FILE–Ateneo’s Divine Adili reacts during a game against UE in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo de Manila University, rocked by drowning deaths of two of its basketball players in a team activity, provided a statement on Tuesday.

The families of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili were promised all the help they need even as Baternonia’s family had requested than an autopsy be done on the promising native of Davao.

READ: Grieving Baterbonia mom airs frustration over info gap, spread

“At the request of Rene’s parents, an autopsy will be conducted,” the statement read. “The University…has coordinated with the appropriate authorities, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), to facilitate this process.”

Adili’s remains, meanwhile, will be flown to Nigeria.

“The family of Divine Adili has expressed its wish to have his remains returned to Nigeria, in keeping with family and cultural practices that are important to them,” the school said. “The University is assisting the family in the necessary arrangements and is awaiting the written authorization required to begin processing the relevant documentation.”

Ateneo has also emphasized that it is providing support and assistance to the families of Rene and Divine after the tragic incident.

READ: Ateneo players’ deaths put spotlight on Blue Eagles ‘bootcamp’

The school also said that the team has arrived back in Manila following the mishap in Aurora during their team building, and that each member of the team will undergo counselling and psychological sessions to be “facilitated by the College Guidance Office.”

“The University recognizes that the emotional impact of this tragedy extends beyond a single session and has committed to providing continuing counseling, psychological support, and other forms of care for the student-athletes, coaches, and staff in the days and weeks ahead.”

Coach Tab Baldwin, meanwhile, under whose watch the tragedy happened, has yet to give a statement regarding the matter.

If you haven’t heard by now, former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is a fan of quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Thielen has not been shy in the last two years about pounding the table for McCarthy, and this week, he continued the pattern.

McCarthy’s stock is low right now, playing second fiddle to new Viking Kyler Murray. But if Thielen has it right, McCarthy’s upside is very much intact.

Vikings QB Plan Still Depends on McCarthy’s Next Step

Thielen on McCarthy

Thielen spoke with Kyle Brandt, and the McCarthy topic surfaced. Thielen opined, “He’s got all the traits to be a successful quarterback in this league. He has the skills. He has the strong arm. He has the mindset that not a lot of guys have, has this dog mentality that everyone wants to find. So, I love those two aspects of him. I think he’s a guy who loves football; he loves his teammates.”

“You feel that in the locker room with him. Now, was there some things that he needs to work on? Yes. Absolutely. He knows that. And I think he’s gone to the drawing board this offseason, I think he’s taken feedback from coach O’Connell, and coach, I think, was very candid with him of ‘This is what you need to improve on.’”

Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill also shared a similar opinion about McCarthy last week.

Thielen continued, “And I think he’s gone to the drawing board and really worked on those things. I think you have to wait and see what that looks like in training camp, when you put the pads on, when you put a full defense coming at him, with preseason games and things like that.”

“But I think he’s gonna step in the right direction.”

McCarthy May Have to Wait for Serendipity

While McCarthy may have all the right stuff, according to Thielen, he likely won’t get a chance to strut in September. For now, Murray is the runaway frontrunner at Vikings organized team activities to win the QB1 job. McCarthy has not struggled; Murray has just looked too impressive for a QB2 job.

On the other hand, Murray is not known for his durability — neither is McCarthy — at 5 feet and 10 inches tall. So, there’s a decent chance that Murray gets hurt sometime in 2026, and in that scenario, all eyes would turn to McCarthy, who would enter the huddle and be asked to script a mini-redemption tale.

There’s a world where Murray gets injured, McCarthy takes over, McCarthy plays great, and just never gives the job back. That happens in the NFL. McCarthy, at least for 2026’s sake, could be down to that alternative, based on the way Murray is trending early this summer.

A High-Pressure Season for His Career

And make no mistake: the stakes are elevated for McCarthy, even if he’s not tapped on the shoulder for the QB1 job this season. Most young quarterbacks show their true colors in Year No. 3, a tell-tale marker of quarterback development.

For instance, if McCarthy sees playing time in 2026 and balls out, there’s no reason to believe the Vikings would deviate from his candidacy as the long-term QB1. After all, not long ago, he was the one-and-only QB1 solution for a team ending the Kirk Cousins era.

