Vegas Golden Knights
Las Vegas franchise that became the most successful expansion team in North American sports history — their inaugural season ended in a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and they won the Cup in 2023.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest NHL Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Vegas Golden Knights significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Vegas Golden Knights
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Vegas Golden Knights.
Often Compared To
Vancouver Canucks
#2NHL / Pacific Division — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada · 1970–present
British Columbia franchise that has come agonizingly close to the Stanley Cup twice without winning — the 1994 Bure-led run and the 2011 finals riot are the franchise's defining moments.
Seattle Kraken
#3NHL / Pacific Division — Seattle, Washington · 2021–present
Seattle's first NHL franchise that entered the league in 2021 and quickly exceeded expansion expectations — the Kraken represent the NHL's embrace of the Pacific Northwest.