Terry Crisp (who played for the Philadelphia Flyers when they won two Stanley Cups in the mid-1970s and coached the Calgary Flames to a Cup in 1989) was tapped as the first head coach. Phil Esposito installed himself as president and general manager while Tony became the chief scout. One of the team's limited partners was New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who lived in Tampa during the year.Īccording to former NHL President Gil Stein, another factor was that the Karmanos/Rutherford group wanted to pay only $29 million before starting play while the Esposito group was one of the few willing to pay the entire $50 million expansion fee up front.Īfter being awarded the franchise, the team's management brought in star power before they had any players. The prospect of Japanese backing tipped the scales in the Esposito group's favor, and they were awarded an expansion franchise for the 1992–93 season, as was a group in Ottawa (which became the Senators). Esposito eventually recruited a consortium of Japanese businesses headed by Kokusai Green, a golf course and resort operator. Not only was the Karmanos/Rutherford group better financed, but one of Esposito's key backers, the Pritzker family had backed out a few months before the bid. On paper, it looked like the Karmanos/Rutherford group was the frontrunner. Petersburg-based group fronted by future Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes owners Peter Karmanos and Jim Rutherford, and a Tampa-based group fronted by two Hall of Famers: Phil Esposito and his brother Tony. Two rival groups from the Tampa Bay Area area decided to bid for a franchise: a St. In the late 1980s, the NHL announced that it would expand. 1.14 2015–16 season: Back to the Eastern Conference Finals.1.13 2014–15 season: Second Stanley Cup Final.1.11 2012–13 season: End of the Lecavalier Era.1.10 2011–12 season: Steven Stamkos Rises. ![]() 1.8 2009–10 season: Season of New Beginnings.1.5 2006–07 season: Another short post-season.1.4 Two Dream Seasons and the Stanley Cup.
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