Conversely, if Murray refuses to relinquish the QB1 title, well, McCarthy may not stay in Minnesota longer than the 2026 campaign. The Vikings already bungled the Sam Darnold situation. There is precisely zero chance that Murray would thrive in Minnesota while the Vikings’ front office said “thanks but no thanks” to a Murray contract extension in 2027. In that scenario, McCarthy would be looking at a trade sweepstakes in the 2027 offseason.

Thielen Knows Best?

On Thielen, he worked in the NFL for 13 years. He knows things; he’s seen some stuff. If he’s going out of his way to praise McCarthy, he would not do that as a hot-take merchant. There’s no reason to hype a quarterback who stinks, and to Thielen’s credit, he’s pounded the table for McCarthy more than a couple of times.

Therefore, when you see fans on social media hinting that McCarthy is a bust or just flat-out stinks, Thielen may be a more credible source and quarterback evaluator.

In fact, McCarthy feels like the type of guy who eventually “figures it out,” not unlike Baker Mayfield or the aforementioned Darnold.

McCarthy will turn 24 next January. He still has youth in his favor, and the Vikings have the option to control his contract for the next three seasons.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Emma Raducanu is hopeful her commanding first-round win over Anna Blinkova at Queen’s can serve as a “really good stepping stone” for her Wimbledon preparations.

British number one Raducanu was dominant for most of the contest, winning the first eight games without reply before going on to complete a 6-0 6-3 victory over the Russian qualifier.

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It was the 23-year-old’s first win since 6 March, when she beat qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the Indian Wells first round.

Raducanu’s season has since been disrupted by a post-viral illness that kept her off the WTA Tour for more than two months, and she lost her only two matches on clay on her return – in Strasbourg and at the French Open.

But Raducanu appeared comfortable as she opened her grass-court season in London – and delighted to be competing in front of her home support.

“I’m so happy to have come through that match. To be back here playing at Queen’s… I haven’t actually won a match for a few months and there isn’t a place I would rather have done it. I’m really grateful for all the support,” Raducanu told the crowd.

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‘A lot of clarity’ – Raducanu ‘feels at home’ at Queen’s

In her two matches following illness, Raducanu appeared to be lacking in both energy and confidence as she showed little emotion on court.

But, 16 days after her first-round exit at Roland Garros, the Briton looked much more relaxed on Andy Murray Arena.

She smiled at the crowd during her warm-up, while there was a celebratory roar or fist pump after every point she won.

“The way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, just the whole package – not necessarily the tennis – just how I kind of was acting on the court, I really enjoyed it,” Raducanu said.

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“I was just feeding off the atmosphere, and it felt free, it felt clear, and a lot of clarity. Not necessarily thinking too much, not trying to do too much. It felt very natural.”

The 2021 US Open champion held a commanding 3-0 lead before rain halted play – but that would not disrupt her rhythm.

She captured the first set without reply after just 20 minutes on court, winning 25 of the 31 points played – hitting 11 winners and just two unforced errors.

Raducanu maintained that excellent level to begin the second set with a break of serve – although she would not have it entirely her own way.

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A Queen’s quarter-finalist last year, Raducanu was hampered by double-faults as she allowed Blinkova back in – with four successive breaks of serve tying the set at three games apiece.

However, Raducanu broke again, courtesy of a fortuitous net cord, to set up the chance to serve out the match, and she wore a beaming smile in the sunshine as a closing backhand winner down the line on her second match point was met by huge cheers.

Writing ‘back home’ with a heart on a TV camera lens before exiting the court, Raducanu will return to face Romanian seventh seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round on Wednesday.

‘Really hard to sleep at night when you’re in the middle of a match’

British number three Katie Boulter also reached the second round, although her win was less straightforward as she fought back from a set and a break down to beat eighth seed Leylah Fernandez 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5.

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Their match was played over two days after rain on Monday evening saw play suspended with the Canadian leading 6-3 3-3.

But Boulter, the world number 73, stepped up the intensity on Tuesday to force a deciding set before wrapping up the win after two hours and 45 minutes.

