CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-sticky-header-enabled vector-toc-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Timeline of the National Hockey League - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-sticky-header-enabled vector-toc-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":false,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy", "wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"3171ea5a-4c18-4810-8913-3723516b50b5","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League","wgTitle":"Timeline of the National Hockey League","wgCurRevisionId":1263435171,"wgRevisionId":1263435171,"wgArticleId":28564975,"wgIsArticle":true,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["Pages using the EasyTimeline extension","Webarchive template archiveis links","CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list","Articles with short description","Short description is different from Wikidata","Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2024","All articles containing potentially dated statements","National Hockey League history"],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel": "wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League","wgRelevantArticleId":28564975,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline":false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":100000,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgWikibaseItemId":"Q5868314","wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile","model" ,"platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics":true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.timeline.styles":"ready","ext.cite.styles":"ready","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","jquery.tablesorter.styles":"ready","jquery.makeCollapsible.styles":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","wikibase.client.init":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["ext.cite.ux-enhancements","site","mediawiki.page.ready","jquery.tablesorter","jquery.makeCollapsible","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.centralNotice.startUp", "ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.switcher","ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns","ext.cx.uls.quick.actions","wikibase.client.vector-2022","ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cext.timeline.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cjquery.makeCollapsible.styles%7Cjquery.tablesorter.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles%7Cwikibase.client.init&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.17"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="Timeline of the National Hockey League - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//meta.wikimedia.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League rootpage-Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League skin-vector-2022 action-view"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" title="Main menu" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="n-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages"><span>Special pages</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Timeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Timeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Timeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Timeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav id="mw-panel-toc" aria-label="Contents" data-event-name="ui.sidebar-toc" class="mw-table-of-contents-container vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-toc-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-toc" class="vector-toc vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-toc-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="toc-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-toc" > <h2 class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Contents</h2> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-Timeline" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Timeline"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>Timeline</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Timeline-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1917–1942:_Early_years" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1917–1942:_Early_years"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>1917–1942: Early years</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-1917–1942:_Early_years-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle 1917–1942: Early years subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-1917–1942:_Early_years-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Four/three_teams_(1917–19)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Four/three_teams_(1917–19)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Four/three teams (1917–19)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Four/three_teams_(1917–19)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Four_teams_(1919–24)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Four_teams_(1919–24)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Four teams (1919–24)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Four_teams_(1919–24)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-1920:_Quebec_relocates_to_Hamilton" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1920:_Quebec_relocates_to_Hamilton"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2.1</span> <span>1920: Quebec relocates to Hamilton</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1920:_Quebec_relocates_to_Hamilton-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Six_teams_(1924–25)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Six_teams_(1924–25)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Six teams (1924–25)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Six_teams_(1924–25)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Seven_teams_(1925–26)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Seven_teams_(1925–26)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Seven teams (1925–26)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Seven_teams_(1925–26)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ten_teams_(1926–31)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ten_teams_(1926–31)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Ten teams (1926–31)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ten_teams_(1926–31)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-1930:_Pittsburgh_relocates_to_Philadelphia" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1930:_Pittsburgh_relocates_to_Philadelphia"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.1</span> <span>1930: Pittsburgh relocates to Philadelphia</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1930:_Pittsburgh_relocates_to_Philadelphia-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eight_teams_(1931–32)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eight_teams_(1931–32)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.6</span> <span>Eight teams (1931–32)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eight_teams_(1931–32)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Nine_teams_(1932–35)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Nine_teams_(1932–35)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.7</span> <span>Nine teams (1932–35)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Nine_teams_(1932–35)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-1934:_Ottawa_relocates_to_St._Louis" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1934:_Ottawa_relocates_to_St._Louis"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.7.1</span> <span>1934: Ottawa relocates to St. Louis</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1934:_Ottawa_relocates_to_St._Louis-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eight_teams_(1935–38)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eight_teams_(1935–38)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.8</span> <span>Eight teams (1935–38)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eight_teams_(1935–38)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Seven_teams_(1938–42)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Seven_teams_(1938–42)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.9</span> <span>Seven teams (1938–42)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Seven_teams_(1938–42)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-1941:_The_Americans_change_their_name" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1941:_The_Americans_change_their_name"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.9.1</span> <span>1941: The Americans change their name</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1941:_The_Americans_change_their_name-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1942–1967:_Original_Six_era" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1942–1967:_Original_Six_era"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>1942–1967: Original Six era</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1942–1967:_Original_Six_era-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1967–1991:_Expansion_era" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1967–1991:_Expansion_era"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>1967–1991: Expansion era</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-1967–1991:_Expansion_era-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle 1967–1991: Expansion era subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-1967–1991:_Expansion_era-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Twelve_teams_(1967–70)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twelve_teams_(1967–70)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>Twelve teams (1967–70)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twelve_teams_(1967–70)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Fourteen_teams_(1970–72)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Fourteen_teams_(1970–72)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.2</span> <span>Fourteen teams (1970–72)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Fourteen_teams_(1970–72)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sixteen_teams_(1972–74)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sixteen_teams_(1972–74)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.3</span> <span>Sixteen teams (1972–74)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sixteen_teams_(1972–74)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Eighteen_teams_(1974–78)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Eighteen_teams_(1974–78)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.4</span> <span>Eighteen teams (1974–78)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Eighteen_teams_(1974–78)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1976:_Two_teams_relocate" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1976:_Two_teams_relocate"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.5</span> <span>1976: Two teams relocate</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1976:_Two_teams_relocate-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Seventeen_teams_(1978–79)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Seventeen_teams_(1978–79)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.6</span> <span>Seventeen teams (1978–79)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Seventeen_teams_(1978–79)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Twenty-one_teams_(1979–91)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-one_teams_(1979–91)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.7</span> <span>Twenty-one teams (1979–91)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-one_teams_(1979–91)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1980:_Flames_relocate_to_Calgary" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1980:_Flames_relocate_to_Calgary"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.8</span> <span>1980: Flames relocate to Calgary</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1980:_Flames_relocate_to_Calgary-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1981_realignment" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1981_realignment"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.9</span> <span>1981 realignment</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1981_realignment-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1982:_Colorado_relocates_to_New_Jersey" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1982:_Colorado_relocates_to_New_Jersey"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.10</span> <span>1982: Colorado relocates to New Jersey</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1982:_Colorado_relocates_to_New_Jersey-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1986:_Chicago_changes_the_spelling_of_its_name" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1986:_Chicago_changes_the_spelling_of_its_name"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.11</span> <span>1986: Chicago changes the spelling of its name</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1986:_Chicago_changes_the_spelling_of_its_name-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1991–2017:_Further_expansion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1991–2017:_Further_expansion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>1991–2017: Further expansion</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-1991–2017:_Further_expansion-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle 1991–2017: Further expansion subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-1991–2017:_Further_expansion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Twenty-two_teams_(1991–92)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-two_teams_(1991–92)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Twenty-two teams (1991–92)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-two_teams_(1991–92)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Twenty-four_teams_(1992–93)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-four_teams_(1992–93)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Twenty-four teams (1992–93)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-four_teams_(1992–93)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Twenty-six_teams_(1993–98)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-six_teams_(1993–98)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.3</span> <span>Twenty-six teams (1993–98)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-six_teams_(1993–98)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1995:_Nordiques_relocate_to_Colorado" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1995:_Nordiques_relocate_to_Colorado"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.4</span> <span>1995: Nordiques relocate to