but we felt we caught lightning in a bottle," McCrimmon said.

So the team that was built on the discarded players of other franchises had to become the one that killed its own darlings.

"They could have easily gotten to the same place [they are now] by treating people the right way," an NHL source said. "No one begrudges people making tough decisions. But be honest with your players about where they stand."

With disruption comes mistakes. With disruption comes pain.

But in the end, it built a champion.

---

'The guys really love each other'

Defenseman Alec Martinez joined the Knights in the 2019-20 season, back when there was still a "Fun Committee." He won two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings and helped Vegas reach the playoffs' penultimate round two times before breaking through this season.

"Every playoff has a different story," he said. "Each round has a different story. Each season has its own story."

Someone in the Vegas locker room told Martinez he sounded poetic.

"Normally I just stick to poop jokes. So you caught me in a rare moment."

The Golden Knights players are not their team's managerial decisions. The latter can be soulless and calculated; but while the players aren't the Golden Misfits of yore, there's palpable chemistry.

They have fun. It's just a different kind of fun.

"Ever since I was traded here, we had a lot of really good players and a lot of really good guys. And this year, we have a couple characters in the locker room that have been added. That certainly adds that camaraderie side of it," Martinez said. "I know it's cliché, but we genuinely really enjoy hanging out with each other. And I've never been a part of a successful team that hasn't been that way. If you don't have that feeling off the ice, then it's going to carry over and you're not going to have that feeling on the ice. So I genuinely think the guys really love each other."

It's not a rambunctious startup anymore. But to hear the players tell it, it's a nice place to work.

"It's fun to come to the office every day. We enjoy it. Even when things aren't going well, we still enjoy each other as people, which is a good thing," Pietrangelo said. "There are days when you don't want to go out [on the ice]. But when you keep the energy up with each other, that kind of keeps it going."

Cassidy believes that chemistry starts in Summerlin.

Located partly inside the Vegas city limits, with the Red Rock Canyon to the west, Summerlin is a planned community where Foley built the team's state-of-the-art practice facility. It's also where, basically, the entire team has houses.

"One thing I've learned in Vegas is that everyone lives in Summerlin, which is about 25 minutes away. So the bonding is happening a little because everyone's in the same community," Cassidy said. "The guys are sharing rides. The wives are together, you know what I mean? It's not like a big city where everyone's going in a different direction as soon as practice is over. It's a little bit unique maybe [compared] to some other markets. I think that's helped. I think the guys just genuinely like each other. You don't always get that. We have it. And most of the good teams find a way to have it."

Vegas is a good team. It's been a good team. They have the sixth best regular-season points percentage (.632) and the second most playoff wins (53) of any team since entering the NHL.

Carrier said a lot of that success has to do with how the teams are constructed.

"I think since Day 1 they built the team to have guys that play the right role, right? There are no skill guys on the fourth line trying to push up," he said. "It's a credit to them, building teams year after year."

Colin Miller, an original Golden Knight who saw them defeat his Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals this year, was once part of that depth. He said Vegas was good at identifying players in other organizations, and giving them the chance to excel.

"Sometimes these guys are great players, but they just don't get the opportunity elsewhere," he said.

But it's not like the Knights are a bunch of grunts. They have Pietrangelo and Mark Stone. They have Eichel, a franchise player in Buffalo.

Cassidy said the egos in the room have been held in check, but the magnitude of the star power on the roster isn't ignored. "It's about the crest on the front, not the name on the back, and you can still have respect for what they've accomplished. So there's always that balance," he said.

Eichel arrived in November 2021. Again, the Knights collected someone's unwanted. The Sabres weren't going to allow him to have the artificial disk replacement surgery that Eichel wanted for his injured neck, as no NHL player had ever had the procedure.

The ugly power struggle between Eichel -- who had previously requested a trade -- and the team led to him being traded. Calgary and other teams were in the mix. Vegas wasn't about to allow him to slip away, and were willing to have him get the surgery

"It means the world here. I mean, can't say enough good things about this whole organization," Eichel said. "Obviously everything that they did to allow me to get back to playing, but just even the way that they take care of you. It really feels like a big family and everyone cares for each other and they really look out for you. The people at the top do so much for this organization. And it just trickles down. And we feel the love in here as a team, and I feel really proud to be a part of this organization."

