Golden Misfits

David Rainey • June 16, 2023

Hockey.


            It’s a foreign idea to most people down here in New Orleans.  Outside of a few distant memories of the New Orleans Brass, many of us don’t know much about the sport.  I used to be as perplexed as anyone.  I didn’t know the rules.  I didn’t understand why they would fight, but I enjoyed and encouraged it.  I was confused when one team would be allowed to play with more guys on the ice than the other.  And why the Hell would they take the goalie out?  That just felt like a pure lack of common sense.  Hockey truly baffled me for most of my life.


            However, in the Summer of 2017, I made the decision that I was going to finally be a hockey fan.  I was going to pick a team, and I was going to ride with them from that point on.  At the time, I had two friends that were true hockey fans.  One was a Colorado Avalanche fan.  The other, one of my best friends, a Pittsburgh Penguins fan.  I had no interest in being an Avs fan, so that was off the table.  But the idea of being a Penguins fan and having a buddy that I could enjoy games with and would guide me along my journey towards real hockey fandom was an intriguing one.  At the end of the day, however, the Penguins were an extremely successful franchise with recent Stanley Cup victories, and I didn’t want to seem like a bandwagon fan.  So, I thanked my pal for the insight and continued my search.


            Eventually, I narrowed my options down to two teams, the Florida Panthers (which today is now ironic) and the Vegas Golden Knights.  Anyone who knows me knows I love everything Miami.  I was already a die-hard Hurricanes and Marlins fan, so jumping on board with the Ice Cats made all the sense in the world.  They weren’t a good team.  They had no prior Stanley Cups.  That was what I wanted in my team.  I wanted to feel like I could say I was getting in on the ground floor.  No one would be able to call me a bandwagon fan. The Florida Panthers, at first glance, felt like the obvious choice. 


But then there was the Vegas Golden Knights.


            That season, 2017, would be the inaugural season for the Golden Knights as the NHL’s newest expansion team.  A brand-new team with no history at all full of players drafted away from other teams.  The Knights gave me, a brand-new hockey fan, the unique opportunity to say I was fan from day one.  Literally, day number one.  That was all I needed to make my decision.  To this day, I hear stories from my Grandparents about how they were around when New Orleans was given the Saints and how they immediately fell in love.  This was my chance to be able to tell those same stories to my children. 


             Now, to be completely transparent, I had no idea how this experience was going to play out.  Was I going to even enjoy watching this game? Would I even make it through one season?  Again, I had no prior knowledge of hockey.  I knew I wasn’t going to understand what was going on in the beginning, besides that I knew the puck had to go in the net more than it did for the opponent.  On top of all of that, I had chosen to be a fan of an expansion team.  Surely, this team of castoffs and Misfits would be awful in their first few seasons.  How could someone like me get into a new sport while watching a bad team over and over again? 


No one could have prepared me for what would happen next, because no one, and I mean NO ONE, saw it coming.


            The Vegas Golden Knights were good.  This team of castoffs that would later be coined the “Golden Misfits” was GOOD from day one.  As the season went on, I began to watch more and more games.  The more games I watched, the more I started to understand and appreciate the game. 


            Fast forward six months to April 2018.  The Golden Knights, in their first season, had won their division and made the playoffs.  It was incredible, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  However, to stay transparent, I wasn’t fully invested yet.  It was a cool story, but it had to end soon.  That was the logical way to think.  Wrong again.


            The Knights would go on a magical, unbelievable, and unprecedented run to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year.  In the short span from April to May, they reeled me in.  Hook, line, and sinker.  Not only did I fall in love with this team and its players, but I also fell in love with hockey.  This was my sport now.  I still didn’t understand the rules.  I couldn’t name 10 players outside of my own team.  But I knew I loved watching this game, and I loved this team.  It was the ultimate underdog story of players no one wanted coming together to accomplish something only seen in the most outlandish of Hollywood scripts.  The Knights would ultimately fall three games short of winning the Stanley Cup, but it didn’t matter.  This was my team.  These were my players.  This was my sport, and I would be back next season and every season afterwards. 


