Today, as in 1967, fans wonder where the quality players will come from to stock so many teams — at least until the Vegas Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup.
“The NHL is definitely not a watered-down product,” said Hall of Fame exec Cliff Fletcher, who started the Atlanta Flames from scratch and turned them into Cup champions in Calgary. “And that’s because the first expansion had a tremendous impact. You had six more U.S. teams, more player opportunity, more chances for coaching development.
“All you have to do is look at (Toronto’s potential Calder Trophy winner) Auston Matthews, who took to hockey after watching the Arizona Coyotes, or Shayne Gostisbehere, who learned the game in Florida.