The Knights had two great defensemen in Pietrangelo and Theodore. They had a tremendous two-way center in Karlsson. Eichel gave them something they never had before, which was a bona fide No. 1 center.

"One of the things our scouts really admired about Jack is his competitiveness. That's really been on display in the playoffs. Jack didn't have that opportunity in Buffalo along the way," McCrimmon said. "Jack was a young captain in Buffalo. Jack gets to be here in a room of really good leaders."

Of course, any discussion of Eichel, who makes $10 million annually, is a discussion of the Golden Knights' salary cap gymnastics. Vegas has manipulated the system since it added its first player in 2017, and worked the rules to win a Stanley Cup today.

---

Creative accounting

Jealousy is, at times, the prevailing emotional reaction to the Golden Knights' instantaneous success: The concept of the "long suffering Vegas fan" has been a running joke in NHL cities, especially those Canadian ones mired in a desert-like Stanley Cup drought.

Take their salary cap situation. Larry Brooks of the New York Post recently argued that the "greatest weapon" the Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken were awarded upon entry into the NHL weren't the liberal expansion rules, but their pristine salary cap space.

"If right now teams could renounce their rosters in exchange for $83.5M in cap space entering this offseason, how many do you think would stand pat with current personnel and how many would opt to begin again?" Brooks wrote.

McPhee had something he never had with the Capitals in the salary cap era: a clean slate. While his contemporaries had to maneuver through being victims of their own success, McPhee had the opportunity to terraform his own financial landscape.

That victimhood would eventually befall the Knights. They weren't immune from financial mistakes. Much of the pain caused by the departure of beloved players was directly related to them being capped out. But they also stickhandled their way around the problems.

Stone makes $9.5 million annually, a salary that was buried on long-term injured reserve from February through the start of the playoffs, which enabled the Golden Knights to add more salary at the trade deadline. Stone was activated from injured reserve in time for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets on April 18 -- five days after he missed the finale of their regular season, a.k.a. the last game in which they had to worry about being cap-compliant.

"He had back surgery and there was just as likely a chance his career was at risk as there was [that] he'd be back for the playoffs," McCrimmon told the Las Vegas Review Journal in April. "To suggest this was orchestrated and timed out is inaccurate and disrespectful to Mark and the organization."

The salary cap has always existed for two reasons: To limit player compensation and for team executives to find ways within that system to go above the cap. McCrimmon feels every team does it. Like, for example, when teams pick up a percentage of a player's salary to facilitate a trade.

"But nobody complains about that," he said. "And we've made those deals."

According to Cap Friendly, the Knights have a total cap hit of $96,459,761. They had $13,959,761 of it stashed on long-term injured reserve at season's end. The NHL salary cap was $82.5 million this season.

Some of that LTIR money comes from Lehner. The Knights announced on August 11, 2022, that Lehner would miss the entire season due to hip surgery. The free agent frenzy had waned. The Knights didn't have the cap space to scramble for a starter, like the Colorado Avalanche did the year prior in acquiring Darcy Kuemper after Philipp Grubauer left for Seattle.

They ended up using five different goaltenders. One of them was Adin Hill.

Sean Burke, the Knights' director of goaltending, knew Hill from their days together with the Arizona Coyotes. His contract was cheap. He was available, due to a crowded crease in San Jose. He could help.

And now he's a Stanley Cup champion.

"If you ask any player in the NHL who's ever won a Cup, I guarantee you, besides having kids and getting married, it's one of the top moments of their life," Hill said. "In my career, as a child growing up, you face adversity. You get cut from teams or don't make the team you wanted to. Everybody's got bumps in the road. It's just a matter of sticking to the plan. To not change your course of action."

Adin Hill brings this Knights tale full circle. He was the spare part. The extra body. The talented player that couldn't get the chance in Arizona or San Jose to become what he's been in these playoffs. A player that embodies what the franchise has done in these six seasons: Sticking to the plan, no matter the bumps.

He might not have been a Golden Misfit, but he might as well have been. The goalie whose teammates mobbed him at the final buzzer was that chip-on-the-shoulder player that helped define the franchise.

The misfit won.

The Misfits won.

Cup in six.