“I am really pleased with the way I came back today. I was a step slow last night and she was playing great,” she said.

“I had to respond and it’s really hard to sleep at night when you’re in the middle of a match but I managed to get a few hours and I am really pleased how I managed to turn it around.”

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Raducanu and Boulter joined Harriet Dart, who won her match on Monday, in the second round but British number four Francesca Jones and 17-year-old Briton Mika Stojsavljevic were both beaten in straight sets.

Boulter and Raducanu, nicknamed ‘Boultercanu’ for short after their doubles exploits at Queen’s last year, returned to play together again later on Tuesday.

But they were beaten 6-4 3-6 10-5 in a match tie-break.by fourth seeds Storm Hunter and Zhang Shuai.

Real Madrid have had a 150m euro (£130m) offer for striker Julian Alvarez rejected by city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Real president Florentino Perez last week pledged to make a 150m euro offer for an unnamed “galactico” player if re-elected to his position.

Having successfully retained control on Sunday, Perez made good on his promise.

However, the move for the 26-year-old Argentina forward was turned down by his club, who cited Alvarez’s release clause of 500m euros (£430m).

In a statement, Real said: “Following the meeting of the board of directors held today, it has made an offer of 150 million euros to Club Atletico de Madrid for the federative rights of the player Julian Alvarez.

“After reviewing and evaluating the offer, Club Atletico de Madrid has expressed its gratitude for the proposal, made within the framework of the good relations between both clubs, and has rejected it, referring to the player’s release clause.”

Atletico quoted the Real Madrid statement on X alongside a series of laughing emojis., external

In a subsequent post, external they stated: “You must have confused education with gratitude, but to leave no doubt: we don’t thank you for anything.

“We neither study nor consider any offer for Julian. How could we not get along, when you make us laugh even more than Barcelona does.”

In a final post, Atletico added, external: “P.S. Taking advantage of the good relationship with your new president, let’s see if you stop ‘stealing’ players from our Academy. Thanks a lot, @realmadrid!”

Former Manchester City player Alvarez, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, joined the La Liga club in an £81.5m deal in 2024.

He scored 20 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico last season as they finished fourth in the table and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

The World Cup will be hosted across 16 different venues this summer, 11 of which host NFL games every fall and winter.

One might think not much will change on the security front, but whatever NFL fans see, it will be that on steroids, and for good reason.

Forty-eight teams will be vying for the coveted trophy in North America in 104 matches, and just about everything we are used to seeing when attending a sporting event will be thrown out the window.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Fans go through security during a U.S. Men’s National Team community training session at Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine on June 8, 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images)

To use MetLife Stadium, which will host the final, as an example, NJ Transit train tickets are $98, Penn Station will be closed for non-World Cup attendees four hours before matches, and no parking is available aside from “premium parking” at nearly $300 in the nearby American Dream mall.

But on the security front, there are massive changes because for the vast majority of the fans in attendance, everything will be new.

“When you’ve got different people from different countries who’ve flown in with different languages, currencies, and unfamiliarity with the subway systems, you have to put more layers of rigor in,” Peter Evans, CEO of security company Xtract One Technologies, said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Evans also mentioned how in a heightened political environment, surroundings could get testy rather quickly.

“You have people who have flown in just for that game and spent a lot of money. They might be bringing their political opinions or issues they want to make a statement about at an event like MetLife Stadium, which has global attention and scrutiny. The security risks are different than a Super Bowl,” Evans said.

Teams like Evans’ Xtract One will team up with the security teams of FIFA, local law enforcement and even other agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which will be at games for safety but not customs enforcement, in hopes of as smooth sailing as possible.

“People start planning for these activities years in advance because there is so much complexity involving local law enforcement, the DHS, FBI, CIA and Interpol. It takes a lot of coordination regarding technology, scanning social media and even counter-drone activities. It’s particularly complex now because of AI software, smartphones, and drones,” Evans said.

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host games during the 2026 World Cup. (Getty Images)

OFFICIALS LAY OUT ICE’S ROLE AT LOS ANGELES WORLD CUP PLANS, ANNOUNCE BOOSTED SECURITY FOR IRAN GAMES

“Security people do not see each other as competition. They share a common interest in protecting people. You will see organizations like ours partnering with competitors to deliver the right solution.”

