I don't know. I'm sure some owners with low income teams where happy about the extra money coming in, but if you split $500M between 30 teams, that's an average of $16.7M per team. It's a fraction of the salary cap. Given they split the revenues 50-50 with the players and the average cap hit is about what? $65M, maybe $70M... that means in average a team brings in $130-140M. That means it's about a 12% bonus per team who have to split it with the players anyway. So each team owner get a little over $8M. It's nothing to spit on, but it's still not that significant of an amount.
- MathieuLeclaire

To
My knowledge they didn’t have to split expansion money with the players at all. The players got more job security with 20 something more jobs created and more with ahl professional jobs.

And many teams fell over themselves to use Vegas to get out of bad contracts... which is why Seattle will have just as good an opportunity to create a competitive team.

I don't know. I'm sure some owners with low income teams where happy about the extra money coming in, but if you split $500M between 30 teams, that's an average of $16.7M per team. It's a fraction of the salary cap. Given they split the revenues 50-50 with the players and the average cap hit is about what? $65M, maybe $70M... that means in average a team brings in $130-140M. That means it's about a 12% bonus per team who have to split it with the players anyway. So each team owner get a little over $8M. It's nothing to spit on, but it's still not that significant of an amount.
- MathieuLeclaire

Players don't get a share of the expansion revenue.

the way some of you blubberheads talk makes it seem like you just want a long suffering franchise to win

how about instead of the playoffs every year the 2 teams with the longest cup droughts play 1 game to decide the winner of the stanley cup. that way no fans are left to suffer and no team has to go through a long SC drought. would that be better?

the players dont play so you can see them lift the stanley cup. they play so they can lift the cup. you choose your allegience based on what city you're from. that doesnt entitle you to a cup

this whole conversation is ridiculous

interesting take.
- Eklund

I copied it from Muffin_man

Stand by it all you want. Its totally false and completely moronic.
- Iggysbff

That's not true. Sure I heard Vegas would be one of the worst team from a lot of people, but I also heard quite a few people arguing they would be among the teams fighting for a playoff spot. I think most people knew they would be at least somewhat competitive. Now sure, no one, not even myself thought they would ever be competing for a Stanley Cup, but we've heard the NHL often say they wanted Vegas to be a competitive team from the start and they clearly allowed that to happen.

It helped them that some teams made some bad decisions as to who to protect vs who they left exposed, and you have to give credit to Vegas for selecting the right players and the right coaches. I'm not taking anything away from these people. They perfectly exploited every opportunity that was presented to them. Even if Seattle gets the same favorable conditions, I highly doubt they could ever be as successful as what Vegas has done.

But I still stand behind my point that Vegas got very favorable conditions that immediately allowed them to pass in front of many other teams who had no other choice but to built their team the long and painful way.
- MathieuLeclaire

The "favorable" terms and being the only expansion team this year allowed them to be in a better spot, talent wise than other expansion teams in the past, but to say they were given a leg up on any of the teams in the league is just plain false. Teams like Arizona, Vancouver, Buff etc created their own mess. McPhee and Co. along w/ the players , and the awesome atmosphere created in Vegas is why they are winning

william karlson had like what, 8 goals in 2 seaosns? and suddenly people are saying its unfair vegas got to take him? yall wouldnt have traded a 7th rounder for him last seaosn lol. Florida gave Vegas 2/3 of a scoring line. Thats not Vegas fault. Even then those players only topped out at 50 pts. the only bonafide stars they got were fluery and neal. lol at that defense. their no1 is nate schmidt who wouldn't be a 1 on most teams. they regularly play englyend and luca sbisa and you think theyre stacked??
- bulet13

This. Nobody thought this roster would make the playoffs. The expansion rules were easier for Vegas, but not that easy. It's a great story.

You earn a Cup on the ice, there is no such thing as a fan or organization tenure card. Otherwise, STL and VAN would have multiple Cups. In the end, it's a business and success is defined by winning and revenue.
McPhee played the cards given him and played them well, the Organization has earned its current playoff standing on the ice and I hope they win it all.

the 67/68 Blues made the SCF did they not?

The gaggy buttman league is all about expansion and supposed small market teams given advantages over the other established teams or supposed large market teams

I don't get this deserve it crap. You know how Winnipeg deserves it? By beating Vegas.

the way some of you blubberheads talk makes it seem like you just want a long suffering franchise to win

how about instead of the playoffs every year the 2 teams with the longest cup droughts play 1 game to decide the winner of the stanley cup. that way no fans are left to suffer and no team has to go through a long SC drought. would that be better?

the players dont play so you can see them lift the stanley cup. they play so they can lift the cup. you choose your allegience based on what city you're from. that doesnt entitle you to a cup

this whole conversation is ridiculous
- bulet13

No, others just have a better understanding of basic psychology than you do. Wanting something and not being able to have it makes you far more appreciative when you do finally get it. Golden Knight's fans have never experienced their team losing, so on average they will appreciate winning the Cup far less than other franchises.

