NHL Expansion in the Early 1990s
Florida and California Welcome New Professional Hockey Teams
Oct 1, 2009
After 14 years of continuous expansion and relocation – and even one case of contraction – that saw the NHL’s franchise total reach 21, the league enjoyed a docile decade-long stretch during which the number of teams remained status quo.
Hockey in Northern California
It wasn’t until 1992 that the dry spell saw its first hint of rain, when the San Jose Sharks brought NHL hockey back to the bay area of California. As is often the case with expansion teams, the freshman season was hardly one to remember. Though the Sharks posted their first victory in their third game of the season (against Calgary), the win was followed up by a 13-game losing streak that resulted in a 1-15-0 record after just one month of existence.
Their first win came in their second home tilt but the first one on the road would be a longer wait; the Sharks finally emerged triumphant on opposing ice on November 30, 1991, also against the Flames. San Jose closed out the year in last place in the six-team Smythe Division, owners of a 17-58-5 record and a paltry 39 points.
Rookie winger Pat Falloon, selected second overall in the 1991 NHL Draft, led the charge on offense, scoring 25 goals and 59 points in a team-high 79 games. Also suiting up for the Sharks that season: first expansion draft selection Jeff Hackett, Brian Lawton, Rob Zettler, Kelly Kisio, and future GM Doug Wilson.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators Join the NHL
The league’s foray into areas where snow is as likely as Flyers fans cheering on Sidney Crosby didn’t end with the Sharks. In 1992, the state of Florida got its first of a double dose of expansion hockey teams with the formation of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Hall of Famer Phil Esposito spearheaded the drive to bring hockey to Florida’s west coast. Goalie Wendell Young was their first pick in the expansion draft while Roman Hamrlik was Lightning's top selection in the 1992 Entry Draft.
In their initial campaign, the Lightning put together a 23-54-7 record and finished sixth in the Norris Division. Center Brian Bradley, who was an expansion selection, led the Bolts across the board offensively, scoring 42 goals and 86 points.
At the same time, NHL hockey was re-establishing itself in Ottawa after a 58-year absence. It was far from a welcome return for the Senators; the modern-day Sens managed just 10 wins in the 84-game schedule (10-70-4). Winger Sylvain Turgeon was tops with 25 goals while defenseman Norm Maciver led the team with 63 points.
NHL Arrives in Southern Florida; Disney Brings Hockey to Anaheim
One season later, the combination of sunshine and shinny continued with the addition of the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Unlike their recent predecessors, the league’s two newest teams enjoyed respectable (for a new squad), if unspectacular, rookie seasons.
The Panthers put together an 83-point effort (33-34-17) and found themselves fifth in the seven-team Atlantic Division – just a point and rank shy of a playoff berth – when the campaign came to a close. Scott Mellanby, who the Panthers nabbed from the Edmonton Oilers with their 15th selection in the expansion draft, skated to the top of the Cats’ scoring list in 1993-94 with 30 goals and 60 points. It would be one of the most productive seasons of his lengthy career.
Out on the west coast, the Disney-owned Mighty Ducks notched 71 points (33-46-5) in their debut campaign. The club finished fourth in the six-team Pacific Division and ninth in the Western Conference overall. Center Bob Corkum scored a team-best 23 goals while right-winger Terry Yake’s 52 points bested Corkum by one to lead the club.
After the Panthers and Mighty Ducks set up shop, the NHL took a brief respite from expansion. The league would welcome four more teams at the end of the decade.
Other articles of interest:
 |
 |
 |
