Brayden McNabb's initial contemplation of the Vegas Golden Knights clinching the Stanley Cup arose when team owner Bill Foley manifested the possibility during their inaugural season.

"Playoffs in three. Cup in six," the defenseman said with a grin, recalling the owner's words back in 2017.

Subsequently, the Golden Knights defied expectations by reaching the Stanley Cup Final during their remarkable inaugural season in 2017-18.

"After we did that, Bill said, 'OK, now Stanley Cup in three.' I don't know if that got published," forward Reilly Smith said.


One could argue that Foley's ambitious aspiration was reasonable given his enthusiasm as a new owner, but from a different standpoint, his timeline for achieving it seemed utterly outrageous.

In NHL history, only six franchises managed to win their first Stanley Cup within six seasons or less. Among them, five achieved this feat between the establishment of the NHL and the end of prohibition in the U.S. The Toronto Maple Leafs, known as the Toronto Arenas at the time, were the first to achieve this in 1918. The original Ottawa Senators (1920, third season), Montreal Maroons (1926, second season), New York Rangers (1928, second season), and Boston Bruins (1929, third season) would later join the ranks.

Another team that accomplished this feat was the 1984 Edmonton Oilers, who won the Stanley Cup in their fifth NHL season. However, it's important to note that the Oilers' franchise actually began in 1972, but they joined the NHL after the World Hockey Association disbanded. Additionally, having the legendary Wayne Gretzky on their roster certainly played a significant role in their success. Looking at the Golden Knights' triumphant celebration on Tuesday night, as they hoisted the coveted Stanley Cup in front of their ecstatic fans, Foley's ambitious goal no longer seems implausible.

"I think the first year we got scared of losing it. And now we wanted to win it," forward William Carrier said. "We've been through a lot the last couple years. We've been through it all."

In just six seasons since joining the NHL as the 31st team in 2017, the Golden Knights have accomplished a remarkable journey reminiscent of a successful startup. Starting as a team of underdogs, they experienced instant success but also encountered the challenges of transitioning from carefree beginnings to a mature and prosperous organization, facing heartbreaks and difficult decisions along the way as they bid farewell to cherished team members and saw relationships tested.

"It sucks. It's happened a lot here," McNabb said. "But give them credit. They're doing whatever they can to try and win."