Colorado</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1995:_Nordiques_relocate_to_Colorado-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1996:_Jets_relocate_to_Phoenix" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1996:_Jets_relocate_to_Phoenix"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.5</span> <span>1996: Jets relocate to Phoenix</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1996:_Jets_relocate_to_Phoenix-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-1997:_Whalers_relocate_to_the_Carolinas" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#1997:_Whalers_relocate_to_the_Carolinas"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.6</span> <span>1997: Whalers relocate to the Carolinas</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-1997:_Whalers_relocate_to_the_Carolinas-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Twenty-seven_teams_(1998–99)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-seven_teams_(1998–99)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.7</span> <span>Twenty-seven teams (1998–99)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-seven_teams_(1998–99)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Twenty-eight_teams_(1999–2000)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Twenty-eight_teams_(1999–2000)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.8</span> <span>Twenty-eight teams (1999–2000)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Twenty-eight_teams_(1999–2000)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Thirty_teams_(2000–2017)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thirty_teams_(2000–2017)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.9</span> <span>Thirty teams (2000–2017)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thirty_teams_(2000–2017)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2006:_Anaheim_shortens_its_name" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2006:_Anaheim_shortens_its_name"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.10</span> <span>2006: Anaheim shortens its name</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2006:_Anaheim_shortens_its_name-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2011:_Thrashers_relocate_to_Winnipeg" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2011:_Thrashers_relocate_to_Winnipeg"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.11</span> <span>2011: Thrashers relocate to Winnipeg</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2011:_Thrashers_relocate_to_Winnipeg-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2013_realignment" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2013_realignment"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.12</span> <span>2013 realignment</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2013_realignment-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2014:_The_Coyotes_change_their_name" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2014:_The_Coyotes_change_their_name"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.13</span> <span>2014: The Coyotes change their name</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2014:_The_Coyotes_change_their_name-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2017–present:_Current_era" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2017–present:_Current_era"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>2017–present: Current era</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-2017–present:_Current_era-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle 2017–present: Current era subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-2017–present:_Current_era-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Thirty-one_teams_(2017–2021)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thirty-one_teams_(2017–2021)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Thirty-one teams (2017–2021)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thirty-one_teams_(2017–2021)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-2020–21:_COVID-19_pandemic" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#2020–21:_COVID-19_pandemic"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>2020–21: COVID-19 pandemic</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-2020–21:_COVID-19_pandemic-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Thirty-two_teams_(2021–2024)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thirty-two_teams_(2021–2024)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.3</span> <span>Thirty-two teams (2021–2024)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thirty-two_teams_(2021–2024)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-League_expands_to_Utah,_Coyotes_suspend_operations_(2024–present)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#League_expands_to_Utah,_Coyotes_suspend_operations_(2024–present)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.4</span> <span>League expands to Utah, Coyotes suspend operations (2024–present)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-League_expands_to_Utah,_Coyotes_suspend_operations_(2024–present)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Expansion_and_dispersal_drafts" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Expansion_and_dispersal_drafts"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Expansion and dispersal drafts</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Expansion_and_dispersal_drafts-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Potential_future_expansion" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Potential_future_expansion"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Potential future expansion</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Potential_future_expansion-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the National Hockey League</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 1 language" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-1" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">1 language</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_organizational_changes_in_the_NHL" title="History of organizational changes in the NHL – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="History of organizational changes in the NHL" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q5868314#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&oldid=1263435171" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&id=1263435171&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTimeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTimeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q5868314" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p><p>The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a> (NHL). The NHL was founded in 1917 as a successor to the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_Association" title="National Hockey Association">National Hockey Association</a> (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 <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="History of the National Hockey League">its history</a>, including in 1979 when four teams <a href="/wiki/1979_NHL_expansion" title="1979 NHL expansion">were added</a> from the <a href="/wiki/World_Hockey_Association" title="World Hockey Association">World Hockey Association</a> (WHA). </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r886046785">.mw-parser-output .toclimit-2 .toclevel-1 ul,.mw-parser-output .toclimit-3 .toclevel-2 ul,.mw-parser-output .toclimit-4 .toclevel-3 ul,.mw-parser-output .toclimit-5 .toclevel-4 ul,.mw-parser-output .toclimit-6 .toclevel-5 ul,.mw-parser-output .toclimit-7 .toclevel-6 ul{display:none}</style><div class="toclimit-2"><meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Timeline">Timeline</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Timeline"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="timeline-wrapper"><map name="timeline_68t1m5qzi0u29gh1tg6ih2tmujh7txp"></map><img usemap="#timeline_68t1m5qzi0u29gh1tg6ih2tmujh7txp" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/68t1m5qzi0u29gh1tg6ih2tmujh7txp.png" /></div> <p><br /> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="1917–1942:_Early_years"><span id="1917.E2.80.931942:_Early_years"></span>1917–1942: Early years</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: 1917–1942: Early years"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1917%E2%80%931942)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1917–1942)">History of the National Hockey League (1917–1942)</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Four/three_teams_(1917–19)"><span id="Four.2Fthree_teams_.281917.E2.80.9319.29"></span>Four/three teams (1917–19)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Four/three teams (1917–19)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The four teams that began <a href="/wiki/1917%E2%80%9318_NHL_season" title="1917–18 NHL season">the inaugural NHL season</a> were the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Wanderers" title="Montreal Wanderers">Montreal Wanderers</a>, the original <a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Arenas" title="Toronto Arenas">Toronto Arenas</a>. 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. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#FF91A4;">Withdrew after four games into the 1917–18 season § </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1917%E2%80%9318_NHL_season" title="1917–18 NHL season">1917–18</a> to <a href="/wiki/1918%E2%80%9319_NHL_season" title="1918–19 NHL season">1918–19</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td style="background-color:#FF91A4;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Wanderers" title="Montreal Wanderers">Montreal Wanderers</a> §</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Arenas" title="Toronto Arenas">Toronto Arenas</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Four_teams_(1919–24)"><span id="Four_teams_.281919.E2.80.9324.29"></span>Four teams (1919–24)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Four teams (1919–24)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In its third season, <a href="/wiki/1919%E2%80%9320_NHL_season" title="1919–20 NHL season">1919–20</a>, the NHL underwent its first expansion, adding the <a href="/wiki/Quebec_Bulldogs" title="Quebec Bulldogs">Quebec Bulldogs</a>. Toronto changed its name to <a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">First season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1919%E2%80%9320_NHL_season" title="1919–20 NHL season">1919–20</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a></td> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Bulldogs" title="Quebec Bulldogs">Quebec Bulldogs</a> *</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1920:_Quebec_relocates_to_Hamilton">1920: Quebec relocates to Hamilton</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: 1920: Quebec relocates to Hamilton"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1920%E2%80%9321_NHL_season" title="1920–21 NHL season">1920–21 season</a>, Quebec relocated to Hamilton and changed their name, becoming the Hamilton Tigers. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1920%E2%80%9321_NHL_season" title="1920–21 NHL season">1920–21</a> to <a href="/wiki/1923%E2%80%9324_NHL_season" title="1923–24 NHL season">1923–24</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Hamilton_Tigers" title="Hamilton Tigers">Hamilton Tigers</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Six_teams_(1924–25)"><span id="Six_teams_.281924.E2.80.9325.29"></span>Six teams (1924–25)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Six teams (1924–25)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Two new teams joined the NHL in its <a href="/wiki/1924%E2%80%9325_NHL_season" title="1924–25 NHL season">eighth season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a>, the first expansion team in the United States, and the <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">First season in the NHL * </td> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Last season in the NHL † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1924%E2%80%9325_NHL_season" title="1924–25 NHL season">1924–25</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> *</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Hamilton_Tigers" title="Hamilton Tigers">Hamilton Tigers</a> †</td> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> *</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Seven_teams_(1925–26)"><span id="Seven_teams_.281925.E2.80.9326.29"></span>Seven teams (1925–26)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Seven teams (1925–26)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1925%E2%80%9326_NHL_season" title="1925–26 NHL season">next season</a>, the NHL added two new teams, the <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates_(NHL)" title="Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> and the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a>. The Americans were stocked by purchasing the contracts of the Hamilton Tigers players, and the Tigers franchise was subsequently revoked by the league. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">First season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1925%E2%80%9326_NHL_season" title="1925–26 NHL season">1925–26</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a></td> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates_(NHL)" title="Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> *</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> *</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a></td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ten_teams_(1926–31)"><span id="Ten_teams_.281926.E2.80.9331.29"></span>Ten teams (1926–31)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Ten teams (1926–31)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The NHL continued to expand the <a href="/wiki/1926%E2%80%9327_NHL_season" title="1926–27 NHL season">following 1926–27 season</a>, adding the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Cougars</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a>, growing to ten teams, thus more than doubling its size in its first decade of existence. The league realigned into two divisions: the <a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a>. 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. </p><p>Midway through the 1926–27 season, the Toronto St. Patricks were sold and renamed the <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>, however the league ruled the team must use the St. Patricks name until season's end. