NHL History
1917-National
Hockey League organized November 26 in Montréal following suspension of
operations by the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited (NHA).
Montréal Canadiens, Montréal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Quebec
Bulldogs attended founding meeting. Delegates decided to use NHA rules.
Toronto Arenas were later admitted as fifth team; Quebec decided not to
operate during the first season. Quebec players allocated to remaining
four teams. Frank Calder elected president and secretary-treasurer.
First NHL games played December 19, with Toronto only arena with
artificial ice. Clubs played 22-game split schedule.
1918-Emergency meeting held January 3 due to
destruction by fire of Montréal Arena which was home ice for both
Canadiens and Wanderers. Wanderers withdrew, reducing the NHL to three
teams; Canadiens played remaining home games at 3,250-seat Jubilee rink.
Quebec franchise sold to P.J. Quinn of Toronto on October 18 on the
condition that the team operate in Quebec City for 1918-19 season. Quinn
did not attend the November League meeting and Quebec did not play in
1918-19.
1919-20-NHL reactivated Quebec Bulldogs franchise.
Former Quebec players returned to the club. New Mount Royal Arena became
home of Canadiens. Toronto Arenas changed name to St. Patricks. Clubs
played 24-game split schedule.
1920-21H.P. Thompson of Hamilton, Ontario made
application for the purchase of an NHL franchise. Quebec franchise
shifted to Hamilton with other NHL teams providing players to strengthen
the club.
1921-22Split schedule abandoned. First and second place teams at the end of full schedule to play for championship.
1922-23Clubs agreed that players could not be sold
or traded to clubs in any other league without first being offered to
all other clubs in the NHL. Norman Albert made the first broadcast of a
hockey game on February 8, 1923. The first NHL game was broadcast on
February 14, 1923. Foster Hewitt called his first game on February 16,
1923. All games were broadcast on Toronto radio station CFCA.
1923-24Ottawa's new 10,000-seat arena opened.
First U.S. franchise granted to Boston for following season. Dr. Cecil
Hart Trophy donated to NHL to be awarded to the player judged most
useful to his team.
1924-25New franchises granted to Boston and
Montréal (later named Maroons). NHL now six team league with two clubs
in Montréal. Inaugural game in new Montréal Forum played November 29,
1924 as Canadiens defeated Toronto 7-1. Hamilton finished first in the
standings, receiving a bye into the finals. But Hamilton players,
demanding $200 each for additional games in the playoffs, went on
strike. The NHL suspended all players, fining them $200 each. Stanley
Cup finalist to be the winner of NHL semi-final between Toronto and
Canadiens. Lady Byng Trophy donated to NHL. Clubs played 30-game
schedule.
1925-26Hamilton club dropped from NHL. Players
signed by new New York Americans franchise. Pittsburgh Pirates granted
franchise. Prince of Wales Trophy donated to NHL. Clubs played 36-game
schedule.
1926-27New York Rangers granted franchise May 15,
1926. Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars granted franchises
September 25, 1926. NHL now ten-team league with an American and a
Canadian Division. Stanley Cup came under the control of NHL. In
previous seasons, winners of the now-defunct Western or Pacific Coast
leagues would play NHL champion in Cup finals. Toronto franchise sold to
a new company controlled by Hugh Aird and Conn Smythe. Name changed
from St. Patricks to Maple Leafs. Clubs played 44-game schedule. The
Montréal Canadiens donated the Vezina Trophy to be awarded to the team
allowing the fewest goals-against in regular season play. The winning
team would, in turn, present the trophy to the goaltender playing in the
greatest number of games during the season.
1930-31Detroit franchise changed name from Cougars
to Falcons. Pittsburgh transferred to Philadelphia for one season.
Pirates changed name to Philadelphia Quakers. Trading deadline for teams
set at February 15 of each year. NHL approved operation of farm teams
by Rangers, Americans, Falcons and Bruins. Four-sided electric arena
clock first demonstrated.
1931-32Philadelphia dropped out. Ottawa withdrew for one season. New Maple Leaf Gardens completed. Clubs played 48-game schedule.
1932-33Detroit franchise changed name from Falcons
to Red Wings. Franchise application received from St. Louis but refused
because of additional travel costs. Ottawa team resumed play.
1933-34First All-Star Game played as a benefit for injured player Ace Bailey. Leafs defeated All-Stars 7-3 in Toronto.
1934-35Ottawa franchise transferred to St. Louis. Team called St. Louis Eagles and consisted largely of Ottawa's players.
1935-36Ottawa-St. Louis franchise terminated.
Montréal Canadiens finished season with very poor record. To strengthen
the club, NHL gave Canadiens first call on the services of all
French-Canadian players for three seasons.
1937-38Second benefit All-Star game staged
November 2 in Montréal in aid of the family of the late Canadiens star
Howie Morenz. Montréal Maroons withdrew from the NHL on June 22, 1938,
leaving seven clubs in the League.
1938-39Expenses for each club regulated at $5 per man per day for meals and $2.50 per man per day for accommodation.
1939-40Benefit All-Star Game played October 29, 1939 in Montréal for the children of the late Albert (Babe) Siebert.
