The Vegas Golden Knights’ extraordinary run to the Stanley Cup Final — as unique as it was — takes me back to the 1990s.
The “Golden Misfits” are an improved version of the Florida Panthers, who missed the playoffs by one point in their inaugural season of 1993-94 but went on to play in the Cup Final in their third year. And from a community standpoint, Vegas has a lot in common with the 1995-96 Colorado Avalanche, the team that swept the Panthers in ’96 to win the Cup.
The Avs won the Cup in their very first season in Colorado.