The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL was founded in 1917 as a successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), starting out with four teams from the predecessor league, and eventually grew to thirty-two in its current state. The NHL has expanded and contracted numerous times throughout its history, including in 1979 when four teams were added from the World Hockey Association (WHA).
Timeline
1917–1942: Early years
Four/three teams (1917–19) The four teams that began the inaugural NHL season were the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the original Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas. However, after completing four games, the Wanderers withdrew from the league due to their arena burning down, and the NHL continued that season and the next with only three teams.
Withdrew after four games into the 1917–18 season § + 1917–18 to 1918–19 NHL teamsMontreal Canadiens Montreal Wanderers § Ottawa Senators Toronto Arenas
Four teams (1919–24) In its third season, 1919–20, the NHL underwent its first expansion, adding the Quebec Bulldogs. Toronto changed its name to Toronto St. Patricks.
First season in the NHL * + 1919–20 NHL teamsMontreal CanadiensOttawa Senators Quebec Bulldogs *Toronto St. Patricks
1920: Quebec relocates to Hamilton For the 1920–21 season, Quebec relocated to Hamilton and changed their name, becoming the Hamilton Tigers. + 1920–21 to 1923–24 NHL teamsHamilton TigersMontreal CanadiensOttawa SenatorsToronto St. Patricks
Six teams (1924–25) Two new teams joined the NHL in its eighth season, the Boston Bruins, the first expansion team in the United States, and the Montreal Maroons.
First season in the NHL * Last season in the NHL † + 1924–25 NHL teams Boston Bruins * Hamilton Tigers †Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons *Ottawa SenatorsToronto St. Patricks
Seven teams (1925–26) The next season, the NHL added two new teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Americans. The Americans were stocked by purchasing the contracts of the Hamilton Tigers players, and the Tigers franchise was subsequently revoked by the league.
First season in the NHL * + 1925–26 NHL teams Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans * Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Pirates * Toronto St. Patricks
Ten teams (1926–31) The NHL continued to expand the following 1926–27 season, adding the Chicago Black Hawks, the Detroit Cougars, and the New York Rangers, growing to ten teams, thus more than doubling its size in its first decade of existence. The league realigned into two divisions: the American Division and the Canadian Division. Despite its name, the Canadian Division contained at least one team based in the U.S. throughout its existence. At the same time, the Stanley Cup was contested between two NHL teams for the first time instead of at least one from an outside league.
Midway through the 1926–27 season, the Toronto St. Patricks were sold and renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs, however the league ruled the team must use the St. Patricks name until season's end.
1926–27 was the first season in the NHL * + 1926–27 to 1929–30 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal MaroonsChicago Black Hawks *New York AmericansDetroit Cougars *Ottawa SenatorsNew York Rangers *Toronto St. Patricks/Maple LeafsPittsburgh Pirates
1930: Pittsburgh relocates to Philadelphia For the 1930–31 season, the Pirates moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, becoming the Philadelphia Quakers, and Detroit was renamed the Detroit Falcons.
Last season before hiatus, rejoined NHL later ^ Last season in the NHL † + 1930–31 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal MaroonsChicago Black HawksNew York AmericansDetroit FalconsOttawa Senators ^New York RangersToronto Maple LeafsPhiladelphia Quakers †
Eight teams (1931–32) After fourteen seasons of steady expansion, the NHL contracted to eight teams, dropping the Philadelphia Quakers and the original Ottawa Senators for the 1931–32 season.
+ 1931–32 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal MaroonsChicago Black HawksNew York AmericansDetroit FalconsToronto Maple LeafsNew York Rangers
Nine teams (1932–35) For the 1932–33 season, after missing one season, the original Ottawa Senators rejoined the NHL, and the Detroit Falcons were renamed the Detroit Red Wings.
Rejoined NHL * + 1932–33 to 1933–34 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal MaroonsChicago Black HawksNew York AmericansDetroit Red WingsOttawa Senators *New York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
1934: Ottawa relocates to St. Louis For the 1934–35 season, the Ottawa Senators relocated, becoming the St. Louis Eagles.
Last season in the NHL † + 1934–35 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal MaroonsChicago Black HawksNew York AmericansDetroit Red WingsSt. Louis Eagles †New York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
Eight teams (1935–38) The Eagles folded after one season, and the NHL was once again an eight-team league for three seasons.
Withdrew after the 1937–38 season † + 1935–36 to 1937–38 NHL teamsCanadian DivisionAmerican DivisionMontreal CanadiensBoston BruinsMontreal Maroons †Chicago Black HawksNew York AmericansDetroit Red WingsToronto Maple LeafsNew York Rangers
Seven teams (1938–42) The Montreal Maroons withdrew from the league for the 1938–39 season, further reducing the number of teams in the NHL to seven, shrinking to the size the league was in 1925–26. Play continued for four seasons with seven teams, with one single league table instead of any conference or divisions.
+ 1938–39 to 1940–41 NHL teamsBoston BruinsChicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsMontreal CanadiensNew York AmericansNew York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
1941: Americans change their name The New York Americans changed their name to the Brooklyn Americans for the 1941–42 season, their last.
