Bill Foley and the Vegas Golden Knights have been a successful franchise since (say it with me, class) "Day F******* One". The unfathomable achievements have earned him praise from his hockey peers, ranging from The Athletic to ESPN. The latest NHL owner rankings are proof of that.
Foley ranked third among NHL owners, only sitting behind Jeffrey Vinik of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vincent Viola of the Florida Panthers. Mind you, all three owners have won at least one Stanley Cup in the past five seasons, putting them atop the league's hierarchy.
Foley was first in willingness to spend (score of 4.96), seventh in organizational stability (4.48), 10th in treatment of the fan base (4.04), and fifth in franchise vision (4.58). There wasn't any significant change in the fanbase's confidence in ownership, although he was 21st in percentage change in the "higher" section (13%). 87% said their confidence was the same, leaving nobody having their confidence lowered (1st in the NHL).
Not surprisingly, Terry Pegula of the Buffalo Sabres was the worst owner in the latest rankings. Pegula was the worst in willingness to spend (1.92), organizational stability (1.78), treatment of the fanbase (1.68), and franchise vision (1.52). Only 4% of Sabres fans had higher confidence in his ownership (27th), with 35% remaining the same and 61% with lower confidence (30th). It's no wonder Jack Eichel wanted a change of scenery.
Bill Foley being at the top shouldn't surprise people
Since the inaugural season, Bill Foley had a vision.
Make the Stanley Cup playoffs and win the Stanley Cup in six seasons.
It's a promise that's resonated with Golden Knights fans throughout the years, living in the team lore. It also shows the owner is willing to do whatever it takes to win championships, even in a salary cap season. Fans might complain about Kelly McCrimmon's usage of LTIR and accusations of "circumventing the salary cap." However, he's played within the rules to the point where other general managers (see Jim Nill with Mikko Rantanen) are catching on.
Once that promise was fulfilled, he earned the collective respect of his hockey peers, making him one of the league's best. The team did it by acquiring superstars such and Eichel and Mark Stone. The team also did it by making bold moves such as hiring Bruce Cassidy as their head coach. These moves turned the team into a full-fledged beast, establishing a new norm in hockey.
That's why the latest NHL owner rankings shouldn't surprise anyone. It's a testament to the organizational strength and moxie. It takes a front office to acquire the biggest names to win as many Stanley Cups as possible. It takes someone with a vision to make the boldest promise possible.
Are there some things the organization could do better? Absolutely. For one, concessions could be cheaper. Not everyone has the financial means to pay $100 for a meal for four family members. However, it's a small drop in the bucket when looking at the bigger picture. The one thing that matters for fans is winning Stanley Cups. As long as Foley delivers those to Vegas Golden Knights fans, publications like the Athletic will continue singing the organization's praises.