This is a list of players recruited into teams in the National Hockey League in its first season, the 1917–18 NHL season. Some had been free agents and others were moved as part of two dispersal drafts.
Rights retained Note: This is the list of players who were retained by their teams after the NHA disbanded and the NHL was created. Date team Name Montreal Canadiens Bert Corbeau Montreal Canadiens Billy Coutu Montreal Canadiens Louis Berlinquette Montreal Canadiens Newsy Lalonde Montreal Canadiens Didier Pitre Montreal Canadiens Tommy Smith Ottawa Senators Ed Lowrey Ottawa Senators Clint Benedict Ottawa Senators Eddie Girard Ottawa Senators George Boucher Ottawa Senators Hamby Shore Montreal Wanderers Art Ross Montreal Wanderers George O'Grady Montreal Wanderers Harry Hyland Montreal Wanderers Kenneth Thompson Montreal Wanderers Sprague Cleghorn Montreal Wanderers Billy Bell Montreal Wanderers Odie Cleghorn Montreal Wanderers Phil Stevens
Free agency Date Player Team exact date unknown Hap Holmes Montreal Wanderers Alf Skinner Toronto Arenas Gerry Geran Montreal Wanderers Corbett Denneny Toronto Arenas Harry Cameron Toronto Arenas Harry Meeking Toronto Arenas Jack Coughlin Toronto Arenas Sammy Hebert Toronto Arenas Reg Noble Toronto Arenas Morley Bruce Ottawa Senators Ken Randall Toronto Arenas Art Brooks Toronto Arenas Raymie Skilton Montreal Wanderers Frank Nighbor Ottawa Senators Evariste Payer Montreal Canadiens Jack Adams Toronto Arenas Rusty Crawford Toronto Arenas Horace Merrill Ottawa Senators
Dispersal draft Note: This is the list of players who were selected in the dispersal drafts when the Quebec Bulldogs opted not to play the season and the Montreal Wanderers left the league after their home arena burned down. Date Player New team Previous team Harry Mummery Toronto Arenas Quebec Bulldogs Joe Hall Montreal Canadiens Quebec Bulldogs Joe Malone Montreal Canadiens Quebec Bulldogs Rusty Crawford Ottawa Senators Quebec Bulldogs David Ritchie Montreal Wanderers Quebec Bulldogs George Carey Montreal Wanderers Quebec Bulldogs Jack Marks Montreal Wanderers Quebec Bulldogs Jack McDonald Montreal Wanderers Quebec Bulldogs Billy Bell Montreal Canadiens Montreal Wanderers Jack Marks Montreal Canadiens Montreal Wanderers Jack McDonald Montreal Canadiens Montreal Wanderers Sprague Cleghorn Ottawa Senators Montreal Wanderers Harry Hyland Ottawa Senators Montreal Wanderers Dave Ritchie Ottawa Senators Montreal Wanderers
Trades between teams December 12, 1917 To Montreal Wanderersundisclosed return To Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA)loan of Hap Holmes January 4, 1918 To Montreal Canadiensundisclosed return To Toronto Arenasloan of Jack Marks February 11, 1918 To Ottawa SenatorsSammy Hebert To Toronto Arenascash
Sources http://www.hockeydb.com http://www.hockey-reference.com
Toronto Hockey Club Montreal Canadiens