1940-41Ross-Tyer puck adopted as the official puck
of the NHL. Early in the season it was apparent that this puck was too
soft. The Spalding puck was adopted in its place. On May 16, 1941,
Arthur Ross, NHL governor from Boston, donated a perpetual trophy to be
awarded annually to the player voted outstanding in the league. Due to
wartime restrictions, the trophy was never awarded.
1941-42New York Americans changed name to Brooklyn Americans.
1942-43Brooklyn Americans withdrew from NHL,
leaving six teams: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montréal, New York and
Toronto. Playoff format saw first-place team play third-place team and
second play fourth. Clubs played 50-game schedule. Frank Calder,
president of the NHL since its inception, died in Montréal. Meryn "Red"
Dutton, former manager of the New York Americans, became president. The
NHL commissioned the Calder Memorial Trophy to be awarded to the
League's outstanding rookie each year.
1945-46Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco
applied for NHL franchises. The Philadelphia Arena Company of the
American Hockey League applied for an injunction to prevent the possible
operation of an NHL franchise in that city.
1946-47Mervyn Dutton retired as president of the
NHL prior to the start of the season. He was succeeded by Clarence S.
Campbell. Individual trophy winners and all-star team members to receive
$1,000 awards. Playoff guarantees for players introduced. Clubs played
60-game schedule.
1947-48The first annual All-Star Game for the
benefit of the players' pension fund was played when the All-Stars
defeated the Stanley Cup Champion Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in Toronto on
October 13, 1947. Criteria for awarding Art Ross Trophy changed. Now
awarded to top scorer. Elmer Lach was its first winner. Philadelphia and
Los Angeles franchise applications refused. National Hockey League
Pension Society formed.
1949-50Clubs played 70-game schedule. First
intra-league draft held April 30, 1950. Clubs allowed to protect 30
players. Remaining players available for $25,000 each.
1951-52Referees included in the League's pension plan.
1952-53In May of 1952, City of Cleveland applied
for NHL franchise. Application denied. In March of 1953, the Cleveland
Barons of the AHL challenged the NHL champions for the Stanley Cup. The
NHL governors did not accept this challenge.
1953-54The James Norris Memorial Trophy presented
to the NHL for annual presentation to the League's best defenseman.
Intra-league draft rules amended to allow teams to protect 18 skaters
and two goaltenders, claiming price reduced to $15,000.
1954-55Each arena to operate an "out-of-town" scoreboard.
1956-57Referees and linesmen to wear shirts of
black and white vertical stripes. Standardized signals for referees and
linesmen introduced.
1960-61Canadian National Exhibition, City of
Toronto and NHL reach agreement for the construction of a Hockey Hall of
Fame on the CNE grounds. Hall opens on August 26, 1961.
1963-64Player development league established with
clubs operated by NHL franchises located in Minneapolis, St. Paul,
Indianapolis, Omaha and, beginning in 1964-65, Tulsa. First universal
amateur draft took place. All players of qualifying age (17) unaffected
by sponsorship of junior teams available to be drafted.
1964-65Conn Smythe Trophy presented to the NHL to
be awarded annually to the outstanding player in the Stanley Cup
playoffs. Minimum age of players subject to amateur draft changed to 18.
1965-66NHL announced expansion plans for a second six-team division to begin play in 1967-68.
1966-67Fourteen applications for NHL franchises
received. Lester Patrick Trophy presented to the NHL to be awarded
annually for outstanding service to hockey in the United States. NHL
sponsorship of junior teams ceased, making all players of qualifying age
not already on NHL-sponsored lists eligible for the amateur draft.
1967-68Six new teams added: California Seals, Los
Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh
Penguins, St. Louis Blues. New teams to play in West Division. Remaining
six teams to play in East Division. Minimum age of players subject to
amateur draft changed to 20. Clubs played 74-game schedule. Clarence S.
Campbell Trophy awarded to team finishing the regular season in first
place in West Division. California Seals change name to Oakland Seals on
December 8, 1967.
1968-69Clubs played 76-game schedule. Amateur draft expanded to cover any amateur player of qualifying age throughout the world.
1970-71Two new teams added: Buffalo Sabres and
Vancouver Canucks. These teams joined East Division: Chicago switched to
West Division. Oakland Seals change name to California Golden Seals
prior to season. Clubs played 78-game schedule.
1971-72Playoff format amended. In each division, first to play fourth; second to play third.
1972-73Soviet Nationals and Canadian NHL stars
play eight pre-season games. Canadians win 4-3-1. Two new teams added.
Atlanta Flames join West Division; New York Islanders join East
Division.
1974-75Two new teams added: Kansas City Scouts and
Washington Capitals. Teams realigned into two nine-team conferences,
the Prince of Wales made up of the Norris and Adams Divisions, and the
Clarence Campbell made up of the Smythe and Patrick Divisions. Clubs
played 80-game schedule.
1976-77California franchise transferred to
Cleveland. Team named Cleveland Barons. Kansas City franchise
transferred to Denver. Team named Colorado Rockies.