It should also surprise nobody if President Donald Trump is in attendance for multiple games – he did attend the Club World Cup final at MetLife last July, and he just attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals. If that’s the case, Evans did say that it should be announced sooner rather than later “so people have time to prepare accurately.”

“You’ve got multiple more layers because these activities are a potential target for someone wanting notoriety and impact. When you add a president to the welcoming ceremony, it just heightens the security levels that much more and requires coordination,” he said.

Considering the amount of matches in such a short span, Evans believes that security teams will change protocols on the fly and take notes from prior matches all over the continent. And while it is nearly impossible to avoid conflict completely, Evans believes it is possible to minimize the risk as best as they can.

“I think individuals would be very surprised by how much sharing and coordination goes on. We see this with arenas and stadiums; for example, during a Harry Styles tour, all the venues would get together to share what they learned — like people concealing items in Big Bird or banana outfits. There is an unbelievable amount of sharing in a coordinated fashion and debriefing calls after each event to allow time to adjust before the next match,” Evans said.

United States fans go through security checks as they arrive to watch training in Irvine, California, on June 8, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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“The primary focus is to minimize the risk and minimize the impact. You have millions of people attending with their children and families. Ultimately, you want to make sure no one in that fan group is impacted negatively. Is someone going to get drunk and disorderly? Probably. How quickly can you contain that risk so the general population has the experience they should have?

“The win: nobody gets hurt.”

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Joe Coffey was one of the pro wrestling stars who joined Major League Wrestling (MLW) over the last year to bolster its star-laden roster.

Coffey, a former WWE NXT wrestler, joined the company with his Gallus stablemates Mark Coffey and Wolfgang. The group rebranded as Glasgow Boys on Top (GBOT) and are looking to add some gold around their waists. Coffey was with WWE until May 2025 when the trio departed.

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Joe Coffey takes part in Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot. (MLW)

“I feel like I just want more character development,” Coffey told Fox News Digital when asked why MLW was the right place for him. “I want to be able to tell a story. The past couple years I just felt as if that kinda fell by the wayside and was kinda wasted. I have a lot to offer. So does Mark (Coffey). So does Wolfie (Wolfgang).

“I’m really looking forward to just sinking my teeth in and telling some great stories. I got some great ideas and Court (Bauer) has been very collaborative and stuff like that. I can’t thank them enough for giving us an opportunity. I think it’s a perfect fit for just now.”

Coffey added that he hoped to have a title around his waist sooner rather than later and wished that for all of GBOT, not just himself.

MLW’s Joe Coffey enters the arena. (MLW)

PRO WRESTLING STAR TREVOR LEE SIGNS MLW DEAL, TALKS GOALS WITH COMPANY

“I hope I have a title around my waist,” he said. “I think we’re coming, especially now, the GBOT, it’s gotta be pure violence, to be honest. We have had restrictors, orders, before but now when we’re in the ring we just gotta be dominant. As Conor McGregor said a few years ago, we’re not here to take part. We’re here to take over.

“I’m not here to make up numbers. I’m here to show who I am. Quite frankly, I feel as though I’ve been wasted the past couple years so it’s just time to step up again and go, ‘Na, I’m Joe Coffey by the way. Just to let you know.’ I used to wrestle Hall of Famers, sold-out arenas, been a main-event player before that. So, na, na, I got my pedigree. I’m not going to rest on my laurels. But I’m here.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“MLW Fusion” debuted on Veeps earlier this month, putting the promotion on a global streaming platform for free and opening it up to a new audience.

Coffey called it a “massive” move for MLW and said that new fans can expect a fresh emphasis on storylines that no other company has.

Major League Wrestling’s Joe Coffey puts an opponent in a giant swing. (MLW)

“Actually watching ‘Fusion’ (last) Saturday, I feel as if ‘MLW Fusion’ has what the pro wrestling world is missing,” Coffey said. “It has something for everyone. There’s great storylines going on at one time. Again, I feel that’s missing in modern pro wrestling. So watching it, I was like, this is such a good show.

