The Vegas Golden Knights took the NHL by storm last season, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural campaign.

Ryan Reaves, who re-signed in Vegas last month after being acquired at the trade deadline, said the team's goal for their second season is to take one more step forward and hoist the Cup next spring.

"I think the expectation in the locker room, for sure, is to do what we did last year and then to finish the job in the final," Reaves told NHL.com on Monday. "I think we know we have the team in there and with the city behind us and the buzz in the city and the way they support the team, we're ready to make another run."

The expansion Golden Knights flew out of the gate last season, posting a 26-9-2 record in their first three months. While many expected the team’s pace to slow, Vegas finished atop the Pacific Division. Reaves pointed to the team's modest roster makeup as one reason for the success.

"The team is not made up of superstars and there are no big egos that you have to deal with," said Reaves. "It's just a bunch of guys that proved something last year and I think now want to prove they can win a Stanley Cup. We proved everyone wrong last season, but nobody remembers who was second. It's about who won the Cup."

The Golden Knights lost two key pieces on July 1 in David Perron and James Neal, but Reaves argued the signing of centre Paul Stastny will help offset those departures.

Stastny played a key role in the Winnipeg Jets run to the Western Conference Final in the spring, posting seven goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games.

"He's obviously really big on the power play," said Reaves, who spent three seasons with Stastny in St. Louis. "Look at what he did in the playoffs last year and the poise and vision he brings. I think he's one of the best setup men and when you put some goal-scorers around him, he's going to get them the puck. I saw that when I played with him in St. Louis.

"I'm glad he came down to Vegas instead of staying with Winnipeg. Paul Stastny is a big piece to any puzzle that you're trying to put together."

The Golden Knights, who have $13 million in cap space remaining for this season per CapFriendly, have two restricted free agents to left to sign in William Karlsson and Shea Theodore. Karlsson, who embodied the team's breakout success with 43 goals last season, is scheduled for arbitration with the team on Saturday.

The Golden Knights will open their second season on Oct. 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers and the expectations will be significantly higher than they were a year ago.

"Now we're out to prove to everybody we can do it again and finish the job," Reaves said.