1977-78Clarence S. Campbell retires as NHL president. Succeeded by John A. Ziegler, Jr.
1978-79Cleveland and Minnesota franchises merge,
leaving NHL with 17 teams. Merged team placed in Adams Division, playing
home games in Minnesota. Minimum age of players subject to amateur
draft changed to 19.
1979-80Four new teams added: Edmonton Oilers,
Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets. Minimum age of
players subject to NHL Draft changed to 18.
1980-81Atlanta franchise shifted to Calgary, retaining "Flames" name.
1981-82Teams realigned within existing divisions. New groupings based on geographical areas. Unbalanced schedule adopted.
1982-83Colorado Rockies franchise shifted to East
Rutherford, New Jersey. Team named New Jersey Devils. Franchise moved to
Patrick Division from Smythe; Winnipeg moved to Smythe from Norris.
1991-92San Jose Sharks added, making the NHL a
22-team league. NHL celebrates 75th Anniversary Season. The 1991-92
regular season suspended due to a players' strike on April 1, 1992. Play
resumed April 12, 1992.
1992-93Gil Stein named NHL president (October,
1992). Gary Bettman named first NHL Commissioner (February, 1993).
Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning added, making the NHL a 24-team
league. NHL celebrates Stanley Cup Centennial. Clubs played 84-game
schedule.
1993-94Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida
Panthers added, making the NHL a 26-team league. Minnesota franchise
shifted to Dallas, team named Dallas Stars. Prince of Wales and Clarence
Campbell Conferences renamed Eastern and Western. Adams, Patrick,
Norris, and Smythe Divisions renamed Northeast, Atlantic, Central and
Pacific. Winnipeg moved to Central Division from Pacific. Tampa Bay
moved to Atlantic Division from Central. Pittsburgh moved to Northeast
Division from Atlantic.
1994-95A lockout resulted in the cancellation of
468 games from October 1, 1994 to January 19, 1995. Clubs played a
48-game schedule that began January 20, 1995 and ended May 3, 1995. No
inter-conference games were played.
1995-96Quebec franchise transferred to Denver.
Team named Colorado Avalanche and placed in Pacific Division of Western
Conference. Clubs to play 82-game schedule.
1996-97Winnipeg franchise transferred to Phoenix. Team named Phoenix Coyotes and placed in Central Division of Western Conference.
1997-98Hartford franchise transferred to Raleigh.
Team named Carolina Hurricanes and remains in Northeast Division of
Eastern Conference.
1998-99The addition of the Nashville Predators
made the NHL a 27-team league and brought about the creation of two new
divisions and a League-wide realignment in preparation for further
expansion to 30 teams by 2000-2001. Nashville was added to the Central
Division of the Western Conference, while Toronto moved into the
Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh was shifted
from the Northeast to the Atlantic, while Carolina left the Northeast
for the newly created Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
Florida, Tampa Bay and Washington also joined the Southeast. In the
Western Conference, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton and Vancouver make up
the new Northwest Division. Dallas and Phoenix moved from the Central to
the Pacific Division. The NHL retired uniform number 99 in honor of
all-time scoring leader Wayne Gretzky who retired at the end of the
season.
1999-2000Atlanta Thrashers added, making the NHL a 28-team league. Team is placed in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
2000-01Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild
added, making the NHL a 30-team league. Columbus is added to the Central
Division, while Minnesota joins the Northwest Division, both of the
Western Conference.
2003-04First outdoor NHL game. 57,167 attend
Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. Montréal defeated
Edmonton 4-3, November 22, 2003.
2004-05A lockout resulted in the cancellation of the season.
2007-08NHL-record crowd of 71,217 fills Buffalo's
Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Year's Day for the 2008 Winter Classic, the
first NHL outdoor game in the United States. Sidney Crosby's shootout
goal gives the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
2011-12Atlanta franchise transferred to Winnipeg.
Team is named Winnipeg Jets and remains in the Southeast Division of the
Eastern Conference.
2012-13A lockout resulted in the cancellation of
510 games from October 11, 2012 to January 18, 2013. Clubs played a
48-game schedule that began January 19, 2013 and ended April 27, 2013.
No inter-conference games were played.
2013-14The NHL's clubs are re-aligned into two
conferences each consisting of two divisions. The new alignment places
several clubs in more geographically appropriate groupings. The Eastern
Conference is made up of the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, each
with eight teams. The Western Conference is made up of the Central and
Pacific divisions, each with seven teams. All 30 teams play in all 30
arenas at least once a season. Winnipeg moves from the Eastern
Conference to the Western Conference, while Columbus and Detroit move
from the West to the East.
2014-15Phoenix franchise renamed Arizona Coyotes.
2017-18Las Vegas franchise added, making the NHL a
31-team league. The team is named the Vegas Golden Knights and is
placed in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
We're Social...for Statheads
Every Sports Reference Social Media Account
Site Last Updated: Monday, January 17, 4:20AM
Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction?
Are you a Stathead, too? Subscribe to our Free Newsletter
This Month in Sports Reference
Find out when we add a feature or make a change
Do you have a sports website? Or write about sports? We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Find out more.