            Fast forward again six years.  To this point, the Golden Knights had been to three Western Conference Finals, one Stanley Cup appearance, and made the playoffs four out of five seasons.  Year five was a rough one littered with injuries and trades that the Knights just couldn’t overcome, and they would miss the playoffs.  Going into year six, many people were writing them off before the season even started. Experts were saying the controversial trade they made for “locker room cancer” Jack Eichel wouldn’t pay off, and that we would be the team “most likely to disappoint.”  Sticking with the theme of this story, they were wrong. 

            The Golden Knights would overcome an endless amount of adversity throughout this sixth season.  Jack Eichel would miss time with injury.  The Captain Mark Stone would go through a back surgery that some thought he wouldn’t come back from.  They would lose their All-Star goalie for the season.  Then they would lose another goalie for the season putting all the pressure on third string goalie Adin Hill to carry the team the rest of the way.  But they overcame every obstacle in their path and captured the number one seed in the Western Conference.


            Throughout the playoffs, Jack Eichel became the superstar on the ice and in the locker room that Vegas thought he could be.  Mark Stone was back to being the expressive Captain this team needed.  Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who considered retirement before the season because of complications with daughter’s health, took hit after hit and bounced right back.  Original Misfit Jonathan Marchessault fittingly was the best player in the playoffs.  And third string goalie Adin hill?  He became a Vegas Legend and one of the best goalies in Stanley Cup Playoff history.  As magical as that first season was, the story was never finished.  The Golden Knights ultimately fell short of the fairy tale ending.  However, that first season wasn’t the end of the story, it was only the beginning. 

            Team owner Bill Foley once said, “Cup in 6,” in reference to how many seasons he thought it should take Vegas to capture it’s first Stanley Cup.  As it turns out, he knew the outcome of the story all along.  This year, in year six, the Vegas Golden Knights conquered the Jets, Oilers, Stars, and Panthers and brought the Stanley Cup home to Vegas. 


            Year one made me fall in love with this team and this sport, but year six gave me my happiest moment in sports since the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009.  Six years ago, I never expected to ever get emotional over this foreign sport.  But as the Knights put on one of the most dominant Finals performances in history in game five of the Finals, I sat on my couch with my three-month-old son in my arms smiling from ear to ear.  I couldn’t stop smiling as the clock hit zero and this new group of castoffs and Misfits embraced along the glass.  It took everything in me to hold back tears as Mark Stone lifted the Stanley Cup and then passed it off to the six remaining original Golden Misfits. 


            I told my three-year-old son before he went to bed the night of game five that the Knights might win a big trophy named Stanley.  He replied with, "Daddy, I wanna be a Golden Knights player."  The next day while giving him his bath, he asked me randomly, "Dad, did the Golden Knights win the coffee cup? Remember? The one named Stanley?"  All I could do was laugh, and say, "They sure did buddy."  He's asked me to see a picture of the Stanley Cup every day since.  That was why I picked this team. For moments like that.  Six years later, the fairy tale ending had finally happened, and I was able to witness it while holding one son and tell the other all about it.  That was the dream.


            Hockey fans love the game, but they don’t love the Golden Knights.  They certainly don’t love the fans.  Scroll through Twitter and you’ll see the hate in the replies of every tweet from the team account.  They say we were gifted a winner.  They say we don’t know hockey.  They say we don’t really support our team.  Listen, I’ll be the first to admit I’m still learning about this game, and I’m sure other Golden Knights’ fans are the same way. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love this team and this game.  All you had to do was listen to The Fortress for those 60 minutes.  All you had to do was look at the videos of the THOUSANDS of people singing, “We are the Champions” outside of the arena. 


            You may not love us, but we love our team.  You may never embrace Vegas as a hockey city, but the Golden Knights have embraced this fan base.  You may never give our players the respect they deserve.  You may never embrace us as the best fan base in the NHL, but as Coach Bruce Cassidy said after game five, “We’re in the Club now, and you can’t kick us out.”  So, you may never accept us, but that’s just fine.  Knights in 5, and Cup in 6.  See y'all next year for year seven.


This was true on day one, and it’s true now: WE ARE ALL GOLDEN MISFITS.


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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