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“I can’t wait for it to take on and let people see what we’ve been doing. … The feedback has been nothing but positive. I’m really positive and looking forward to the future with MLW.”

Germany enter the FIFA World Cup 2026 under pressure to restore their standing among football’s elite after suffering group-stage eliminations in both 2018 and 2022. Julian Nagelsmann’s side are expected to lead Group E, but Ecuador and Ivory Coast arrive with strong recent records and ambitions of reaching the knockout rounds.

Curacao complete the group as one of the tournament’s most compelling stories. The smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup will look to defy expectations against three established international sides. While Germany start as favourites, Group E offers enough quality and defensive solidity to make qualification far from straightforward.

FIFA WC 2026 Group E: Teams

• 
  Germany
• 
  Curacao
• 
  Ivory Coast
• 
  Ecuador

FIFA WC 2026 Group E: Team analysis

Germany

Germany arrive at the tournament seeking redemption after a disappointing decade at the World Cup. Since lifting the trophy in Brazil in 2014, Die Mannschaft have failed to progress beyond the group stage in consecutive tournaments, an unprecedented slump for one of football’s traditional powerhouses.

Julian Nagelsmann has brought renewed optimism and a more settled structure. The squad blends experienced leaders such as Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and Manuel Neuer with a new generation led by Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Nick Woltemade. Germany remain one of the most creative teams in international football and generated plenty of chances even during their disappointing campaign in Qatar.

The biggest challenge will be converting opportunities into goals. If Germany find consistency in front of goal, they possess enough talent to comfortably finish top of the group and potentially emerge as dark horses for the title.

Curacao

Curacao’s presence at the World Cup is one of the tournament’s great stories. The Caribbean nation has become the smallest country by population and area ever to qualify for football’s biggest event.

Veteran coach Dick Advocaat has played a major role in their rise, helping build a competitive squad through a combination of local talent and players with Dutch footballing backgrounds. The team is captained by Leandro Bacuna, while his brother, Juninho Bacuna, provides creativity in midfield.

Curacao enter the tournament as underdogs but possess attacking quality capable of causing problems. Their qualification campaign showcased an adventurous style of football, and they will relish the opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition.

Curacao’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Eloy Room, Shurandy Sambo, Jurien Gaari, Roshon van Eijma, Sherel Floranus, Godfried Roemeratoe, Juninho Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Jurgen Locadia, Leandro Bacuna, Jeremy Antonisse, Sontje Hansen, Tyrese Noslin, Kenji Gorre, Arjany Martha, Jearl Margaritha, Brandley Kuwas, Armando Obispo, Gervane Kastaneer, Joshua Brenet, Tahith Chong, Kevin Felida, Riechedly Bazoer, Deveron Fonville, Tyrick Bodak, Trevor Doornbusch.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 carrying momentum and confidence. Under Emerse Fae, the Elephants have rebuilt into one of Africa’s most balanced sides, combining defensive solidity with attacking depth.

The squad features a strong spine led by Franck Kessie, Seko Fofana and Evan Ndicka, while Simon Adingra and Amad Diallo provide pace and creativity in attacking areas. One of Ivory Coast’s greatest strengths is its unpredictability, with goals capable of coming from numerous sources throughout the team.

Having qualified without conceding a goal, Ivory Coast arrive as a side that can frustrate opponents and strike decisively. They look well equipped to challenge Ecuador for a knockout-stage berth.

Ivory Coast’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Yahia Fofana, Ousmane Diomande, Ghislain Konan, Jean Michael Seri, Wilfried Singo, Seko Fofana, Odilon Kossounou, Franck Kessie, Ange Yoan Bonny, Simon Adingra, Yan Diomande, Elye Wahi, Christopher Operi, Oumar Diakite, Amad Diallo, Mohamed Kone, Guela Doue, Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Pepe, Emmanuel Agbadou, Evan Ndicka, Evann Guessand, Alban Lafont, Bazoumana Toure, Parfait Guiagon, Christ Inao Oulai.

Ecuador

Ecuador quietly arrive as one of the most difficult teams in the tournament to break down. Sebastian Beccacece has overseen a disciplined and organised side that finished second in South American qualifying behind only Argentina.