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1926–27 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1926%E2%80%9327_NHL_season" title="1926–27 NHL season">1926–27</a> to <a href="/wiki/1929%E2%80%9330_NHL_season" title="1929–30 NHL season">1929–30</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Cougars</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_St._Patricks" title="Toronto St. Patricks">Toronto St. Patricks</a>/<a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Pirates_(NHL)" title="Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1930:_Pittsburgh_relocates_to_Philadelphia">1930: Pittsburgh relocates to Philadelphia</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: 1930: Pittsburgh relocates to Philadelphia"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1930%E2%80%9331_NHL_season" title="1930–31 NHL season">1930–31 season</a>, the Pirates moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, becoming the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Quakers_(NHL)" title="Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)">Philadelphia Quakers</a>, and Detroit was renamed the <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Falcons</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#FFC40C;">Last season before hiatus, rejoined NHL later ^ </td> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Last season in the NHL † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1930%E2%80%9331_NHL_season" title="1930–31 NHL season">1930–31</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Falcons</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFC40C;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> ^ </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Quakers_(NHL)" title="Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)">Philadelphia Quakers</a> † </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Eight_teams_(1931–32)"><span id="Eight_teams_.281931.E2.80.9332.29"></span>Eight teams (1931–32)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Eight teams (1931–32)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>After fourteen seasons of steady expansion, the NHL contracted to eight teams, dropping the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Quakers_(NHL)" title="Philadelphia Quakers (NHL)">Philadelphia Quakers</a> and the original <a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> for the <a href="/wiki/1931%E2%80%9332_NHL_season" title="1931–32 NHL season">1931–32 season</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1931%E2%80%9332_NHL_season" title="1931–32 NHL season">1931–32</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Falcons</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Nine_teams_(1932–35)"><span id="Nine_teams_.281932.E2.80.9335.29"></span>Nine teams (1932–35)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Nine teams (1932–35)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1932%E2%80%9333_NHL_season" title="1932–33 NHL season">1932–33 season</a>, after missing one season, the original <a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> rejoined the NHL, and the Detroit Falcons were renamed the <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#8DB600;">Rejoined NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1932%E2%80%9333_NHL_season" title="1932–33 NHL season">1932–33</a> to <a href="/wiki/1933%E2%80%9334_NHL_season" title="1933–34 NHL season">1933–34</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #8DB600;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators_(original)" title="Ottawa Senators (original)">Ottawa Senators</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1934:_Ottawa_relocates_to_St._Louis">1934: Ottawa relocates to St. Louis</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: 1934: Ottawa relocates to St. Louis"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1934%E2%80%9335_NHL_season" title="1934–35 NHL season">1934–35 season</a>, the Ottawa Senators relocated, becoming the <a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Eagles" title="St. Louis Eagles">St. Louis Eagles</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Last season in the NHL † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1934%E2%80%9335_NHL_season" title="1934–35 NHL season">1934–35</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Eagles" title="St. Louis Eagles">St. Louis Eagles</a> † </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Eight_teams_(1935–38)"><span id="Eight_teams_.281935.E2.80.9338.29"></span>Eight teams (1935–38)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Eight teams (1935–38)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Eagles folded after one season, and the NHL was once again an eight-team league for three seasons. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Withdrew after the 1937–38 season † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1935%E2%80%9336_NHL_season" title="1935–36 NHL season">1935–36</a> to <a href="/wiki/1937%E2%80%9338_NHL_season" title="1937–38 NHL season">1937–38</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Division_(NHL)" title="Canadian Division (NHL)">Canadian Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/American_Division_(NHL)" title="American Division (NHL)">American Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> † </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Seven_teams_(1938–42)"><span id="Seven_teams_.281938.E2.80.9342.29"></span>Seven teams (1938–42)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Seven teams (1938–42)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Montreal_Maroons" title="Montreal Maroons">Montreal Maroons</a> withdrew from the league for the <a href="/wiki/1938%E2%80%9339_NHL_season" title="1938–39 NHL season">1938–39 season</a>, 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. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1938%E2%80%9339_NHL_season" title="1938–39 NHL season">1938–39</a> to <a href="/wiki/1940%E2%80%9341_NHL_season" title="1940–41 NHL season">1941–42</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Black_Hawks" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago Black Hawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Americans" title="New York Americans">New York Americans</a></td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="1941:_The_Americans_change_their_name">1941: The Americans change their name</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: 1941: The Americans change their name"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The New York Americans changed their name to the <a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Americans" class="mw-redirect" title="Brooklyn Americans">Brooklyn Americans</a> for the <a href="/wiki/1941%E2%80%9342_NHL_season" title="1941–42 NHL season">1941–42 season</a>, their last. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Folded after the 1941–42 season † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1938%E2%80%9339_NHL_season" title="1938–39 NHL season">1938–39</a> to <a href="/wiki/1941%E2%80%9342_NHL_season" title="1941–42 NHL season">1941–42</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Black_Hawks" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago Black Hawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Americans" class="mw-redirect" title="Brooklyn Americans">Brooklyn Americans</a> †</td> <td><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a></td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="1942–1967:_Original_Six_era"><span id="1942.E2.80.931967:_Original_Six_era"></span>1942–1967: Original Six era</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: 1942–1967: Original Six era"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1942%E2%80%931967)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967)">History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967)</a> and <a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1942%E2%80%9343_NHL_season" title="1942–43 NHL season">1942–43 season</a> saw the folding of the <a href="/wiki/Brooklyn_Americans" class="mw-redirect" title="Brooklyn Americans">Brooklyn Americans</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a>: <a href="/wiki/1942%E2%80%9343_NHL_season" title="1942–43 NHL season">1942–43</a> to <a href="/wiki/1966%E2%80%9367_NHL_season" title="1966–67 NHL season">1966–67</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Black_Hawks" class="mw-redirect" title="Chicago Black Hawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></td> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="1967–1991:_Expansion_era"><span id="1967.E2.80.931991:_Expansion_era"></span>1967–1991: Expansion era</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: 1967–1991: Expansion era"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1967%E2%80%931992)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1967–1992)">History of the National Hockey League (1967–1992)</a> and <a href="/wiki/1967_NHL_expansion" title="1967 NHL expansion">1967 NHL expansion</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twelve_teams_(1967–70)"><span id="Twelve_teams_.281967.E2.80.9370.29"></span>Twelve teams (1967–70)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Twelve teams (1967–70)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1967_NHL_expansion" title="1967 NHL expansion">1967 expansion</a> doubled the number of teams in the league, with an upfront expansion fee of $2 million each ($18.3 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For the <a href="/wiki/1967%E2%80%9368_NHL_season" title="1967–68 NHL season">1967–68 season</a>, six new teams were added to the NHL: the <a href="/wiki/California_Golden_Seals" title="California Golden Seals">California Seals</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a>. </p><p>Within a month into their first season, the California Seals became the Oakland Seals. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#FFCCCC;">All Original Six teams were placed in the East Division </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color:#D0E7FF;">All 1967 expansion teams were placed in the West Division </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1967%E2%80%9368_NHL_season" title="1967–68 NHL season">1967–68</a> to <a href="/wiki/1969%E2%80%9370_NHL_season" title="1969–70 NHL season">1969–70</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/East_Division_(NHL)" title="East Division (NHL)">East Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/West_Division_(NHL)" title="West Division (NHL)">West Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Oakland_Seals" class="mw-redirect" title="Oakland Seals">Oakland Seals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Fourteen_teams_(1970–72)"><span id="Fourteen_teams_.281970.E2.80.9372.29"></span>Fourteen teams (1970–72)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Fourteen teams (1970–72)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Oakland Seals were renamed the Bay Area Seals for two games before changing their name again to the California Golden Seals for their fourth season in <a href="/wiki/1970%E2%80%9371_NHL_season" title="1970–71 NHL season">1970–71</a>. The same season the NHL added two new teams, the <a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a>, paying an expansion fee of $6 million each ($47.1 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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 <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> moved to the West. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1970–71 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1970%E2%80%9371_NHL_season" title="1970–71 NHL season">1970–71</a> to <a href="/wiki/1971%E2%80%9372_NHL_season" title="1971–72 NHL season">1971–72</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/East_Division_(NHL)" title="East Division (NHL)">East Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/West_Division_(NHL)" title="West Division (NHL)">West Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/California_Golden_Seals" title="California Golden Seals">California Golden Seals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sixteen_teams_(1972–74)"><span id="Sixteen_teams_.281972.E2.80.9374.29"></span>Sixteen teams (1972–74)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Sixteen teams (1972–74)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Two more teams joined for the <a href="/wiki/1972%E2%80%9373_NHL_season" title="1972–73 NHL season">1972–73 NHL season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a>. With the competing <a href="/wiki/World_Hockey_Association" title="World Hockey Association">World Hockey Association</a> (WHA) starting that same season, the NHL was not able to raise its expansion fee from the price of two years earlier, $6 million ($43.7 million today), with the Islanders paying an additional $5 million ($36.4 million today) to the <a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> for infringing on their territory.<sup id="cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MoreFeeData-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Islanders were placed in the East and the Flames were placed in the West. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1972–73 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1972%E2%80%9373_NHL_season" title="1972–73 NHL season">1972–73</a> to <a href="/wiki/1973%E2%80%9374_NHL_season" title="1973–74 NHL season">1973–74</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/East_Division_(NHL)" title="East Division (NHL)">East Division</a></b> </th> <th style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/West_Division_(NHL)" title="West Division (NHL)">West Division</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/California_Golden_Seals" title="California Golden Seals">California Golden Seals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Eighteen_teams_(1974–78)"><span id="Eighteen_teams_.281974.E2.80.9378.29"></span>Eighteen teams (1974–78)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Eighteen teams (1974–78)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Two more teams joined for the <a href="/wiki/1974%E2%80%9375_NHL_season" title="1974–75 NHL season">1974–75 NHL season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Scouts" title="Kansas City Scouts">Kansas City Scouts</a>, 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 ($37.1 million today) of two years and four years earlier.