Expansion Success

Expansion was at its peak in the early 90′s and well into the 90′s. Some teams have had success while others are tough to even think about (cough columbus).

Here are the teams that came into the league starting in 1991:

1991 – San Jose Sharks
1992 – Ottawa Senators
1992 – Tampa Bay Lightning
1993 – Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks
1993 – Florida Panthers
1998 – Nashville Predators
1999 – Atlanta Thrashers
2000 – Columbus Blue Jackets
2000 – Minnesota Wild

Let’s take a look at who has been most successful since the beginning of expansion in the 90′s.

#8 – Columbus Blue Jackets – The least successful team is – without a doubt – the Columbus Blue Jackets. Not only have they never made the playoffs, but they are in contention with the Phoenix Coyotes for being the worst team in the league in 2007/08.

#7 – Atlanta Thrashers – They may have a decent future, but they’ve only made the playoffs once, and they were out in 4 games to a team that was out in the second round.

#6 – San Jose Sharks – It seems ridiculous to rank this team so low, but although they have a great team right now, they’ve never actually accomplished anything but an appearance in the Western Finals.

#5 – Minnesota Wild – The Wild, like the Sharks only have a Western Finals appearance to their name, but the thing that separates these two is the fact that the Wild have done what they’ve done in 7 years, while the Sharks have had 16.

#4 – Florida Panthers – An absolutely atrocious team today, but let’s be fair to a team that made it to the finals in their third year of existence.

#3 – Ottawa Senators – If not for the Senators’ Finals appearance in these past playoffs, I would have them either 5 or 6, but they have made the finals, and they have been a playoff team for the past 10 years, so let’s give them credit.

#2 – Tampa Bay Lightning – They won a Stanley Cup and a Presidents’ Trophy the year before the lockout. I think that’s good enough for #2.

#1 – Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks – They’ve been to the finals twice; once as the Mighty Ducks, once as the Ducks. They won a cup last year, and if Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne come back for another season, they might just be a lock for a third finals appearance and a second Stanley Cup.