The backbone of the team is its defence, which conceded only five goals across 18 qualification matches. Moises Caicedo drives the midfield with his energy and ball-winning ability, while veteran striker Enner Valencia continues to deliver crucial goals on the international stage.

Ecuador may not attract the same attention as some of the bigger nations, but their defensive organisation and tactical discipline make them serious contenders to progress. They could even push Germany for top spot if they maintain their qualifying form.

Ecuador’s full squad for the FIFA WC 2026: Hernan Galindez, Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Joel Ordonez, Jordy Alcivar, Willian Pacho, Pervis Estupinan, Anthony Valencia, John Yeboah, Kendry Paez, Kevin Rodriguez, Moises Ramirez, Enner Valencia, Alan Minda, Pedro Vite, Jordy Caicedo, Angelo Preciado, Denil Castillo, Gonzalo Plata, Nilson Angulo, Alan Franco, Gonzalo Valle, Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Arevalo, Jackson Porozo, Yaimar Medina.

FIFA WC 2026 Group E: Players to watch out for

Germany – Florian Wirtz

The Liverpool playmaker is rapidly becoming one of the world’s elite attacking midfielders. His creativity, vision and ability to influence matches make him Germany’s most important attacking weapon.

Curacao – Juninho Bacuna

The midfielder was central to Curacao’s qualification campaign and remains the team’s primary creative force. His passing and chance creation will be crucial if Curacao are to spring a surprise.

Ivory Coast – Simon Adingra

Adingra has emerged as the focal point of Ivory Coast’s attack. Quick, direct and capable of scoring or creating goals, he is the player most likely to unlock stubborn defences.

Ecuador – Moises Caicedo

The Chelsea midfielder is the heartbeat of Ecuador’s team. His defensive work, energy and distribution allow Ecuador to compete with the world’s strongest sides.

FIFA WC 2026 Group E: Final standings prediction

Germany possess the strongest squad and should finally end their recent World Cup struggles by topping the group. Behind them, Ecuador’s defensive record and consistency give them a slight advantage in the race for second place.

Ivory Coast have enough talent to challenge throughout the group and could easily claim a knockout place if results fall their way. Curacao’s achievement in reaching the tournament is already historic, but they will hope to make life difficult for every opponent they face.

Predicted standings

• 
  Germany
• 
  Ecuador
• 
  Ivory Coast
• 
  Curacao

FIFA WC 2026 Group E: Full schedule

The Vegas Golden Knights set a high bar for NHL expansion teams, but they are not the first new kids who crashed the league’s party ahead of schedule.

From early Original Six challengers to Sun Belt success stories, expansion clubs reshaped what “starting from scratch” actually means. This list looks at seven of the best success stories and stacks them up against Vegas to figure out where the Golden Knights really belong in the expansion pecking order.

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MORE: 7 best all-time Carolina Hurricanes and Hartford Whalers

Las Vegas is one of two expansion teams to play in a Stanley Cup Final during its inaugural season. The other, the 1967-68 St. Louis Blues, had an advantage. The six expansion teams that year were bunched into one division. Whichever team won the division headed to the Final.

The Golden Knights did not stop at the expansion fairy tale. They turned the early momentum into a sustained window. Vegas has made multiple deep playoff runs, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2023 that validated the front office’s aggressive approach in trades and free agency, from acquiring Mark Stone to landing Jack Eichel.

Now, Vegas is back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in its ninth year of existence.

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So where do the Golden Knights rank in this list? Here’s a hint: You won’t have to wait long to find them, just like Vegas fans got a free pass to the Final.

An expansion team, in this context, is a new franchise added to the NHL as opposed to an existing club that relocates.

2017-18 Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights did what every expansion club dreams about and nobody rationally expects. They went to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season. Built under modern expansion rules that gave them a better shot at NHL-caliber depth, Vegas still shocked the league by winning the Pacific Division and rolling through the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs. Ultimately, the Washington Capitals ended the amazing run in a five-game Stanley Cup Final.

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The inaugural team leaned heavily on players other clubs misjudged, from William Karlsson’s breakout to Marc-André Fleury’s resurgence. Vegas quickly turned that surprise into an identity, and their instant relevance in a brand new market became the new benchmark every future expansion bid will be measured against.

