The National Hockey League's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. The teams in the Pacific Division were split up, with the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, and the Vancouver Canucks becoming the newly formed Northwest Division. The Minnesota Wild joined the division in 2000 as an expansion team. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981 to 1993.
The Northwest Division existed for 14 seasons (not including the cancelled 2004–05 season) until 2013. During that time, it had the greatest distances between teams in the entire NHL.
Division lineups
1998–2000
Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Vancouver Canucks
Changes from the 1997–98 season The Northwest Division is formed as a result of NHL realignment The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks come from the Pacific Division
2000–2013
Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks
Changes from the 1999–2000 season The Minnesota Wild are added as an expansion team
After the 2012–13 season The Northwest Division was dissolved as the league realigned into two conferences with two divisions each. The division's Canadian teams (the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks) returned to the Pacific Division, while the division's American teams (the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild) joined the Central Division.
Season results (#) Denotes team that won the Stanley Cup (#) Denotes team that won the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, but lost Stanley Cup Final (#) Denotes team that qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs‡ Denotes winner of the Presidents' Trophy Season 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th (2) Colorado (98) (8) Edmonton (78) Calgary (72) Vancouver (58) (3) Colorado (96) (7) Edmonton (88) Vancouver (83) Calgary (77) (1) Colorado (118)‡ (6) Edmonton (93) (8) Vancouver (90) Calgary (73) Minnesota (68) (2) Colorado (99) (8) Vancouver (94) Edmonton (92) Calgary (79) Minnesota (73) (3) Colorado (105) (4) Vancouver (104) (6) Minnesota (95) (8) Edmonton (92) Calgary (75) (3) Vancouver (101) (4) Colorado (100) (6) Calgary (94) Edmonton (89) Minnesota (83) No season due to 2004–05 NHL lockout (3) Calgary (103) (7) Colorado (95) (8) Edmonton (95) Vancouver (92) Minnesota (84) (3) Vancouver (105) (7) Minnesota (104) (8) Calgary (96) Colorado (95) Edmonton (71) (3) Minnesota (98) (6) Colorado (95) (7) Calgary (94) Edmonton (88) Vancouver (88) (3) Vancouver (100) (5) Calgary (98) Minnesota (89) Edmonton (85) Colorado (69) (3) Vancouver (103) (8) Colorado (95) Calgary (90) Minnesota (84) Edmonton (62) (1) Vancouver (117)‡ Calgary (94) Minnesota (86) Colorado (68) Edmonton (62) (1) Vancouver (111)‡ Calgary (90) Colorado (88) Minnesota (81) Edmonton (74) (3) Vancouver (59) (8) Minnesota (55) Edmonton (45) Calgary (42) Colorado (39) Notes The 2012–13 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.
Northwest Division titles won by team Team Wins Last win Vancouver Canucks 7 2013 Colorado Avalanche 5 2003 Calgary Flames 1 2006 Minnesota Wild 1 2008 Edmonton Oilers 0 —
References
NHL History