TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ex-NHL head coach Phil Esposito speaks during the 2020 Stanley Cup Champion rally on September 30, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
The most popular debate style in all sports is to rank teams, players, moments, etc. Following suit, we compared all of the expansion franchises across all major North American sports leagues since the Tampa Bay Lightning entered the NHL.
Growth and expansion in sports are essential. Expanding a league by adding another team hones in on two factors, the success of the current brand is large enough to warrant a need for another team and longevity. In 1992 the NHL added two teams to its league with the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Since that time, with the “big 4” sports leagues in North America, a total of 22 teams have been added to their respective leagues. The NHL happens to have the most prominent expansion, with ten teams added since the 1992 season.
Expansion teams tend to get a bad rap for various reasons; maybe it’s an in-state rival, perhaps it is because they typically host an expansion draft where some of your favorite players may find themselves relocating to a new team. Typically is used because the Baltimore Ravens did not hold an expansion draft, although the NFL officially deemed the franchise as an expansion team.
Front office personnel is essential for new teams coming into their leagues, as they hold the keys to success by building their franchise from the ground up. A poor expansion draft or free-agency outing could leave an upstart team miles behind established teams. Some get it right, and some don’t; it’s sports, and that’s part of what makes it entertaining. Did the Lightning get it right when a group fronted by Phil Esposito won the bid they placed to the NHL to bring a team to Tampa on December 6, 1990? Let’s see how the Bolts compare to teams from around the MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL.
Yep, we’re doing a slideshow; it’s much more organized this way.
Since the Lightning’s first regular-season game in 1992, Major League Baseball’s expansion has been the smallest as just four teams to the league. This doesn’t necessarily mean that baseball isn’t popular or profitable, baseball is rich in history, and league officials have tried to keep the league grounded without much change- which is very respectable.
Charlie Hayes of the Colorado Rockies high-fives his teammates during the Major League Baseball National League West game against the San Diego Padres on 8 August 1993 at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California, United States. The Rockies won the game 5 – 2 (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images) /
Colorado Rockies (1993)
Wins: 2116
Losses: 2382
W/L: .470%
Playoff Appearances: 5
Pennants: 1
Championships: 0
PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1993: Gary Sheffield of the Florida Marlins bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1993 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
Florida Marlins (1993)
Wins: 2072
Losses: 2418
W/L: .461%
Playoff Appearances: 3
Pennants: 2
Championships: 2
Tampa Bay Devil Rays third baseman Wade Boggs warms up 29 March before going to bat during the fourth inning of the Devil Rays last exhibition game before the start of their first season at the new Tropicana field in St.Petersburg, Florida. AFP PHOTO/Peter MUHLY (Photo by PETER MUHLY / AFP) (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images) /
Tampa Bay Rays (1998)
Wins: 1804
Losses: 1944
W/L: .481%
Playoff Appearances: 6
Pennants: 2
Championships: 0
1 Jul 1998: Amaury Telemaco #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Diamondbacks 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /
Arizona Diamondbacks (1998)
Wins: 1830
Losses: 1921
W/L: .488%
Playoff Appearances: 6
Pennants: 1
Championships: 1
Toronto Raptors (1995)
7 Nov 1995: Center Zan Tabak of the Toronto Raptors stretches on the court before the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Raptors 117-108. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Allsport /
24 Jan 1996: Center Eric Mobley of the Vancouver Grizzlies hangs from the basket during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won the game 104-84. /
SEATTLE – DECEMBER 20: Head coach Paul Silas speaks with Elden Campbell #5 and Jamal Mashburn #24 of the New Orleans Hornets during the game against the Seattle Sonics during the game at Key Arena on December 20, 2002 in Seattle, Washington. The Hornets won in overtime 88-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
NEW YORK – DECEMBER 26: Jason Hart #1 of the Charlotte Bobcats dribbles to the net against Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks during the first half of their game on December 26, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New YorkCity. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
CANTON, OH – JULY 29: Quarterback Kerry Collins #12 of the Carolina Panthers huddles with the offense during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Fawcett Stadium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 29, 1995 in Canton, Ohio. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 20-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
Wins: 200
Losses: 215
Ties: 1
Playoff Appearances: 17
Conference Championships: 2
Championships: 0
Jacksonville Jaguars (1995)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 22: Mark Brunell #8 of the Jacksonville Jaguars turns to handoff to Natrone Means #20 against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game December 22, 1996 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Brunell played for the Jaguars from 1995-2003. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
Wins: 177
Losses: 239
Ties: 0
Playoff Appearances: 14
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Baltimore Ravens (1996)
6 Oct 1996: Running back Earnest Byner #21 of the Baltimore Ravens keeps his eyes focused up field as makes a cut to the outside to avoid pursuing tacklers from the New England Patriots and score a touch down as quarterback Vinny Testaverde celebrates in /
Wins: 225
Losses: 174
Ties: 1