When the NHL absorbed four World Hockey Association clubs in 1979, the Edmonton Oilers brought with them a 19-year-old center who changed everything. Within a few years of joining the league, Edmonton turned from a former WHA experiment into a dynasty built around that young center, Wayne Gretzky, and Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and an offensive style that rewrote the record book.

The Oilers made the playoffs in each of their first 13 years in the NHL. They made the Final in their third year and won their first Stanley Cup in 1984. Then, Edmonton took four titles in a five-year stretch, giving a relatively new franchise the kind of sustained dominance usually associated with decades-old clubs. Even after trading Gretzky, Edmonton managed one more Cup in 1990, cementing their expansion-to-dynasty arc as one of the most dramatic in league history. While some historians treat the WHA merger teams differently than traditional expansion clubs, the Oilers’ trajectory remains a benchmark for what a young franchise can become.

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The first modern expansion boom came in 1967, when the NHL doubled from six to 12 teams. The St. Louis Blues, one of those six expansion entries, immediately became the standard for early success by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in each of their first three seasons. In 1967-68, they clawed through the newly formed West Division and pushed the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens to four one-goal losses in the Final.

The format helped; the six expansion teams were walled off in their own division, which guaranteed one of them a spot in the Final every year. But St. Louis still had to beat their peers, and they did it with veteran star power and tight, defensive hockey. Early stalwarts like Glenn Hall and Al Arbour gave the team instant credibility. Their quick stability in a non-traditional market for that era also helped convince the league that going beyond the Original Six footprint could work. The young Blues never claimed the Cup, but the franchise won it all in 2018-19.

1979-80 Hartford Whalers

The Hartford Whalers never lifted the Cup, but they are still one of the better examples of a young franchise punching above its weight. Coming over from the WHA as well, Hartford found its footing in the early 1980s and reached the playoffs multiple times, including an impressive run to the second round in 1985–86 that included a sweep of the heavily favored Quebec Nordiques.

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They became one of those niche hockey success stories: a smaller market that built a real identity and a loyal fan base, powered by players who still have cult status today, like Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen. The Whalers never cashed in fully on that foundation before relocation, but as an expansion-era project, they showed how quickly a team could become central to its city and how a passionate fan base could outlive the franchise itself.

1991-92 San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks were a classic expansion punching bag in their first two seasons, piling up losses while they figured out what they were. Year 3 changed the conversation. The 1993–94 Sharks not only made the playoffs, they stunned the Detroit Red Wings in a seven-game first-round upset that sits high on the list of all-time postseason shocks.

San Jose became a model for how a new franchise could grow into a consistent playoff presence without the benefit of an expansion draft stacked in their favor. Over the next two decades the Sharks became a regular contender, reaching multiple conference finals and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016. Their long run of relevance, given how ugly the first years were, is one of the strongest arc-to-arc expansion stories.

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As part of the early 90s push into Sun Belt markets, the Florida Panthers entered the league in 1993-94 and were supposed to be a long-term project. Instead, they made the playoffs in their third season and rode hot goaltending and disciplined defense all the way to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, where they finally ran into the Colorado Avalanche buzzsaw.

The Panthers became famous for the plastic rats fans threw onto the ice after goals, but the underlying story was an expansion club that hit on its identity early. They did not sustain that level in the late 90s and 2000s, yet that quick rise to a Final in such a young hockey market helped the league justify its southern strategy and foreshadowed the franchise’s more recent resurgence.

The Minnesota Wild entered in 2000-01 as a consolation prize for a state that had lost the North Stars in 1993. By their third season, they gave that fan base something tangible: a run to the 2003 Western Conference Final that included series wins over the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, both in seven games after trailing 3–1.

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Even when they settled into more modest results, the Wild proved the point that a carefully managed expansion roster could compete before long. They became one of the league’s more stable organizations in terms of attendance and regional presence, which matters when you look at expansion success beyond pure trophies. Their ability to reconnect Minnesota with NHL hockey also underscored how powerful an “expansion” can be when it restores a traditional market.