No one has said it should be easier for franchises to win based on how long they have gone without, no one wants to cheapen the Cup. And no one is talking about the players not deserving the Cup.

Toronto does deserve it more though lol

The gaggy buttman league is all about expansion and supposed small market teams given advantages over the other established teams or supposed large market teams
- nyr4life99

gaggy buttman is pretty funny i have to admit

IF LAS VEGAS GOES TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL,
WIN OR LOSE FLEURY HAS THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY
IN THE BAG.........GO GET THAT CUP BOYS, YOU GUYS DESERVE IT !

Although we all know if they hit the jackpot this year, they'll never win again, until society collapses. This could be a great Vegas gambling joke by the hockey gods. They'll be chasing the peak forever...as a Leaf fan I pity the poor dumbass bastards

You earn a Cup on the ice, there is no such thing as a fan or organization tenure card. Otherwise, STL and VAN would have multiple Cups. In the end, it's a business and success is defined by winning and revenue.
McPhee played the cards given him and played them well, the Organization has earned its current playoff standing on the ice and I hope they win it all.

the 67/68 Blues made the SCF did they not?
- RASSEGA

Exactly

* with Glenn Hall in net and Scotty Bowman as coach

As a Hawks fan, my Vegas native GF ensured that I saw the vast majority of VGK's regular season games. Given the scope of such a perspective, I can assure you that this is a well coached, extremely hard working team that has earned every bit of its success. The consistent effort and never give up attitude remind me of the 2010 Blackhawks actually (minus some obvious size).

As she says, they are the Neal deal.

No, others just have a better understanding of basic psychology than you do. Wanting something and not being able to have it makes you far more appreciative when you do finally get it. Golden Knight's fans have never experienced their team losing, so on average they will appreciate winning the Cup far less than other franchises.

No one has said it should be easier for franchises to win based on how long they have gone without, no one wants to cheapen the Cup. And no one is talking about the players not deserving the Cup.
- Antilles

hahaha thats just not at all how that works. vegas hasnt had a major sports franchise ever. i think the residents of vegas appreciate this plenty

The NHL hasnt wanted a first year team to be more competitive out of the gate then Vegas. Does the NHL want Vegas to be successful? Has Vegas received special treatment? Is that right if they did or do. How does that knowledge of a Leagues support affect the psyche of the organization and players who feel that backing. The NHL should be an honest impartial broker in all phases. A team full of misfits and 3rd and 4th line rejects looks like the incarnation of the '97 Detroit Red Wings. Why are Vegas quicker and more physically superior, if the league wants Vegas to succeed there first year do they turn a blind eye to drug testing there first year ? Who knows, Bettmans league is so shady and lacks so much transparency it's very ripe for corruption. The League has its hands on all aspects of the game. Officiating, now there's 2 refs, one to override the other, and if that's not enough the league will step in front Toronto and yeah or neah. The draft lotto, why is it not live when the balls drop? For integrity and transparency sake. Bettman does not care that his league gives off the perception of being bush league and potentially rigged, whether it's true or not is not the point. It's the perception to many fans of manipulation across many aspects of the NHL organization.

I didn't think Vegas deserved it until I looked at the Amount of ice time that Derek Engelland is getting.

It's guys like him that are stepping up and contributing to winning. I'm impressed and if they beat the jets, I hope they win it all!

You’re as delusional as can be.
- RafiDRW

Truth hurts, cupcake

My preferred order of finish for winning:

Jets
Lightning
Caps
Knights

Jets: Canada deserves a team winning one. Winnipeg deserves it. City and fans.

Lightning: F Kunitz.
Caps: F Orpik

Knights: It's a shame how the league changed the rules. Look back at the TB and OTT expansion rules and the players they ended up with...brutal. The NHL knew that Vegas couldn't flop or else the trend would be negative to begin with. It's not a set up, however, Vegas didn't need to go through the hurdles that prior expansion teams struggled through.

There's plenty of other long-suffering fan bases that deserve the Cup. If Vegas wins and they someday become obscure, those "fans" will undoubtedly disappear.

I'd like to see Vegas win because Fleury has been excellent and it's a huge middle finger to the pens who would still be playing if they had him. I'd also like to see ovi finally get his cup though, so I'm somewhat torn. Winnipeg would be huge, Canada gets a cup again,all 3 teams have people jumping on board and cheering for those teams but who outside of Tampa really want the lightning to win lol

its amazing that people are saying vegas fand arent real fans and that they'll dissapear. this is literally the only year they had a team to be fans of. most teams lose fans when theyre playing badly. another ridiculous argument based on a counterfactual we havent witnessed yet

I knew they would have a good team, but not this good. No one was talking about them being given a Stanley cup last October., they’ve earned it