<sup id="cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MoreFeeData-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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 ($17.6 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-MoreFeeData-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>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 <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Prince of Wales Conference</a> and consisted of the <a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams Division</a> and <a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris Division</a>. The West Division became the <a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Clarence Campbell Conference</a> and consisted of the <a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick Division</a> and <a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe Division</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1974–75 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1974%E2%80%9375_NHL_season" title="1974–75 NHL season">1974–75</a> to <a href="/wiki/1975%E2%80%9376_NHL_season" title="1975–76 NHL season">1975–76</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Scouts" title="Kansas City Scouts">Kansas City Scouts</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/California_Golden_Seals" title="California Golden Seals">California Golden Seals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> * </td> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1976:_Two_teams_relocate">1976: Two teams relocate</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: 1976: Two teams relocate"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Going into the <a href="/wiki/1976%E2%80%9377_NHL_season" title="1976–77 NHL season">1976–77 NHL season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/California_Golden_Seals" title="California Golden Seals">California Golden Seals</a> relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Barons_(NHL)" title="Cleveland Barons (NHL)">Cleveland Barons</a>, and the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Scouts" title="Kansas City Scouts">Kansas City Scouts</a> moved to become the <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">Dissolved after the 1977–78 season † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1976%E2%80%9377_NHL_season" title="1976–77 NHL season">1976–77</a> to <a href="/wiki/1977%E2%80%9378_NHL_season" title="1977–78 NHL season">1977–78</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Barons_(NHL)" title="Cleveland Barons (NHL)">Cleveland Barons</a> † </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Seventeen_teams_(1978–79)"><span id="Seventeen_teams_.281978.E2.80.9379.29"></span>Seventeen teams (1978–79)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Seventeen teams (1978–79)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the first time since the <a href="/wiki/1942%E2%80%9343_NHL_season" title="1942–43 NHL season">1942–43 season</a>, the NHL contracted, merging the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Barons_(NHL)" title="Cleveland Barons (NHL)">Cleveland Barons</a> into the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a>. The North Stars then took the Barons' place in the Adams Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1978%E2%80%9379_NHL_season" title="1978–79 NHL season">1978–79</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-one_teams_(1979–91)"><span id="Twenty-one_teams_.281979.E2.80.9391.29"></span>Twenty-one teams (1979–91)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Twenty-one teams (1979–91)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Following seven seasons of revenue draining competition, the <a href="/wiki/NHL%E2%80%93WHA_merger" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL–WHA merger">NHL–WHA merger</a> was completed for the start of the <a href="/wiki/1979%E2%80%9380_NHL_season" title="1979–80 NHL season">1979–80 NHL season</a>. Four teams came over from the WHA, paying an expansion fee of $7.5 million each ($31.5 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> These new NHL teams were the <a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a>, and the original <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a>. This also doubled the number of Canadian teams in the league. Standing at 21 teams for twelve seasons, this was one of the longer periods of league stability, though surpassed by twenty-five seasons of the <a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a>, when no additions, moves, nor name changes occurred. </p><p>The Nordiques were placed in the Adams Division, the Whalers in the Norris, and the Oilers and the Jets in the Smythe. The Washington Capitals moved from the Norris to the Patrick Division. The divisions were effectively meaningless as all teams played a balanced schedule and each round of the playoffs was re-seeded by league point standings rather than divisional. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">Teams from the WHA * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1979%E2%80%9380_NHL_season" title="1979–80 NHL season">1979–80</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">  </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> * </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1980:_Flames_relocate_to_Calgary">1980: Flames relocate to Calgary</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: 1980: Flames relocate to Calgary"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1980%E2%80%9381_NHL_season" title="1980–81 NHL season">1980–81 season</a>, Atlanta relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1980%E2%80%9381_NHL_season" title="1980–81 NHL season">1980–81</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1981_realignment">1981 realignment</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: 1981 realignment"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1981%E2%80%9382_NHL_season" title="1981–82 NHL season">1981–82 season</a>, the teams were realigned to reduce travel. Also, the Norris Division moved to the Campbell Conference and the Patrick Division moved to the Wales Conference. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1981%E2%80%9382_NHL_season" title="1981–82 NHL season">1981–82</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td>  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1982:_Colorado_relocates_to_New_Jersey">1982: Colorado relocates to New Jersey</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: 1982: Colorado relocates to New Jersey"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1982%E2%80%9383_NHL_season" title="1982–83 NHL season">1982–83 season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Rockies_(NHL)" title="Colorado Rockies (NHL)">Colorado Rockies</a> relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a>. The team was moved to the Patrick Division, while the <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> took their place in the Smythe Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1982%E2%80%9383_NHL_season" title="1982–83 NHL season">1982–83</a> to <a href="/wiki/1985%E2%80%9386_NHL_season" title="1985–86 NHL season">1985–86</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Black Hawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1986:_Chicago_changes_the_spelling_of_its_name">1986: Chicago changes the spelling of its name</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: 1986: Chicago changes the spelling of its name"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Chicago Black Hawks changed their name to Chicago Blackhawks for the <a href="/wiki/1986%E2%80%9387_NHL_season" title="1986–87 NHL season">1986–87 season</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1986%E2%80%9387_NHL_season" title="1986–87 NHL season">1986–87</a> to <a href="/wiki/1990%E2%80%9391_NHL_season" title="1990–91 NHL season">1990–91</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="1991–2017:_Further_expansion"><span id="1991.E2.80.932017:_Further_expansion"></span>1991–2017: Further expansion</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: 1991–2017: Further expansion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1992%E2%80%932017)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1992–2017)">History of the National Hockey League (1992–2017)</a></div> <p>In 1990, the owners developed a plan to expand the NHL to 28 teams within a decade.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The plan was enacted, creating ten years of rapid expansion and relocation in the NHL. While the pace of expansion and relocation slowed after the <a href="/wiki/1999%E2%80%932000_NHL_season" title="1999–2000 NHL season">1999–2000 season</a>, growth and change continued to be a normal development. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-two_teams_(1991–92)"><span id="Twenty-two_teams_.281991.E2.80.9392.29"></span>Twenty-two teams (1991–92)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Twenty-two teams (1991–92)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1991%E2%80%9392_NHL_season" title="1991–92 NHL season">1991–92 season</a> saw the addition of the <a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a>, paying an expansion fee of $45 million ($100.7 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Sharks were placed in the Smythe Division with the other West Coast teams. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1991–92 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1991%E2%80%9392_NHL_season" title="1991–92 NHL season">1991–92</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-four_teams_(1992–93)"><span id="Twenty-four_teams_.281992.E2.80.9393.29"></span>Twenty-four teams (1992–93)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Twenty-four teams (1992–93)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Two new teams joined the league the <a href="/wiki/1992%E2%80%9393_NHL_season" title="1992–93 NHL season">following season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, paying an expansion fee of $45 million each ($97.7 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Senators were placed in the Adams Division, and the Lightning in the Norris, so all four divisions would have six teams each. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1992–93 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1992%E2%80%9393_NHL_season" title="1992–93 NHL season">1992–93</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Wales</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Campbell</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-six_teams_(1993–98)"><span id="Twenty-six_teams_.281993.E2.80.9398.29"></span>Twenty-six teams (1993–98)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Twenty-six teams (1993–98)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1993%E2%80%9394_NHL_season" title="1993–94 NHL season">next season</a>, another two teams were added, the <a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a>, paying an expansion fee of $50 million each ($105.5 million today), with Anaheim paying an additional $25 million ($52.7 million today) to the <a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> for infringing on their region.<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> relocated, becoming the <a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a>. </p><p>The league changed the conference names from Wales and Campbell to <a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a> and <a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a>, respectively, and changed the division names from <a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams</a>, <a href="/wiki/Patrick_Division" title="Patrick Division">Patrick</a>, <a href="/wiki/Norris_Division" title="Norris Division">Norris</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Smythe_Division" title="Smythe Division">Smythe</a> to <a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a>, <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a>, <a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a>, respectively. </p><p>Finally, the league realigned several teams. With the expansion Mighty Ducks joining the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, the original <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%931996)" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)">Winnipeg Jets</a> left the Pacific for the Central, the <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> left the Central Division and Western Conference for the Atlantic and the Eastern, respectively, and the <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> left the Atlantic Division for the Northeast to make room for the expansion Florida Panthers.<sup id="cite_ref-Realignment_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Realignment-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1993–94 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1993%E2%80%9394_NHL_season" title="1993–94 NHL season">1993–94</a> to <a href="/wiki/1994%E2%80%9395_NHL_season" title="1994–95 NHL season">1994–95</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1995:_Nordiques_relocate_to_Colorado">1995: Nordiques relocate to Colorado</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: 1995: Nordiques relocate to Colorado"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_NHL_season" title="1995–96 NHL season">1995–96 season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a> relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a>. The team also switched conferences, moving from the Northeast Division in the East to the Pacific Division in the West. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1995%E2%80%9396_NHL_season" title="1995–96 NHL season">1995–96</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1996:_Jets_relocate_to_Phoenix">1996: Jets relocate to Phoenix</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: 1996: Jets relocate to Phoenix"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1996%E2%80%9397_NHL_season" title="1996–97 NHL season">1996–97 season</a>, the original <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a> relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a>. The team remained in the Central Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1996%E2%80%9397_NHL_season" title="1996–97 NHL season">1996–97</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="1997:_Whalers_relocate_to_the_Carolinas">1997: Whalers relocate to the Carolinas</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: 1997: Whalers relocate to the Carolinas"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For the <a href="/wiki/1997%E2%80%9398_NHL_season" title="1997–98 NHL season">1997–98 season</a>, the <a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a> relocated to become the <a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a>. The team remained in the Northeast Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1997%E2%80%9398_NHL_season" title="1997–98 NHL season">1997–98</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-seven_teams_(1998–99)"><span id="Twenty-seven_teams_.281998.E2.80.9399.29"></span>Twenty-seven teams (1998–99)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: Twenty-seven teams (1998–99)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> joined the league for the <a href="/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_NHL_season" title="1998–99 NHL season">1998–99 season</a>, paying an expansion fee of $80 million ($149.5 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league also realigned to a strictly geographic six-division structure, with three per conference. The Eastern Conference had the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a>, <a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a> divisions, while the Western Conference had the <a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a>, <a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a> divisions. The expansion Predators were placed in the Central Division. The <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> were the only team to switch conferences, moving from the Western and the Central Division to the Eastern and the Northeast Division, rejoining classic <a href="/wiki/East_Division_(NHL)" title="East Division (NHL)">East Division</a> and <a href="/wiki/Adams_Division" title="Adams Division">Adams Division</a> rivals for the first time since the respective <a href="/wiki/1973%E2%80%9374_NHL_season" title="1973–74 NHL season">1973–74</a> and <a href="/wiki/1980%E2%80%9381_NHL_season" title="1980–81 NHL season">1980–81</a> seasons. