EDINA, Minn. -- Nate Schmidt says the Vegas Golden Knights are hungry for more success after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural NHL season of 2017-18.

[RELATED: Golden Knights sign Stastny, aim to build off historic inaugural season]

"You get a taste and you never want that taste to leave your mouth," Schmidt said Wednesday between games at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league for players with Minnesota connections. "You get a nibble of the cheesecake, you want the whole piece. Going into this year, I want the whole cheesecake.

"I think this is the year for us. We're not going to sneak up on anybody. This year, you go for three more wins."

The 27-year-old defenseman said he realizes the Golden Knights' quest to return to the Cup Final, where they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games, will feature somewhat of a different cast this season after they set NHL records for first-year teams in several categories, including wins (51) and points (109).

One key addition is center Paul Stastny, 32, who signed with Vegas as a free agent July 1. Stastny had 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) with the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets last season. He added 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Jets reach the Western Conference Final, where they lost to the Golden Knights in five games.

Video: WSH@VGK, Gm5: Schmidt tallies off a skate in front

Stastny has 646 points (220 goals, 426 assists) in 824 NHL games.

"He's a guy that finds the ice," Schmidt said. "He's so smart. He's one of those work smarter, not harder, kind of guys. Playing against him in the Western Conference Final, that's when you find out what guys are made of, and I think he should add a lot of dynamic to our forward group."

Vegas also signed defenseman Nick Holden, 31, who had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 73 games with the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.

The Golden Knights are also without some of the pivotal players who helped them to the Cup Final, including forwards David Perron, who signed with the Blues, and James Neal, who signed with the Calgary Flames.

Perron and Neal combined for 110 points (41 goals, 69 assists) for Vegas, which scored the fifth-most goals in the NHL (268).

"Yeah, we lost a lot of key pieces," said Schmidt, who had an NHL career-high 36 points (five goals, 31 assists) in 76 games. "But people are coming into Vegas, and we're going to see."

The Golden Knights still have many of the same players who excelled last season. Schmidt predicts forwards Alex Tuch and Tomas Tatar will have breakout seasons, and forwards Erik Haula (55 points; 29 goals, 26 assists) and William Karlsson (78 points; 43 goals, 35 assists) will take a step forward.

Schmidt also expects big things from defenseman Shea Theodore, 23, who had 29 points (six goals, 23 assists) in 61 games and 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 20 playoff games.

"I think he's the guy that's going to catapult us," Schmidt said. "I think he's a stud and hopefully he's going to bring himself, and us, to the next level this year."