Folded after the 1941–42 season † + 1941–42 NHL teamsBoston Bruins Brooklyn Americans †Chicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsMontreal Canadiens New York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
1942–1967: Original Six era
The 1942–43 season saw the folding of the Brooklyn Americans and ushered in an unprecedented era of franchise stability in the NHL, which lasted without any organizational changes for twenty-five seasons. Eventually, the six teams that competed in the league during this period would come to be known as the Original Six.
+ Original Six: 1942–43 to 1966–67 NHL teamsBoston BruinsChicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsMontreal CanadiensNew York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
1967–1991: Expansion era
Twelve teams (1967–70) The 1967 expansion doubled the number of teams in the league, with an upfront expansion fee of $2 million each ($ million today). For the 1967–68 season, six new teams were added to the NHL: the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues.
Within a month into their first season, the California Seals became the Oakland Seals.
All Original Six teams were placed in the East Division All 1967 expansion teams were placed in the West Division + 1967–68 to 1969–70 NHL teamsEast DivisionWest DivisionBoston BruinsLos Angeles KingsChicago Black HawksMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsOakland SealsMontreal CanadiensPhiladelphia FlyersNew York RangersPittsburgh PenguinsToronto Maple LeafsSt. Louis Blues
Fourteen teams (1970–72) The Oakland Seals were renamed the Bay Area Seals for two games before changing their name to the California Golden Seals for their fourth season in 1970–71. The same season the NHL added two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks, paying an expansion fee of $6 million each ($ million today). The Sabres and the Canucks were placed in the East (partially as an effort to provide greater balance between the divisions, and also so they would have rivalries with the other two Canadian teams), while the Chicago Black Hawks moved to the West.
1970–71 was the first season in the NHL * + 1970–71 to 1971–72 NHL teamsEast DivisionWest DivisionBoston BruinsCalifornia Golden SealsBuffalo Sabres *Chicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensMinnesota North StarsNew York RangersPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple LeafsPittsburgh PenguinsVancouver Canucks *St. Louis Blues
Sixteen teams (1972–74) Two more teams joined for the 1972–73 NHL season, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames. With the competing World Hockey Association (WHA) starting that same season, the NHL was not able to raise its expansion fee from the price of two years earlier, $6 million ($ million today), with the Islanders paying an additional $5 million ($ million today) to the New York Rangers for infringing on their territory. The Islanders were placed in the East and the Flames were placed in the West.
1972–73 was the first season in the NHL * + 1972–73 to 1973–74 NHL teamsEast DivisionWest DivisionBoston BruinsAtlanta Flames *Buffalo SabresCalifornia Golden SealsDetroit Red WingsChicago Black HawksMontreal CanadiensLos Angeles KingsNew York Islanders *Minnesota North StarsNew York RangersPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple LeafsPittsburgh PenguinsVancouver CanucksSt. Louis Blues
Eighteen teams (1974–78) Two more teams joined for the 1974–75 NHL season, the Washington Capitals and the Kansas City Scouts, but the ongoing competition from the WHA meant that the overall revenue stream of the NHL had not improved, so the league kept the expansion fee for new owners at the $6 million ($ million today) of two years and four years earlier. The earnings situation for the new franchises was so poor that (at least) the Capitals were able to negotiate a reduction to a total fee of $2.85 million ($ million today).
With 18 teams, the league realigned into four divisions and two conferences. The teams were mixed up regardless of North American geography, and thus the new conferences and divisions were not named after geographical references. The East Division became the Prince of Wales Conference and consisted of the Adams Division and Norris Division. The West Division became the Clarence Campbell Conference and consisted of the Patrick Division and Smythe Division.
1974–75 was the first season in the NHL * + 1974–75 to 1975–76 NHL teamsWalesCampbellAdamsNorrisPatrickSmytheBoston BruinsDetroit Red WingsAtlanta FlamesChicago Black HawksBuffalo SabresLos Angeles KingsNew York IslandersKansas City Scouts *California Golden SealsMontreal CanadiensNew York RangersMinnesota North StarsToronto Maple LeafsPittsburgh PenguinsPhiladelphia FlyersSt. Louis Blues Washington Capitals * Vancouver Canucks
1976: Two teams relocate Going into the 1976–77 NHL season, the California Golden Seals relocated to become the Cleveland Barons, and the Kansas City Scouts moved to become the Colorado Rockies.
Dissolved after the 1977–78 season † + 1976–77 to 1977–78 NHL teamsWalesCampbellAdamsNorrisPatrickSmytheBoston BruinsDetroit Red WingsAtlanta FlamesChicago Black HawksBuffalo SabresLos Angeles KingsNew York IslandersColorado RockiesCleveland Barons †Montreal CanadiensNew York RangersMinnesota North StarsToronto Maple LeafsPittsburgh PenguinsPhiladelphia FlyersSt. Louis Blues Washington Capitals Vancouver Canucks
Seventeen teams (1978–79) For the first time since the 1942–43 season, the NHL contracted, merging the Cleveland Barons into the Minnesota North Stars. The North Stars then took the Barons' place in the Adams Division.