At the start of the 1992-93 NHL season, there were 24 teams, but under Commissioner Gary Bettman, the league expanded to 32, including 10 in non-traditional markets. The Vegas Golden Knights, established in 2016, exemplified this success by making the playoffs in their first season and winning the Stanley Cup in their sixth. In 2026, the Golden Knights faced the newly relocated Utah Mammoth in their first postseason run, where players praised the electric atmosphere. As the Golden Knights advance, they will also encounter the Anaheim Ducks, highlighting ongoing engagement in non-traditional hockey regions.
