After nine failed seasons the Bay Area's first NHL Team the California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland. In Cleveland the rechristened Barons would not do much better as they were merged with Minnesota North Stars after just two seasons.

After 13 years former Barons owner George Gund wanted to bring hockey back to the Bay Area as fan interest in the NHL had begun to pick up in California with the trade of Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. However, the NHL would not allow him to move the North Stars to San Jose who had a lucrative Arena deal sitting on the table.

Instead the NHL decided to give Gund an expansion team that would begin play in 1991, in an ironic way reviving the former Golden Seals franchise, as he would be allowed to take several North Stars players and prospects with him to San Jose.