Playoff Appearances: 27
Conference Championships: 2
Championships: 2
Cleveland Browns (1999)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch looks downfield for an open receiver during the first quarter of the Browns game with the Minnesota Vikings on 21 August, 1999, at the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP PHOTO David MAXWELL (Photo by DAVID MAXWELL / AFP) (Photo credit should read DAVID MAXWELL/AFP via Getty Images) /
Wins: 112
Losses: 239
Ties: 1
Playoff Appearances: 2
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Houston Texans (2002)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 29: David Carr #8 of the Houston Texans looks to throw a pass during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 29, 2002 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
Wins: 135
Losses: 169
Ties: 0
Playoff Appearances: 10
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Ottawa Senators (1992)
BUFFALO, NY – NOVEMBER 27: Defense Brad Marsh #14 of the Ottawa Senators warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Sabres on November 27, 1992 at Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
Wins: 971
Losses: 940
Ties: 115
OTL: 169
Points: 2226
Playoff Appearances: 16
Conference Championships: 1
Championships: 0
Florida Panthers (1993)
The Sabres bench and coaching staff looks on as Gord Murphy #5, Defenseman for the Florida Panthers checks #18 Wayne Presley, Right Wing for the Buffalo Sabres during their NHL Eastern Conference Northeast Division game on 18th February 1994 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, United States. The Sabres won the game 4 – 1. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /
Wins: 889
Losses: 870
Ties: 142
OTL: 208
Points: 2128
Playoff Appearances: 7
Conference Championships: 1
Championships: 0
Anaheim Ducks (1993)
TORONTO, ON – JANUARY 18: Nikolai Borschevsky #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against Guy Hebert #31 of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim during NHL game action on January 18, 1994 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
Wins: 990
Losses: 834
Ties: 107
OTL: 180
Points: 2267
Playoff Appearances: 14
Conference Championships: 2
Championships: 1
Nashville Predators (1998)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 19: Referee Paul Devorski has a chat with Mike Dunham #1 of the Nashville Predators against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on October 19, 1998 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
Wins: 852
Losses: 656
Ties: 60
OTL: 163
Points: 1927
Playoff Appearances: 14
Conference Championships: 1
Championships: 0
Atlanta Thrashers/ Winnipeg Jets (1999)
20 Nov 1999: Yannick Tremblay #38 of the Atlanta Thrashers shoots the puck during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres defeated the Thrashers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport /
Wins: 724
Losses: 729
Ties: 45
OTL: 154
Points: 1646
Playoff Appearances: 6
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Minnesota Wild (2000)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 25: Andy Sutton #42 and Manny Fernandez #35 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during NHL game action on October 25, 2000 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
Wins: 759
Losses: 599
Ties: 55
OTL: 154
Points: 1727
Playoff Appearances: 11
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Columbus Blue Jackets (2000)
22 Sep 2001: Left wing Taylor Pyatt #24 of the Buffalo Sabres skates on the ice during the NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres edged the Blue Jackets 4-3. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 2001 NHLI Mandatory Credit: Dave Sandford /NHLI/Getty Images /
Wins: 678
Losses: 698
Ties: 33
OTL: 159
Points: 1548
Playoff Appearances: 6
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
Vegas Golden Knights (2017)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 31: The Vegas Golden Knights mascot Chance the Golden Gila Monster waves a Knights flag at center ice after the team defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
Wins: 173
Losses: 94
Ties:
OTL: 24
Points: 370
Playoff Appearances: 4
Conference Championships: 1
Championships: 0
Seattle Kraken (2021)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 21: The Seattle Kracken draft picks (L-R) Jordan Eberle, Chris Driedger, Chris Tanev, Jamie Oleksiak, Haydn Fleury and Mark Giordano following the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft at Gas Works Park on July 21, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Kraken is the National Hockey League’s newest franchise and will begin play in October 2021. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
Wins: 0
Losses: 0
Ties: 0
OTL: 0
Points: 0
Playoff Appearances: 0
Conference Championships: 0
Championships: 0
INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 6: Wayne Gretzky #99 of the Los Angeles Kings passes during an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 6, 1993 at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Gary Newkirk/Getty Images) /
Wins: 985
Losses: 947
Ties: 112
OTL: 150
Points: 2232
Playoff Appearances: 13
Conference Championships: 4
Championships: 3
A few teams from the NHL are missing from the list, like the Carolina Hurricanes, which are not expansion teams even though their name is newer; 1998, for example, with the Hurricanes. Clubs that have relocated from one city to another, the Ravens are still the exception, are not “expansion teams” in their true form.
The final tallies for the Lightning put them atop the list for championships, at three, with the Ravens and Marlins trailing with two. The Lightning currently has just 38 more wins than losses, which shows the team’s struggles in their 29 seasons. Conversely, the three championships also display the front office making the right decisions to turn the franchise around, having made it to the Stanley Cup Final four times since 2003-04.
Rest assured, Lightning fans, not only has the Stanley Cup trophy taken residence in Tampa for two straight seasons, the city of Tampa is home to the best expansion team in all of sports since the Bolts entered the NHL.
