The Vegas Golden Knights are off to a hot start as the latest NHL team in their inaugural season. While they are turning heads, they have historical company to reach for among expansion franchises who hit the ice running.
Over the last 50 years, there have been some impressive accomplishments in NHL team inaugural seasons. As part of the first modern expansion class, St. Louis reached the Stanley Cup Final in each of its first three years.
But impressive individual campaigns have been easier to come by than team success as a whole in expansion years . Sometimes a new team, new system and new role can be just what a player needs to spark his career.
James Neal is off to a hot start for the Golden Knights, posting eight points in six games. Luca Sbisa, who had 13 points all of last season, already has four this year. He may be benefitting from an increased role with his new squad.
This list considers the individual performances by players on first-year NHL expansion teams. Not surprisingly, just one goalie makes the list. The top four members on this list all played for teams that came into the NHL from the WHA in 1979.
10. Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild, 2000-01
Goalies often struggle on expansion teams, as the unit in front of them is not normally the strongest or the most cohesive. But Fernandez made do in Minnesota, going 19-17-4 with a 2.24 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.
Fernandez was one of the few goalies to play in a majority of his team’s games and post a winning record during an inaugural season. In addition, four of his 19 wins were shutouts.
9. Red Berenson, St. Louis Blues, 1967-68
The Blues acquired Berenson, who was 27 at the time, from the Rangers early in the season. After a successful junior and college career, he had never been able to establish himself in the NHL.
That all changed in St. Louis. Berenson score 22 goals with 29 assists for 51 points in 55 games played for the Blues. Despite having played significantly fewer games than most teammates, he led the club in both goals and points.
He also helped lead the team to the playoffs in their first season, which is an impressive feat in itself. In the Blues’ first run to a Cup final, Berenson tied for second on the team with five goals.
8. Dale Tallon, Vancouver Canucks, 1970-71
The Canucks selected Tallon with the second overall pick in the 1970 draft, behind the man ranked immediately ahead of him on this list. He began his career with an all-star campaign, posting 14 goals and 42 assists for 56 points in 78 games.
The young defender was able to establish himself in the NHL right away. This was the second-best point total in his NHL career, surpassed in 1975-76 when he posted 62 points for Chicago.
7. Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres, 1970-71
Buffalo selected Perreault with the 1970’s first overall pick, and he did not disappoint. The 19-year-old rookie scored 38 goals with 34 helpers for a team-best 72 points in 78 games played.
This total was enough to earn him the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. He was the second player from an expansion team to win the award, and the first to do so in an expansion team’s inaugural season.
6. Brian Bradley, Tampa Bay Lightning, 1992-93
Bradley was somewhat of a journeyman before settling in with Tampa Bay. After stints in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto, all of which were nothing special, he was an alternate captain as a 27-year-old for the inaugural Lightning squad.
On the ice, he tallied 42 goals, 44 assists and 86 points in 80 games played. This led the team, and was the most he ever posted in a single NHL campaign.
Before he brought a winning touch back to his alma mater, Michigan, Red Berenson spearheaded the St. Louis Blues to instant contention as an NHL franchise. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
5. Norm Maciver, Ottawa Senators, 1992-93
Maciver bounced between the NHL and AHL for three other organizations before he came to Ottawa. He proceeded to produce the best offensive numbers of his career on a dreadful 10-70-4 team.
The defender tallied 17 goals, plus a team-high 46 assists and 63 points in 80 games. While the Sens missed the playoffs by several miles, he earned a spot in the World Championship , marking the only time he represented Canada in an international tournament.
4. Mike Rogers, Hartford Whalers, 1979-80
Rogers is the first of three members on the inaugural Whalers team to make this list. He led the team with 105 points, tied for the most in a single season in his career.
It was his first NHL season, and he was able to establish himself as an elite playmaker right away. He managed 44 goals and added 61 assists in 80 games played. His output, along with that of two other key cogs ranked ahead of him, helped propel Hartford to the playoffs, where he tallied three assists in as many games.
3. Real Cloutier, Quebec Nordiques, 1979-80
The Quebec native came with his hometown team from the WHA in time for its inaugural NHL season. Still relatively young at 23, he proceeded to lead his team with 42 goals and 47 helpers in just 67 games played.
His mark of 42 goals was the best total in his NHL career, and he earned a call to the All-Star game that season.
2. Mark Howe, Hartford Whalers, 1979-80
Howe made his NHL debut alongside his Whalers, and put up an incredible stat line of 24-56-80 in 74 games played. This point-per-game rate of 1.08 would be the best of his NHL career.
Howe was third on the Whalers in scoring that year, and led all NHL defensemen in goals and points. To top it off, he posted three points in the team’s three playoff games.
1. Blaine Stoughton, Hartford Whalers, 1979-80
Unlike his aforementioned teammates, Stoughton had previous, albeit limited, NHL experience before playing in the Whalers’ inaugural season. That season was a career-best, with 56 goals to lead the league, 44 assists and 100 points in 80 games.
He was the resident finisher on the squad, while Rogers and Howe were able to feed him the puck time and again. The three combined for an incredible 285 points, and led the team to moderate NHL success right away.
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