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1998–99 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1998%E2%80%9399_NHL_season" title="1998–99 NHL season">1998–99</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td>  </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Twenty-eight_teams_(1999–2000)"><span id="Twenty-eight_teams_.281999.E2.80.932000.29"></span>Twenty-eight teams (1999–2000)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=37" title="Edit section: Twenty-eight teams (1999–2000)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1999%E2%80%932000_NHL_season" title="1999–2000 NHL season">1999–2000 season</a> saw another team start play, the <a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a>, paying the same expansion fee of $80 million ($146.3 million today) as the Predators a year earlier.<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Thrashers were placed in the Southeast Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">1999–2000 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/1999%E2%80%932000_NHL_season" title="1999–2000 NHL season">1999–2000</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2">  </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Thirty_teams_(2000–2017)"><span id="Thirty_teams_.282000.E2.80.932017.29"></span>Thirty teams (2000–2017)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=38" title="Edit section: Thirty teams (2000–2017)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>For its <a href="/wiki/2000%E2%80%9301_NHL_season" title="2000–01 NHL season">2000–01 season</a>, the NHL added the <a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a>, each paying the same expansion fee of $80 million ($141.5 million today) as Nashville and Atlanta in the previous two years.<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Blue Jackets were placed in the Central Division and the Wild in the Northwest so that all six divisions would each have five teams. </p><p>For the next 17 seasons, the NHL maintained 30 teams, the second longest period of membership stability in its history, the first being the <a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">2000–01 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2000%E2%80%9301_NHL_season" title="2000–01 NHL season">2000–01</a> to <a href="/wiki/2005%E2%80%9306_NHL_season" title="2005–06 NHL season">2005–06</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2006:_Anaheim_shortens_its_name">2006: Anaheim shortens its name</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=39" title="Edit section: 2006: Anaheim shortens its name"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed their name to the <a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> in the <a href="/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_NHL_season" title="2006–07 NHL season">2006–07 season</a>. The newly renamed Ducks would win the Stanley Cup that season. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_NHL_season" title="2006–07 NHL season">2006–07</a> to <a href="/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_NHL_season" title="2010–11 NHL season">2010–11</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2011:_Thrashers_relocate_to_Winnipeg">2011: Thrashers relocate to Winnipeg</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=40" title="Edit section: 2011: Thrashers relocate to Winnipeg"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> relocated to <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg" title="Winnipeg">Winnipeg, Manitoba</a>, becoming the <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">second version</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a>, beginning in the <a href="/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_NHL_season" title="2011–12 NHL season">2011–12 season</a>. The team remained in the Southeast Division. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_NHL_season" title="2011–12 NHL season">2011–12</a> to <a href="/wiki/2012%E2%80%9313_NHL_season" title="2012–13 NHL season">2012–13</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Northeast Division (NHL)">Northeast</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Southeast_Division_(NHL)" title="Southeast Division (NHL)">Southeast</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="6" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Northwest_Division_(NHL)" title="Northwest Division (NHL)">Northwest</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2013_realignment">2013 realignment</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=41" title="Edit section: 2013 realignment"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_NHL_season#Realignment" title="2013–14 NHL season">2013–14 NHL season § Realignment</a></div> <p>The 2011 relocation of the former <a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> franchise to the <a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> prompted the league to discuss realignment. However, disagreement between the NHL Board of Governors and the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_Players%27_Association" title="National Hockey League Players' Association">National Hockey League Players' Association</a> (NHLPA) caused it to be pushed to 2013. </p><p>On December 5, 2011, the NHL Board of Governors originally approved a conference realignment plan to move from a six-division setup to a four-conference structure.<sup id="cite_ref-http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, on January 6, 2012, the <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_Players%27_Association" title="National Hockey League Players' Association">National Hockey League Players' Association</a> (NHLPA) rejected that proposed realignment.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A new joint NHL-NHLPA plan was proposed in February 2013 as a modification of the previous plan with both the <a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> and <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> moving to the East and the Winnipeg Jets moving to the West. The NHLPA officially gave its consent to the NHL's proposed plan on March 7,<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and then the NHL's Board of Governors approved the realignment on March 14, to be implemented prior to the <a href="/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_NHL_season" title="2013–14 NHL season">2013–14</a> season.<sup id="cite_ref-Realignment20130314_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Realignment20130314-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league then announced the names of the divisions on July 19: the two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference would be the <a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic Division</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan Division</a>, and the two seven-team divisions in the Western Conference would be the <a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central Division</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific Division</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_NHL_season" title="2013–14 NHL season">2013–14</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Phoenix_Coyotes" class="mw-redirect" title="Phoenix Coyotes">Phoenix Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2014:_The_Coyotes_change_their_name">2014: The Coyotes change their name</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=42" title="Edit section: 2014: The Coyotes change their name"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Phoenix Coyotes changed their name to Arizona Coyotes for the <a href="/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_NHL_season" title="2014–15 NHL season">2014–15 season</a>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_NHL_season" title="2014–15 NHL season">2014–15</a> to <a href="/wiki/2016%E2%80%9317_NHL_season" title="2016–17 NHL season">2016–17</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td colspan="2">  </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="2017–present:_Current_era"><span id="2017.E2.80.93present:_Current_era"></span>2017–present: Current era</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=43" title="Edit section: 2017–present: Current era"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(2017%E2%80%93present)" title="History of the National Hockey League (2017–present)">History of the National Hockey League (2017–present)</a></div> <p>The league began its second century in 2017 and has continued to grow by adding the <a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a>, <a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Utah_Hockey_Club" title="Utah Hockey Club">Utah Hockey Club</a>. However, it has also seen the <a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> indefinitely suspend operations following the <a href="/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_NHL_season" title="2023–24 NHL season">2023–24 season</a>, with the team's hockey assets, including its roster and coaches, being transferred to the newly-founded Utah franchise. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Thirty-one_teams_(2017–2021)"><span id="Thirty-one_teams_.282017.E2.80.932021.29"></span>Thirty-one teams (2017–2021)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=44" title="Edit section: Thirty-one teams (2017–2021)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On June 22, 2016, the Board of Governors voted 30–0 to add an expansion franchise in <a href="/wiki/Las_Vegas" title="Las Vegas">Las Vegas</a> for the <a href="/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_NHL_season" title="2017–18 NHL season">2017–18 season</a>, charging an expansion fee of $500 million ($634.8 million today).<sup id="cite_ref-Fees_1-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> joined the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">2017–18 was the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_NHL_season" title="2017–18 NHL season">2017–18</a> to <a href="/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_NHL_season" title="2019–20 NHL season">2019–20</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td>  </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> * </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="2020–21:_COVID-19_pandemic"><span id="2020.E2.80.9321:_COVID-19_pandemic"></span>2020–21: COVID-19 pandemic</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=45" title="Edit section: 2020–21: COVID-19 pandemic"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Due to the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic" title="COVID-19 pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, which delayed the conclusion of the <a href="/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_NHL_season" title="2019–20 NHL season">2019–20 season</a> and delayed and shortened the <a href="/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_NHL_season" title="2020–21 NHL season">2020–21 season</a>, the NHL adopted a temporary divisional alignment for 2020–21. The primary considerations acknowledged by the league were the ongoing restrictions and quarantine requirements affecting the ability of its teams to cross the <a href="/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93United_States_border" title="Canada–United States border">Canada–United States border</a>. As a result, on December 20, 2020, the league announced it had temporarily suspended the Eastern and Western Conferences and realigned to four non-conference divisions: North, East, Central, and West. The North Division consisted of all seven Canadian teams and was the first all-Canadian division since the league first expanded into the United States in 1924. The regular season lasted 56 games and consisted solely of intra-divisional play. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_NHL_season" title="2020–21 NHL season">2020–21</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color: #EEEEEE;"><b><a href="/wiki/North_Division_(NHL)" title="North Division (NHL)">North</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #EEEEEE;"><b><a href="/wiki/East_Division_(NHL)" title="East Division (NHL)">East</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #EEEEEE;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #EEEEEE;"><b><a href="/wiki/West_Division_(NHL)" title="West Division (NHL)">West</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Thirty-two_teams_(2021–2024)"><span id="Thirty-two_teams_.282021.E2.80.932024.29"></span>Thirty-two teams (2021–2024)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=46" title="Edit section: Thirty-two teams (2021–2024)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On December 4, 2018, <a href="/wiki/Seattle" title="Seattle">Seattle</a> was announced as the location of a thirty-second franchise to begin play in the <a href="/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_NHL_season" title="2021–22 NHL season">2021–22 season</a>, with an expansion fee of $650 million.<sup id="cite_ref-SN_20181205_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SN_20181205-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The league reverted to its pre-COVID-19 divisions in 2021. Under the realignment of those divisions that was announced prior to the pandemic, the expansion <a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a> were placed in the Pacific Division, while the <a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> returned to the Central Division.<sup id="cite_ref-SN_20181205_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SN_20181205-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">2021–22 was the first season in the NHL * </td> <td style="background-color:#D8BFD8;">2023–24 was the last season in the NHL † </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2021%E2%80%9322_NHL_season" title="2021–22 NHL season">2021–22</a> to <a href="/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_NHL_season" title="2023–24 NHL season">2023–24</a> NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D8BFD8;"><a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> † </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a> * </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="League_expands_to_Utah,_Coyotes_suspend_operations_(2024–present)"><span id="League_expands_to_Utah.2C_Coyotes_suspend_operations_.282024.E2.80.93present.29"></span>League expands to Utah, Coyotes suspend operations (2024–present)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=47" title="Edit section: League expands to Utah, Coyotes suspend operations (2024–present)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On April 18, 2024, the <a href="/wiki/Arizona_Coyotes" title="Arizona Coyotes">Arizona Coyotes</a> were deactivated, and its players and personnel were transferred to the <a href="/wiki/Utah_Hockey_Club" title="Utah Hockey Club">Utah Hockey Club</a>. Under the original conditions, the Coyotes franchise would have been reactivated if a suitable arena was built in Arizona by 2029.