* It’s frustrating to think about the Stanley Cup Finals without the Lightning. This, however, is not a forum to lament or ponder why the Bolts came up short, but an opportunity to muse on a team that will be in it: the first-year, expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights. The odds were 500-1 that Las Vegas would win the Cup; now they’re in the finals against Washington.
Two critical factors. The NHL made it more difficult for incumbent franchises to keep as many good players as it used to. The Lightning, for example, were not blessed with Stanley Cup- caliber draft talent in its inaugural 1992 season. Neither was the team, Ottawa, that came in with it.
But Vegas came in alone; nobody else was drafting. It also paid a lot more to play than the Lightning did. “Vegas paid $500 million, and we paid $50 million,” recalled Bolts founder Phil Esposito. You get what you pay for in life.”
BTW, plans continue for Seattle to be the next NHL expansion franchise; debut is slated for 2020. Among the registered nickname favorites: Sea Lions, Renegades and Emeralds. The expansion fee: $650 million. Don’t expect 500-1 Stanley Cup odds.