(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1992 1993 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning Team Formation According 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. After being awarded the …