Every sport needs something to start each match: a way to get the ball rolling and establish the pace of play throughout the game. Whether it's the tip-off in basketball or the kickoff in American football, it's what sparks the excitement and anticipation of watching each sport.
The faceoff in hockey is a respected rite of passage. But it's unique in that it's not only used at the start of a game. It's also used when the game stalls out, to keep the pace of the game from getting too fast. Otherwise, fans will lose interest and the game will become too chaotic. If there's one thing Gary Bettman doesn't want, it's fans turning away en masse from his cherished product because of sheer insanity.
That's why there's such a need in the sport of hockey. Teams like the Vegas Golden Knights want to put the puck in the net, especially with players like William Karlsson and Chandler Stephenson. They're looking for ways to do whatever it takes to win, to help their respective teams win NHL games. So let's take a look at what that means and who was the best for the Golden Knights in 2023-24.
A faceoff in hockey is used to restart play by dropping the puck between two opposing players. The players line up facing each other at a faceoff spot on the ice, where a linesman drops the puck. Players take the ball for their respective teams and prepare to play, but a play is only considered completed when the puck has completely hit the ice. Faceoffs occur in a variety of situations, including when a goaltender ices the puck, during a penalty, or after a goal has been scored.
So who led the 2023-24 Vegas Golden Knights in this category? It was William Karlsson with a 56.2% faceoff win rate. In second was Chandler Stephenson with a 52.6% faceoff win rate. The rest of the field dropped off with Nicolas Roy in third (46.8%) and Jack Eichel in fourth (45.5%).
The Golden Knights will make winning faceoffs an essential part of their strategy for the 2024-25 season. After all, how else is there to execute a game plan during the season? Shoot the puck from anywhere and hope it works? It doesn't work. That's why Vegas will place a premium on winning the puck and establishing a strong offense during the season.