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After the Arizona State Land Department cancelled a June 2024 auction for a parcel of land that Coyotes owner <a href="/wiki/Alex_Meruelo" title="Alex Meruelo">Alex Meruelo</a> intended to purchase as a site for a new arena, he relinquished his rights as the team's owner on July 10.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of July 2024<sup class="plainlinks noexcerpt noprint asof-tag update" style="display:none;"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit">[update]</a></sup>, the league has not yet indicated whether the Arizona franchise will now fold outright, hold the rights to the Coyotes and wait for a potential expansion team, and/or whether its history, records and/or intellectual property will be transferred to the Utah Hockey Club and/or split between Utah and the current Winnipeg Jets.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#00FF00;">2024–25 is the first season in the NHL * </td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <caption><a href="/wiki/2024%E2%80%9325_NHL_season" title="2024–25 NHL season">2024–25</a> to the present NHL teams </caption> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #FF7B77;"><b><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern</a></b> </th> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: #99A8FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western</a></b> </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFA7A7;"><b><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central</a></b> </td> <td style="background-color: #B7D0FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific</a></b> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;;"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #00FF00;"><a href="/wiki/Utah_Hockey_Club" title="Utah Hockey Club">Utah Hockey Club</a> * </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a> </td> <td style="background-color: #D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Expansion_and_dispersal_drafts">Expansion and dispersal drafts</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=48" title="Edit section: Expansion and dispersal drafts"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/List_of_defunct_and_relocated_National_Hockey_League_teams" title="List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams">List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams</a></div> <table class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"> <tbody><tr> <th width="5%">Draft </th> <th width="10%">Location </th> <th width="10%">City </th> <th width="5%">Date </th> <th width="15%">Expansion team(s)<br />(in 1st round order) </th> <th width="5%">Players drafted </th> <th width="20%">#1 pick (team the player<br />was taken from) </th></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1967_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1967 NHL expansion draft">1967</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_Hotel" title="Queen Elizabeth Hotel">Queen Elizabeth Hotel</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Montreal" title="Montreal">Montreal, Quebec</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001967-06-06-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 6, 1967</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/California_Seals" class="mw-redirect" title="California Seals">California Seals</a> </td> <td>120 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Terry_Sawchuk" title="Terry Sawchuk">Terry Sawchuk</a> (<a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1970_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1970 NHL expansion draft">1970</a> </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001970-06-10-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 10, 1970</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a> </td> <td>40 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tom_Webster_(ice_hockey)" title="Tom Webster (ice hockey)">Tom Webster</a> (<a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1972_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1972 NHL expansion draft">1972</a> </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001972-06-06-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 6, 1972</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Flames" title="Atlanta Flames">Atlanta Flames</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a> </td> <td>42 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Phil_Myre" title="Phil Myre">Phil Myre</a> (<a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1974_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1974 NHL expansion draft">1974</a> </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001974-06-12-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 12, 1974</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Scouts" title="Kansas City Scouts">Kansas City Scouts</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a> </td> <td>48 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Michel_Plasse" title="Michel Plasse">Michel Plasse</a> (Montreal Canadiens) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1978_NHL_dispersal_draft" title="1978 NHL dispersal draft">1978</a> <br /> (dispersal) </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001978-06-15-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 15, 1978</span> </td> <td>merger of <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Barons_(NHL)" title="Cleveland Barons (NHL)">Cleveland Barons</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td>2 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a> picked <a href="/wiki/Mike_Crombeen" title="Mike Crombeen">Mike Crombeen</a> away from the merged team </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1979_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1979 NHL expansion draft">1979</a> </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001979-06-13-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 13, 1979</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets_(1972%E2%80%9396)" class="mw-redirect" title="Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Nordiques" title="Quebec Nordiques">Quebec Nordiques</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a> </td> <td>65 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Alan_Hangsleben" title="Alan Hangsleben">Alan Hangsleben</a> (Montreal Canadiens) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1991_NHL_dispersal_and_expansion_drafts" title="1991 NHL dispersal and expansion drafts">1991</a><br />(dispersal, then expansion) </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001991-05-30-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">May 30, 1991</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a>,<br /><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_North_Stars" title="Minnesota North Stars">Minnesota North Stars</a> </td> <td>44 </td> <td>Dispersal: San Jose submitted a list of 14 players they would take from the existing Minnesota roster<br />Expansion: San Jose took <a href="/wiki/Jeff_Hackett" title="Jeff Hackett">Jeff Hackett</a> (<a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1992_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1992 NHL expansion draft">1992</a> </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;" class="table-na">— </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001992-06-18-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 18, 1992</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> </td> <td>42 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Peter_Sidorkiewicz" title="Peter Sidorkiewicz">Peter Sidorkiewicz</a> (<a href="/wiki/Hartford_Whalers" title="Hartford Whalers">Hartford Whalers</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1993_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1993 NHL expansion draft">1993</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Quebec_Coliseum" class="mw-redirect" title="Quebec Coliseum">Quebec Coliseum</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Quebec_City" title="Quebec City">Quebec City, Quebec</a> </td> <td>June 24–25, 1993 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Mighty_Ducks_of_Anaheim" class="mw-redirect" title="Mighty Ducks of Anaheim">Mighty Ducks of Anaheim</a> </td> <td>51 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/John_Vanbiesbrouck" title="John Vanbiesbrouck">John Vanbiesbrouck</a> (<a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1998_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1998 NHL expansion draft">1998</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/KeyBank_Center" title="KeyBank Center">Marine Midland Arena</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Buffalo,_New_York" title="Buffalo, New York">Buffalo, New York</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001998-06-26-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 26, 1998</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> </td> <td>26 </td> <td>No true "first pick", as Nashville simply chose one player from each of the 26 teams. </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/1999_NHL_expansion_draft" title="1999 NHL expansion draft">1999</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/TD_Garden" title="TD Garden">FleetCenter</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Boston" title="Boston">Boston, Massachusetts</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000001999-06-25-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 25, 1999</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Atlanta_Thrashers" title="Atlanta Thrashers">Atlanta Thrashers</a> </td> <td>26 </td> <td>No true "first pick", as Atlanta simply chose one player from each of the 26 teams (<a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a> were excluded). </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/2000_NHL_expansion_draft" title="2000 NHL expansion draft">2000</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Scotiabank_Saddledome" title="Scotiabank Saddledome">Pengrowth Saddledome</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Calgary" title="Calgary">Calgary, Alberta</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000002000-06-23-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 23, 2000</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>, <br /> <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a> </td> <td>52 </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Rick_Tabaracci" title="Rick Tabaracci">Rick Tabaracci</a> (<a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/2017_NHL_expansion_draft" title="2017 NHL expansion draft">2017</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/T-Mobile_Arena" title="T-Mobile Arena">T-Mobile Arena</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Paradise,_Nevada" title="Paradise, Nevada">Paradise, Nevada</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000002017-06-21-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">June 21, 2017</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> </td> <td>30 </td> <td>No true "first pick", as Vegas simply chose one player from each of the 30 teams. </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/2021_NHL_expansion_draft" title="2021 NHL expansion draft">2021</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Gas_Works_Park" title="Gas Works Park">Gas Works Park</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Seattle,_Washington" class="mw-redirect" title="Seattle, Washington">Seattle, Washington</a> </td> <td><span data-sort-value="000000002021-07-21-0000" style="white-space:nowrap">July 21, 2021</span> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a> </td> <td>30 </td> <td>No true "first pick", as Seattle simply chose one player from each of the 30 teams (<a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a> were excluded). </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Potential_future_expansion">Potential future expansion</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=49" title="Edit section: Potential future expansion"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="/wiki/Potential_National_Hockey_League_expansion" title="Potential National Hockey League expansion">Potential National Hockey League expansion</a></div> <p>After the <a href="/wiki/2000%E2%80%9301_NHL_season" title="2000–01 NHL season">2000–01 season</a>, when the NHL completed its 1990 plan to grow to 30 teams, the league made statements to the effect that no further expansion or even relocation was planned for the foreseeable future. As shown above, no changes occurred until a relocation in the <a href="/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_NHL_season" title="2011–12 NHL season">2011–12 season</a>, followed by semi-regular growth and change. </p><p>There have been rumors and talks of potential new sites for existing or new teams in various locations in the United States and Canada,<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Quebec City, San Diego, Saskatoon, and a second Southern Ontario team (although the league has actively blocked all of the Southern Ontario efforts to date, including in Hamilton, citing territorial concerns with the <a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a> and <a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=50" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="History of the National Hockey League">History of the National Hockey League</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_defunct_and_relocated_National_Hockey_League_teams" title="List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams">List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&action=edit&section=51" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Fees-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-7"><sup><i><b>h</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-8"><sup><i><b>i</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Fees_1-9"><sup><i><b>j</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFCarp2016" class="citation news cs1">Carp, Steve (2016-06-22). