The NHL has grown dramatically from its original six teams to the current 32 franchises spread across North America. Expansion has brought new markets and fresh storylines, with several teams from the late 1990s and beyond carving out notable achievements despite starting from scratch. This piece examines the standout accomplishments of the expansion clubs introduced since 1996, focusing on their most memorable playoff runs and milestones.
These franchises faced the typical early struggles of building rosters and fan bases from the ground up. Yet each one delivered at least one defining moment that stands out in league history. The timeline moves chronologically through the Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Seattle Kraken.
Nashville Predators, expansion year 1998
The Predators entered the league as part of the 1990s expansion wave and endured a long period of adjustment. They missed the playoffs in their first five seasons and struggled to advance beyond the first round in the years that followed. Their first second-round appearance did not arrive until 2011.
The franchise’s pinnacle came in the 2016-17 season. As the Western Conference’s final wild-card team, Nashville was not expected to go far. Strong contributions from Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi propelled them past the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks to reach the Stanley Cup Final. They took two games from the Pittsburgh Penguins before falling in six.
That Final appearance remains the deepest postseason run in Predators history. The team has stayed competitive in subsequent years but has not matched that 2017 achievement.
Atlanta Thrashers, expansion year 1999
The Thrashers brought the NHL back to Atlanta nearly two decades after the Flames departed. Their 11-season stay proved difficult, with only one playoff appearance in franchise history. That lone berth came in 2007, when they faced the New York Rangers as the higher seed.
The series ended in a swift four-game sweep. A 7-0 shutout loss in Game 3 highlighted the mismatch, and the Thrashers never returned to the postseason before relocating to Winnipeg. The organization’s time in Atlanta is remembered more for its challenges than its successes.
Columbus Blue Jackets, expansion year 2000
Columbus endured seven straight playoff misses after joining the league. Their first postseason trip in 2009 ended in a first-round sweep by the Detroit Red Wings. Real progress arrived during the 2018-19 campaign.
Entering the playoffs as a wild-card team, the Blue Jackets faced the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had posted a record 62 regular-season wins. Columbus trailed 3-0 in Game 1 before rallying for a 4-3 victory and completing a stunning four-game sweep. The upset, led by players such as Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, stands as one of the greatest first-round shocks in NHL history. The run ended in the second round against the Boston Bruins.
Minnesota Wild, expansion year 2000
Minnesota received a new NHL team in 2000 after losing the North Stars years earlier. The Wild reached the playoffs in just their third season. Their 2002-03 postseason run stands as the franchise benchmark.
The team overcame 3-1 deficits against both the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, becoming the first club in league history to erase two such deficits in a single playoff year. Andrew Brunette’s overtime winner in Game 7 against Colorado sent Minnesota to the Western Conference Final, where the run ended in a sweep by the Mighty Ducks.
Vegas Golden Knights, expansion year 2017
No expansion team has succeeded as quickly as the Golden Knights. In their inaugural season, Vegas finished atop the Pacific Division behind breakout performances from William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault, plus veteran goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. They swept the Los Angeles Kings, defeated the San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets, and reached the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Washington Capitals.
Six seasons later, the Golden Knights claimed their first championship in 2023 by beating the Florida Panthers in five games. As of the 2026 Western Conference Final, they continue to compete at a high level against the Colorado Avalanche.
Seattle Kraken, expansion year 2021
The Kraken followed a more conventional expansion path after entering the league in 2021. They missed the playoffs in year one but improved sharply in 2022-23, earning 100 points and their first postseason berth. Depth players including Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, and rookie Matty Beniers drove the success.
Seattle stunned the defending champion Avalanche in seven games in the first round before pushing the Dallas Stars to seven games in round two. That second-round appearance remains the franchise high point, as the team has not returned to the playoffs in the three seasons since.
The stories of these expansion clubs illustrate how new teams can quickly make an impact when the right pieces align. Continued growth in markets like Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota, Vegas, and Seattle shows the lasting value of thoughtful league expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.