The 2026 Stanley Cup Final is now set, but not all fans are happy with the matchup. In the Western Conference Final, the Vegas Golden Knights were even more impressive.

Vegas swept the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 and knocked out the Presidents’ Trophy winners without losing a game. Wingers Mark Stone and Cole Smith, as well as defenceman Brayden McNabb, helped lead the way as the Golden Knights controlled the series from beginning to end.

The Carolina Hurricanes progressed after beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina lost Game 1 but bounced back by winning the next four games in a row. Wingers Taylor Hall and Eric Robinson, along with forward Logan Stankoven, played important roles in the series.

As excitement grows for the Stanley Cup Final, a viral post from the X account Avalanche Forever has sparked a discussion among hockey fans.

“Carolina vs Vegas might be the most hate-watched Cup Final in NHL history. Nobody likes the Golden Knights,” wrote the user.

The post quickly drew reactions from fans around the NHL. Many shared their opinions and debated whether the Vegas Golden Knights have become one of the league’s most disliked teams.

Fans React to Viral Vegas Golden Knights Debate

One fan seemed genuinely surprised by the criticism aimed at Vegas.

“Why does everyone hate Vegas? I am a Caps fan and can’t figure out why all of the sudden Vegas is so despised, did I miss something???”

The comment echoed what some neutral fans believe. They feel the Golden Knights have become controversial because of their quick success and aggressive moves in building the roster.

Another fan said they used to dislike Vegas but changed their opinion after Mitch Marner joined the team.

“Yep, hated Vegas until they got Marner! Need him to bring the Cup back to his home province who hated on him!" they wrote.

The reaction showed how fans sometimes support a team because of a favourite player. In many cases, loyalty to a player can become stronger than team rivalries, especially when that player gets a fresh start with a new club.

Other fans fully embraced the villain image. One user shared a picture of a Golden Knights avatar holding salt.

“Stay salty, NHL fans... It's VGK's favourite flavour,” they wrote.

The joke suggested that Vegas fans enjoy the criticism from rival fanbases. The rivalry between the Avalanche and Golden Knights also became part of the discussion.

“Especially Av fans after they couldn’t win a single game against us. So it’s understandable……," one fan wrote.

A fan argued that much of the criticism toward Vegas comes from Colorado fans after the Golden Knights swept the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final.

Another fan gave a short and familiar sports response.

“Haters Gonna [sic] Hate,” they wrote.

Along with a GIF, the comment captured the attitude many Vegas supporters now have. As their team sits just four wins away from another Stanley Cup, fans seem happy to ignore the criticism and focus on winning.

The 2026 Stanley Cup final commenced on June 2, 2026, with the Golden Knights already grabbing a 1-0 series lead after mounting a 5-4 comeback. 

What are your thoughts on that tweet? Comment down below.

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Sijo Paul