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/cost-of-nhl-expansion-team-goes-from-2-million-to-500-million/">"Cost of NHL expansion team goes from $2 million to $500 million"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Las_Vegas_Review-Journal" title="Las Vegas Review-Journal">Las Vegas Review-Journal</a></i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-05-10</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Las+Vegas+Review-Journal&rft.atitle=Cost+of+NHL+expansion+team+goes+from+%242+million+to+%24500+million&rft.date=2016-06-22&rft.aulast=Carp&rft.aufirst=Steve&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reviewjournal.com%2Fsports%2Fgolden-knights-nhl%2Fcost-of-nhl-expansion-team-goes-from-2-million-to-500-million%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-MoreFeeData-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-MoreFeeData_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19770302&id=yztOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=su0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4429,313906">"Franchise fees reduced"</a>. <a href="/wiki/The_Spokesman-Review" title="The Spokesman-Review">The Spokesman-Review</a>. <a href="/wiki/Associated_Press" title="Associated Press">Associated Press</a>. 1977-03-02<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2018-05-11</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Franchise+fees+reduced&rft.date=1977-03-02&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnewspapers%3Fnid%3D1314%26dat%3D19770302%26id%3DyztOAAAAIBAJ%26sjid%3Dsu0DAAAAIBAJ%26pg%3D4429%2C313906&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFinn1990" class="citation news cs1">Finn, Robin (1990-12-07). <span class="id-lock-subscription" title="Paid subscription required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/06/sports/hockey-awarding-of-new-franchises-is-near.html">"Tampa and Ottawa gain N.H.L. franchises"</a></span>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times" title="The New York Times">The New York Times</a></i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101207043114/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/06/sports/hockey-awarding-of-new-franchises-is-near.html">Archived</a> from the original on 2010-12-07<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-03-05</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=Tampa+and+Ottawa+gain+N.H.L.+franchises&rft.date=1990-12-07&rft.aulast=Finn&rft.aufirst=Robin&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F1990%2F12%2F06%2Fsports%2Fhockey-awarding-of-new-franchises-is-near.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Realignment-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Realignment_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKerr1993" class="citation news cs1">Kerr, Grant (April 1, 1993). "NHL formally announces complete realignment package". <i>The Globe and Mail</i>. Canadian Press. p. C8.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Globe+and+Mail&rft.atitle=NHL+formally+announces+complete+realignment+package&rft.pages=C8&rft.date=1993-04-01&rft.aulast=Kerr&rft.aufirst=Grant&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852_5-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFRosen2011" class="citation news cs1">Rosen, Dan (December 5, 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604852">"Governors adopt radical four-conference realignment plan"</a>. <i>NHL.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 5,</span> 2011</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=NHL.com&rft.atitle=Governors+adopt+radical+four-conference+realignment+plan&rft.date=2011-12-05&rft.aulast=Rosen&rft.aufirst=Dan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhl.com%2Fice%2Fnews.htm%3Fid%3D604852&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wgrz.com/sports/article/149232/4/NHL-realignment-on-hold-after-union-balks">NHL realignment on hold after union balks</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20120918224203/http://www.wgrz.com/sports/article/149232/4/NHL-realignment-on-hold-after-union-balks">Archived</a> September 18, 2012, at <a href="/wiki/Archive.today" title="Archive.today">archive.today</a>. <i>The Sports Network</i>. Retrieved January 6, 2012.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=41111&blogger_id=1">NHL Alignment Will NOT Change as NHLPA Rejects Re-alignment. Here's why...</a>. <i>Hockeybuzz.com</i>. Retrieved January 8, 2012.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDan_Rosen2013" class="citation web cs1">Dan Rosen (March 8, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=659069&navid=nhl:topheads">"Board of Governors Vote Next Step For Realignment Plan"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NHL.com" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL.com">NHL.com</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NHL.com&rft.atitle=Board+of+Governors+Vote+Next+Step+For+Realignment+Plan&rft.date=2013-03-08&rft.au=Dan+Rosen&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhl.com%2Fice%2Fnews.htm%3Fid%3D659069%26navid%3Dnhl%3Atopheads&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Realignment20130314-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Realignment20130314_9-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDan_Rosen2013" class="citation web cs1">Dan Rosen (March 14, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=660138">"Realignment plan approved by Board of Governors"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NHL.com" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL.com">NHL.com</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NHL.com&rft.atitle=Realignment+plan+approved+by+Board+of+Governors&rft.date=2013-03-14&rft.au=Dan+Rosen&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhl.com%2Fice%2Fnews.htm%3Fid%3D660138&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDan_Rosen2013" class="citation web cs1">Dan Rosen (July 19, 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678456">"NHL introduces new division names with schedule"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NHL.com" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL.com">NHL.com</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=NHL.com&rft.atitle=NHL+introduces+new+division+names+with+schedule&rft.date=2013-07-19&rft.au=Dan+Rosen&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhl.com%2Fice%2Fnews.htm%3Fid%3D678456&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SN_20181205-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SN_20181205_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SN_20181205_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFChiappelli2018" class="citation news cs1">Chiappelli, Kirstie (December 4, 2018). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181206102323/http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/nhl-expansion-seattle-vote-approved-2021-2022-season-gary-bettman-news/1tbohhghjv6yt1w8hlmnzgzzxc">"Seattle lands NHL expansion team starting in 2021-22 season"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Sporting_News" class="mw-redirect" title="Sporting News">Sporting News</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/nhl-expansion-seattle-vote-approved-2021-2022-season-gary-bettman-news/1tbohhghjv6yt1w8hlmnzgzzxc">the original</a> on December 6, 2018<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">December 5,</span> 2018</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Seattle+lands+NHL+expansion+team+starting+in+2021-22+season&rft.date=2018-12-04&rft.aulast=Chiappelli&rft.aufirst=Kirstie&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnhl%2Fnews%2Fnhl-expansion-seattle-vote-approved-2021-2022-season-gary-bettman-news%2F1tbohhghjv6yt1w8hlmnzgzzxc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFSoshnickNovy-WilliamsSoshnick2024" class="citation web cs1">Soshnick, Eben Novy-Williams, Scott; Novy-Williams, Eben; Soshnick, Scott (2024-04-18). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2024/nhl-coyotes-sale-approved-ryan-smith-1234776000/">"NHL Approves $1.2B Coyotes Sale to Utah's Ryan and Ashley Smith"</a>. <i>Sportico.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2024-04-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Sportico.com&rft.atitle=NHL+Approves+%241.2B+Coyotes+Sale+to+Utah%27s+Ryan+and+Ashley+Smith&rft.date=2024-04-18&rft.aulast=Soshnick&rft.aufirst=Eben+Novy-Williams%2C+Scott&rft.au=Novy-Williams%2C+Eben&rft.au=Soshnick%2C+Scott&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportico.com%2Fbusiness%2Fteam-sales%2F2024%2Fnhl-coyotes-sale-approved-ryan-smith-1234776000%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span><span class="cs1-maint citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_web" title="Template:Cite web">cite web</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">link</a>)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation magazine cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.si.com/nhl/coyotes-owner-alex-meruelo-paperwork-relinquish-rights">"Ex-Coyotes Owner Alex Meruelo Formally Relinquishes Rights to Team"</a>. <i>Sports Illustrated</i>. July 10, 2024<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">July 10,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Sports+Illustrated&rft.atitle=Ex-Coyotes+Owner+Alex+Meruelo+Formally+Relinquishes+Rights+to+Team&rft.date=2024-07-10&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnhl%2Fcoyotes-owner-alex-meruelo-paperwork-relinquish-rights&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-utah-nhl-8fe43ee05915109c35d2c1ca4136af7c">"Embattled Meruelo leaving Coyotes ownership after failed land auction"</a>. <i>Associated Press</i>. June 25, 2024<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 25,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Associated+Press&rft.atitle=Embattled+Meruelo+leaving+Coyotes+ownership+after+failed+land+auction&rft.date=2024-06-25&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Farticle%2Farizona-coyotes-utah-nhl-8fe43ee05915109c35d2c1ca4136af7c&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/bettman-confirms-meruelo-will-not-be-re-activating-coyotes-franchise/">"Bettman confirms Meruelo will not be re-activating Coyotes franchise"</a>. <i>Sportsnet.ca</i>. June 25, 2024<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 25,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Sportsnet.ca&rft.atitle=Bettman+confirms+Meruelo+will+not+be+re-activating+Coyotes+franchise&rft.date=2024-06-25&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsnet.ca%2Fnhl%2Fbettman-confirms-meruelo-will-not-be-re-activating-coyotes-franchise%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEaregood2023" class="citation magazine cs1">Earegood, Connor (June 12, 2023). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-expansion-six-cities-looking-to-get-in-the-game">"NHL Expansion: Six Cities Looking to Get In The Game"</a>. <i>The Hockey News</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 5,</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Hockey+News&rft.atitle=NHL+Expansion%3A+Six+Cities+Looking+to+Get+In+The+Game&rft.date=2023-06-12&rft.aulast=Earegood&rft.aufirst=Connor&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fthehockeynews.com%2Fnews%2Fnhl-expansion-six-cities-looking-to-get-in-the-game&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATimeline+of+the+National+Hockey+League" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="National_Hockey_League26" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:National_Hockey_League" title="Template:National Hockey League"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:National_Hockey_League" title="Template talk:National Hockey League"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:National_Hockey_League" title="Special:EditPage/Template:National Hockey League"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="National_Hockey_League26" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:transparent;color:inherit;"><div style="padding:0px"><table class="navbox-columns-table" style="border-spacing: 0px; text-align:left;width:100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="font-weight:bold;background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/Western_Conference_(NHL)" title="Western Conference (NHL)">Western Conference</a></td><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;font-weight:bold;background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Conference_(NHL)" title="Eastern Conference (NHL)">Eastern Conference</a></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align:top"><td class="navbox-list" style="padding:0px;width:25%;"><div> </div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#D0E7FF;"><div id="Pacific_Division43" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Pacific_Division_(NHL)" title="Pacific Division (NHL)">Pacific Division</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Anaheim_Ducks" title="Anaheim Ducks">Anaheim Ducks</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Calgary_Flames" title="Calgary Flames">Calgary Flames</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Edmonton_Oilers" title="Edmonton Oilers">Edmonton Oilers</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Los_Angeles_Kings" title="Los Angeles Kings">Los Angeles Kings</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/San_Jose_Sharks" title="San Jose Sharks">San Jose Sharks</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Seattle_Kraken" title="Seattle Kraken">Seattle Kraken</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Vancouver_Canucks" title="Vancouver Canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Vegas_Golden_Knights" title="Vegas Golden Knights">Vegas Golden Knights</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div></td><td class="navbox-list" style="border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;padding:0px;width:25%;"><div> </div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#D0E7FF;"><div id="Central_Division43" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Central_Division_(NHL)" title="Central Division (NHL)">Central Division</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Blackhawks" title="Chicago Blackhawks">Chicago Blackhawks</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Colorado_Avalanche" title="Colorado Avalanche">Colorado Avalanche</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Dallas_Stars" title="Dallas Stars">Dallas Stars</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Wild" title="Minnesota Wild">Minnesota Wild</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Nashville_Predators" title="Nashville Predators">Nashville Predators</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Blues" title="St. Louis Blues">St. Louis Blues</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Utah_Hockey_Club" title="Utah Hockey Club">Utah Hockey Club</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#D0E7FF;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Winnipeg_Jets" title="Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div></td><td class="navbox-list" style="border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;padding:0px;width:25%;"><div> </div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#FFCCCC;"><div id="Atlantic_Division45" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Atlantic_Division_(NHL)" title="Atlantic Division (NHL)">Atlantic Division</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Boston_Bruins" title="Boston