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Golden Knights Cruise Through 2026 Preseason While 2 Contenders Fumble the Bag

As the TUFHL 2026 preseason draws to a close, the Vegas Golden Knights have made one thing overwhelmingly clear: the rest of the league is playing catch-up, and some GMs aren't even wearing the right shoes.

Finishing near the top of the Western Conference standings with an explosive 11–4–0 record, Vegas was absolute clockwork. Powered by deep offense, precise secondary scoring, and locked-in goaltending from John Gibson (boasting a sparkling 1.95 GAA), Sin City is already operating like a fine-tuned machine before the regular season games even count.

While the Golden Knights spent the preseason firing on all cylinders, a quick look around the league reveals two franchises that seem far more interested in comedic relief than competitive hockey.

Montreal Canadiens & GM Remi: All Hype, Zero Finish

Over in the East, GM Remi and the Montreal Canadiens continue their annual tradition of convincing themselves "this is the year."

Sure, Montreal put up some preseason points, but watching GM Remi run a front office is like watching someone try to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. Remi’s strategy seems to revolve around overanalyzing exhibition games, tinkering with lines that didn't need fixing, and treating late September wins like a Stanley Cup parade down Saint Catherine Street.

It’s the same old story in Montreal: big expectations, endless roster shuffling from GM Remi, and an eventual slide back into reality once the actual pressure turns on. Enjoy the preseason parade, Remi—we know how the rest of the movie plays out.

Colorado Avalanche & GM Kirk: Snowed Under

Then we have the Western Conference "rivals" in Colorado. On paper, GM Kirk loves to parade the Avalanche around as a powerhouse, but anyone watching the preseason knows Kirk’s roster construction looks more like a modern art project—confusing, overly expensive, and lacking any clear direction.

While Vegas was busy cruising through its schedule, GM Kirk spent the preseason overmanaging every detail, throwing experimental line combinations at the wall, and desperately hoping no one notices how thin Colorado’s depth gets past the top unit. Kirk’s trademark confidence usually lasts until about mid-October—right up until his defense gets exposed by teams with actual structure, like Vegas.

The Verdict

If the preseason proved anything, it’s that structure beats noise every time. While GM Remi plans victory rallies for exhibition games and GM Kirk overthinks basic roster management, the Vegas Golden Knights are quietly taking care of business and preparing for a real run when the points actually matter.