In which season did the Vegas Golden Knights begin NHL play?

The Vegas Golden Knights began NHL play in the 2017–18 season.

Vegas entered the league as an expansion franchise and played its first regular-season game on October 6, 2017, defeating the Dallas Stars 2–1. The club’s inaugural campaign was historically successful: it finished first in the Pacific Division with a 51–24–7 record and reached the Stanley Cup Final.

The Golden Knights lost that Final to the Washington Capitals in five games, but their 2017–18 debut remains one of the strongest expansion seasons in major North American sports. William Karlsson led the team with 43 goals and 78 points, while Marc-André Fleury was its primary goaltender.

A common mix-up is confusing the team’s first NHL season with its 2016–17 preparation period. Vegas was awarded the franchise in 2016 and held its expansion draft that year, but it did not play regular-season NHL games until 2017–18.