An NHL expansion team will be playing for the Stanley Cup.

With Monday’s 4-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, the Vegas Golden Knights became the first expansion team to do so in the National Hockey League since the WHA merger in 1980.

And the 'x' beside their name atop the Pacific Division standings caps off what should be considered the greatest season by an expansion team in league history.

With six games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights now hold all the pertinent expansion team records. At 48-21-7, the Knights have set new marks for best record, most points and most wins, while their 103 points is the fastest an expansion team has surpassed 100 points in the standings.

 

Top NHL Expansion Teams (Points Percentage)

Season Team Points % Record
2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights .678 48-21-7*
1993-94 Florida Panthers .494 33-34-17
1967-68 Philadelphia Flyers .493 31-32-11
1967-68 Los Angeles Kings .487 31-33-10
1967-68 St. Louis Blues .473 27-31-16

*through 76 games

The Knights are also on pace to be the first expansion team to finish with a positive goal differential. The team currently has 254 goals for and 205 goals against, a plus-49 differential. The Florida Panthers, the previous “Most Successful All-Time First Year NHL Team” are the only other first-year franchise to finish without a negative goal differential, recording an even 0 back in 1993-94.

 

The Knights compare favourably to the best expansion seasons across the other three major sports in North America as well. Their current .678 win percentage ranks better the 1995 Carolina Panthers (.473), the 1961 California Angels (.435) and the 1966-67 Chicago Bulls (.407).

 

Top Expansion Franchises (NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA)

League Season Team Record
NHL 2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights 48-21-7*
NFL 1995 Carolina Panthers 7-9
MLB 1961 Los Angeles Angels 70-91
NBA 166-67 Chicago Bulls 33-48

The only team that could contest the Knights’ expected designation as North America’s top expansion franchise is the Baltimore CFLers, who, despite lacking an official nickname, finished the 1994 CFL season at 12-6 and advanced all the way to the 82nd Grey Cup before losing to the B.C. Lions.

With the regular season records under their belt already, the Golden Knights can now set their sights on the playoffs, something few first year clubs get the chance to do. Earning the title of best postseason expansion team will be even tougher however, after the 1967-68 St. Louis Blues advanced to the Stanley Cup Final (albeit through the much easier, expansion team-only West Division) in their inaugural campaign.

Full list of NHL expansion franchises:

 

NHL Expansion Teams

 
Season Team Expansion Fee Record Points % Playoffs Year
1967-68 Oakland Seals $2 million 15-42-17 .318 2
  Philadelphia Flyers $2 million 31-32-11 .493 1
  Pittsburgh Penguins $2 million 27-34-13 .453 3
  St Louis Blues $2 million 27-31-16 .473 1
  Los Angeles Kings $2 million 31-33-10 .486 1
  Minnesota North Stars  $2 million 27-32-15 .466 1
           
1970-71 Vancouver Canucks $6 million 24-46-8 .359 5
  Buffalo Sabres $6 million 24-39-15 .404 3
           
1972-73 Atlanta Flames $6 million 25-38-15 .417 2
  New York Islanders $6 million 12-60-6 .192 3
           
1974-75 Kansas City Scouts $6 million 15-54-11 .256 4
  Washington Capitals $6 million 8-67-5 .131 9
           
1979-80 Edmonton Oilers $7.5 million 28-29-13 .431 1
WHA Hartford Whalers $7.5 million 27-34-19 .456 1
  Winnipeg Jets $7.5 million 20-49-11 .319 3
  Quebec Nordiques $7.5 million 25-44-11 .381 2
           
1991-92 San Jose Sharks $45 million 17-58-5 .244 3
           
1992-93 Ottawa Senators $45 million 10-70-4 .143 5
  Tampa Lightning $45 million 23-54-7 .315 4
           
1993-94 Florida Panthers $50 million 33-34-17 .494 3
  Anaheim Ducks $50 million 30-43-11 .423 4
           
1998-99 Nashville Predators $80 million 28-47-7 .384 6
           
1999-00 Atlanta Thrashers $80 million 14-57-7 .238 7
           
2000-01 Columbus Blue Jackets $80 million 22-47-8 .348 8
  Minnesota Wild $80 million 26-35-12 .445 3
           
2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights $500 million 48-21-7 .678 1