It’s not every day we get to see an expansion franchise enjoy immediate success, but the Vegas Golden Knights have managed to achieve that feat. 

This professional ice hockey team was founded in 2017, and it’s the first mainstream sports franchise to represent Las Vegas, Nevada. The Vegas Golden Knights entered the NHL as an expansion team for the 2017-18 season. Despite being a brand new franchise starting completely from scratch, the Golden Knights shocked the hockey world by not only making the playoffs in their inaugural season but also advancing all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The team was fortunate enough to have veterans such as Marc-Andre Fleury, James Neal, and David Perron, along with an expansion draft that built a deep roster. Equipped with this, the Golden Knights finished 3rd in the Pacific Division with 109 points in the regular season. Then they continued their improbable run in the playoffs, dispatching the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets before ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup. 

Since then, the Vegas Golden Knights have shown that their impressive debut season wasn’t a fluke. They’ve gone on to cement a spot among the top teams in the league, and they’ve qualified for the playoffs in four of their first five seasons. 

As an expansion team, the Golden Knights did not have an existing roster to build off when they entered the league in 2017. They constructed the core of their team primarily through the expansion and entry draft. 

Thanks to their scouting and player development, the Vegas Golden Knights were able to discover NHL-caliber talents in the draft to complement the veteran players taken in expansion. 

Experience the thrill of the ice – secure your tickets now and join the excitement with the Vegas Golden Knights!