The Florida Panthers Rocked the NHL in 93-'94

Not much is expected from sports franchises during their inaugural season. Most ownership, media, and fans are so caught up in the excitement that winning takes a backseat. Sometimes, however, a new sports franchise takes its league by storm and does something memorable or incredible. Here are the 20 most impressive inaugural seasons for sports franchises.

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1. Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights' first NHL season in 2017-2018 was nothing short of historic as they finished with a 51-24-7 record. They won their division and made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Most impressively, they broke the previous record for expansion-team wins by February. 

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2. Carolina Panthers

In 1995, the Carolina Panthers made their NFL debut and finished with a respectable record of 7-9. At the time, this was the record for wins by an expansion club. They even overcame a 0-5 start to win seven of their last 11 games, which was very impressive. 

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3. St. Louis Blues

The Blues were part of the NHL's six-team expansion in 1967. Their inaugural season saw them achieve a 27-31-16 record, and they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose to the Montreal Canadiens. 

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4. Anaheim Ducks

When the ducks (then known as the Mighty Ducks) entered the NHL in 1993, they played hard and caught a lot of teams by surprise. They finished with 33 wins in the regular season, which was an impressive feat at the time. Many forget that Bob Corkum led the team with 23 goals. 

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5. Florida Panthers

The Panthers entered the NHL in the same expansion class as Anaheim and went on to win 33 games and earn 71 points. The franchise's strong start proved that new markets can inspire a fan base, even if they are unfamiliar with hockey.

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6. Chicago Bulls

During the 1966-1967 season, the Bulls achieved the best record ever by an NBA expansion team at that time, and even made the playoffs. The key contributor was guard Jerry Sloan, who would go on to become a legendary NBA coach. 

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7. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers took the NHL by storm during the 1967-68 season and established their franchise as a threat to go far in the playoffs. Their strong debut came against low expectations, and they immediately built trust with their fanbase.

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8. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings joined the NHL in 1967-68 and surprised doubters by finishing with a 31-33-10 record, making them one of the more competitive expansion teams of the era. Led by Eddie Joyal and his 33 goals, the Kings established a solid offensive presence and enthusiastic fanbase.

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9. Minnesota North Stars

Debuting alongside five other expansion teams, the North Stars didn't have a winning record, but did make the playoffs. Center Wayne Connelly was the standout offensive player with 35 goals, and the team showed great resilience every night.

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10. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels surprised the baseball world by finishing their inaugural season with a 70-win season. This might not sound impressive, but it was for an expansion team at the time. The power-hitting lineup kept them competitive, and they fought hard against the best teams throughout the season.

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11. Kansas City Royals

The Royals impressed in their first season to record one of the best seasons for a modern MLB expansion team. The club displayed poise beyond its collective years and experience. The team's competitive nature built a level of optimism that lasted for years.

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12. Phoenix Suns

The Suns finished their first season with a respectable 39 wins, nearly breaking even and performing better than a lot of previous expansion teams. It didn't take long for the Suns to become an exemplary team full of grit and determination.

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13. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks' inaugural season didn't produce that many wins, but they laid the groundwork for success. It only took a year for the team to add Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who transformed them into a powerhouse. 

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14. Houston Texans

A 4-12 record doesn't sound too exciting, but the Texans had a defining moment when they upset the Cowboys in their first game. They earned respect around the league for their effort and competitiveness. 

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15. Seattle Kraken

The Kraken had a notable debut where they overperformed expectations. They earned 27 wins, and their hard work and passionate fans made some serious noise. 

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16. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres posted a respectable 24-39-15 record in their first season in 1970-1971. Rookie Gilbert Perreault wowed fans with 38 goals and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. 

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17. Dallas Cowboys

This one might sound weird, as the Cowboys didn't win a game in their first season. Their debut, however, is historic as it established the NFL's most premier franchise. They eventually reached the playoffs in their sixth season. 

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18. Los Angeles Raiders

When the Raiders relocated from Oakland to Los Angeles in 1982, they achieved an 8-1 record in the strike-shortened season. Running back Marcus Allen started his Hall of Fame career to much fanfare. 

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19. New York Jets (New York Titans)

Before becoming the Jets, the franchise launched in the AFL as the New York Titans and went 7-7. Quarterback Al Dorow passed for 2,700 yards, helping the team establish an offensive identity.

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20. Kansas City Chiefs (Dallas Texans)

Debuting in the AFL as the Dallas Texans, they finished their inaugural season in 1960 with an 8-6 record. They immediately positioned themselves as a competitive AFL franchise. 

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