That list makes the case for today’s manipulation to help new teams succeed.
Most recent NHL expansion:
Columbus Blue Jackets (2000) - 8 seasons under 500, 1 season AT 500, that’s the only season they made the playoffs, swept in first round
Minnesota Wild (2000) - 6 seasons under 500, 3 seasons over 500, with one trip to the where they got swept out, 2 more seasons they made the playoffs and lost in the first round
Atlanta Thrashers (1999) - 8 seasons under 500, 1 at 500, 1 over 500, playoffs once, swept in the first round
Nashville Predators (1997) - 6 seasons under 500, 1 at 500, 3 over, probably the most “successful” of these expansion teams with 5 playoff appearances, all first round losses.
If that’s “manipulating to help new teams succeed” I’d hate to see how they’d have fared on their own. Even the “successful” Predators didn’t make the playoffs until their 6th year.