The National Hockey League's Canadian Division was formed after expansion in 1926. The division existed for 12 seasons until 1938. Despite its name, the division contained at least one team based in the United States throughout its existence. Its champion was awarded the O'Brien Trophy.
During its run as a separate division, when considered as a whole the Canadian Division was the slightly less successful of the league's two divisions, winning five Stanley Cup championships compared with seven won by the American Division. Under the cross-over playoff format then in use, Canadian Division teams contested just one intra-divisional Finals, compared to three such series played by American Division teams. Notably however, Canadian teams won all twelve division titles and were the only teams from the division to reach the Finals during this time. Also, each of the four Canadian teams then in existence won the Cup at least once.
Division lineups
1926–1927
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans Ottawa Senators Toronto St. Patricks
Changes from the 1925–26 season The Canadian Division is formed as the result of NHL realignment
1927–1931
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
Changes from the 1926–27 season Toronto changed their nickname from the St. Patricks to the Maple Leafs
1931–1932
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans Toronto Maple Leafs
Changes from the 1930–31 season The Ottawa Senators took a leave of absence from the league
1932–1934
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs
Changes from the 1931–32 season The Ottawa Senators returned from their absence
1934–1935
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans St. Louis Eagles Toronto Maple Leafs
Changes from the 1933–34 season The Ottawa Senators moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to become the St. Louis Eagles
1935–1938
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Maroons New York Americans Toronto Maple Leafs
Changes from the 1934–35 season The St. Louis Eagles folded due to financial problems
After the 1937–38 season The league collapsed into one single table, reverting to the format of the 1925–26 season, after the Montreal Maroons suspended operations in 1938.
Division champions 1927 – Ottawa Senators (30–10–4, 64 pts) 1928 – Montreal Canadiens (26–11–7, 59 pts) 1929 – Montreal Canadiens (22–7–15, 59 pts) 1930 – Montreal Maroons (23–16–5, 51 pts) 1931 – Montreal Canadiens (26–10–8, 60 pts) 1932 – Montreal Canadiens (25–16–7, 57 pts) 1933 – Toronto Maple Leafs (24–18–6, 54 pts) 1934 – Toronto Maple Leafs (26–13–9, 61 pts) 1935 – Toronto Maple Leafs (30–14–4, 64 pts) 1936 – Montreal Maroons (22–16–10, 54 pts) 1937 – Montreal Canadiens (24–18–6, 54 pts) 1938 – Toronto Maple Leafs (24–15–9, 57 pts)
Stanley Cup winners produced 1927 – Ottawa Senators 1930 – Montreal Canadiens 1931 – Montreal Canadiens 1932 – Toronto Maple Leafs 1935 – Montreal Maroons
See also North Division History of the National Hockey League
References NHL History