Bruins">Boston Bruins</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Sabres" title="Buffalo Sabres">Buffalo Sabres</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Detroit_Red_Wings" title="Detroit Red Wings">Detroit Red Wings</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Florida_Panthers" title="Florida Panthers">Florida Panthers</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Montreal_Canadiens" title="Montreal Canadiens">Montreal Canadiens</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Ottawa_Senators" title="Ottawa Senators">Ottawa Senators</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Lightning" title="Tampa Bay Lightning">Tampa Bay Lightning</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Maple_Leafs" title="Toronto Maple Leafs">Toronto Maple Leafs</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div></td><td class="navbox-list" style="border-left:2px solid #fdfdfd;padding:0px;width:25%;"><div> </div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#FFCCCC;"><div id="Metropolitan_Division25" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Division" title="Metropolitan Division">Metropolitan Division</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Carolina_Hurricanes" title="Carolina Hurricanes">Carolina Hurricanes</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Columbus_Blue_Jackets" title="Columbus Blue Jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/New_Jersey_Devils" title="New Jersey Devils">New Jersey Devils</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Islanders" title="New York Islanders">New York Islanders</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/New_York_Rangers" title="New York Rangers">New York Rangers</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Flyers" title="Philadelphia Flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Penguins" title="Pittsburgh Penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#FFCCCC;text-align:center;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Washington_Capitals" title="Washington Capitals">Washington Capitals</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#eee;">Events</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#eee;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_seasons" title="List of NHL seasons">Seasons</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Season_structure_of_the_NHL" title="Season structure of the NHL">structure</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stanley_Cup" title="Stanley Cup">Stanley Cup</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Stanley_Cup_playoffs" title="Stanley Cup playoffs">playoffs</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NHL_playoff_ties" title="NHL playoff ties">tied games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_conference_finals" title="NHL conference finals">conference finals</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stanley_Cup_Finals" title="Stanley Cup Finals">Finals</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Stanley_Cup_champions" title="List of Stanley Cup champions">champions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traditions_and_anecdotes_associated_with_the_Stanley_Cup" title="Traditions and anecdotes associated with the Stanley Cup">traditions and anecdotes</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Presidents%27_Trophy" title="Presidents' Trophy">Presidents' Trophy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_All-Star_Game" class="mw-redirect" title="National Hockey League All-Star Game">All-Star Game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Entry_Draft" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL Entry Draft">Draft</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players" class="mw-redirect" title="List of NHL players">Players</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_Players%27_Association" title="National Hockey League Players' Association">Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_retired_numbers" title="List of National Hockey League retired numbers">retired jersey numbers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/100_Greatest_NHL_Players" title="100 Greatest NHL Players">100 Greatest</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_All-Star_team" title="NHL All-Star team">All-Star teams</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NHL_All-Decade_team" title="NHL All-Decade team">All-Decade teams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Quarter-Century_teams" title="NHL Quarter-Century teams">Quarter-Century teams</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_awards" class="mw-redirect" title="List of National Hockey League awards">Awards</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_current_NHL_captains_and_alternate_captains" title="List of current NHL captains and alternate captains">Captains</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_outdoor_games" title="NHL outdoor games">Outdoor games</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Winter_Classic" title="NHL Winter Classic">Winter Classic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Heritage_Classic" title="NHL Heritage Classic">Heritage Classic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Stadium_Series" title="NHL Stadium Series">Stadium Series</a></li></ul></li> <li>Hockey Day <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hockey_Day_in_America" class="mw-redirect" title="Hockey Day in America">America</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hockey_Day_in_Canada" class="mw-redirect" title="Hockey Day in Canada">Canada</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_international_games_played_by_NHL_teams" title="List of international games played by NHL teams">International games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kraft_Hockeyville" title="Kraft Hockeyville">Kraft Hockeyville</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Big_City_Greens_Classic" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL Big City Greens Classic">Big City Greens Classic</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#eee;"><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="History of the National Hockey League">History</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#eee;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>Eras <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_pre-NHL_seasons" title="List of pre-NHL seasons">pre-NHL (1883–1926)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_Association" title="National Hockey Association">NHA (1910–1917)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1917%E2%80%931942)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1917–1942)">1917–1942</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1942%E2%80%931967)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967)">1942–1967</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1967%E2%80%931992)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1967–1992)">1967–1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1992%E2%80%932017)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1992–2017)">1992–2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(2017%E2%80%93present)" title="History of the National Hockey League (2017–present)">Since 2017</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_all-time_NHL_standings" title="List of all-time NHL standings">All-time standings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_playoff_series" title="List of NHL playoff series">All-time playoff series</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Organizational changes</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_defunct_and_relocated_National_Hockey_League_teams" title="List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams">defunct and relocated teams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1967_NHL_expansion" title="1967 NHL expansion">1967 expansion</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Hockey_Association" title="World Hockey Association">WHA</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/NHL%E2%80%93WHA_merger" class="mw-redirect" title="NHL–WHA merger">merger</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Potential_National_Hockey_League_expansion" title="Potential National Hockey League expansion">potential expansion</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#eee;">Others</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:#eee;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_appearance_streaks" title="List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks">Streaks</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_longest_winning_streaks" class="mw-redirect" title="List of National Hockey League longest winning streaks">wins</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_longest_losing_streaks" class="mw-redirect" title="List of National Hockey League longest losing streaks">losses</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_droughts" title="List of NHL franchise post-season droughts">Droughts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hockey_Hall_of_Fame" title="Hockey Hall of Fame">Hall of Fame</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_members_of_the_Hockey_Hall_of_Fame" title="List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame">members</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_rivalries" class="mw-redirect" title="National Hockey League rivalries">Rivalries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_arenas" title="List of National Hockey League arenas">Arenas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_rules" title="National Hockey League rules">Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fighting_in_ice_hockey" title="Fighting in ice hockey">Fighting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Violence_in_ice_hockey" title="Violence in ice hockey">Violence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_uniform" title="NHL uniform">Uniforms</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ice_hockey_in_Canada" title="Ice hockey in Canada">Ice hockey in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ice_hockey_in_the_United_States" title="Ice hockey in the United States">Ice hockey in the United States</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_teams_by_valuation" class="mw-redirect" title="List of NHL teams by valuation">Valuations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Collective_Bargaining_Agreement" title="NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement">Collective bargaining agreement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_lockout" title="NHL lockout">Lockouts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_on_television" title="National Hockey League on television">Television</a> and <a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_on_the_radio" title="National Hockey League on the radio">radio coverage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_attendance_figures" title="List of National Hockey League attendance figures">Attendance figures</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <b><a href="/wiki/Category:National_Hockey_League" title="Category:National Hockey League">Category</a></b></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/2024%E2%80%9325_NHL_season" title="2024–25 NHL season">2024–25 season</a></b></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="National_Hockey_League-related_lists_and_topics128" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:NHL_topics" title="Template:NHL topics"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:NHL_topics" title="Template talk:NHL topics"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:NHL_topics" title="Special:EditPage/Template:NHL topics"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="National_Hockey_League-related_lists_and_topics128" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League" title="National Hockey League">National Hockey League</a>-related lists and topics</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League" title="History of the National Hockey League">History</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_pre-NHL_seasons" title="List of pre-NHL seasons">Pre-NHL seasons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_Association" title="National Hockey Association">National Hockey Association</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1917%E2%80%931942)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1917–1942)">1917–1942</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1942%E2%80%931967)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1942–1967)">1942–1967</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Original_Six" title="Original Six">Original Six</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1967%E2%80%931992)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1967–1992)">1967–1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(1992%E2%80%932017)" title="History of the National Hockey League (1992–2017)">1992–2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_the_National_Hockey_League_(2017%E2%80%93present)" title="History of the National Hockey League (2017–present)">2017–present</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_all-time_NHL_standings" title="List of all-time NHL standings">All-time standings</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_seasons" title="List of NHL seasons">Seasons</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_playoff_series" title="List of NHL playoff series">Playoff series</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_playoff_ties" title="NHL playoff ties">Tied games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_appearance_streaks" title="List of NHL franchise post-season appearance streaks">Streaks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_post-season_droughts" title="List of NHL franchise post-season droughts">Droughts</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_retired_numbers" title="List of National Hockey League retired numbers">Retired numbers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_countries_with_their_first_National_Hockey_League_player" class="mw-redirect" title="List of countries with their first National Hockey League player">First NHL player by country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ice_hockey_in_Canada" title="Ice hockey in Canada">Ice hockey in Canada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ice_hockey_in_the_United_States" title="Ice hockey in the United States">Ice hockey in the United States</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Personnel</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ice_hockey_line_nicknames" title="List of ice hockey line nicknames">Famous linemates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_current_NHL_captains_and_alternate_captains" title="List of current NHL captains and alternate captains">Captains</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_who_spent_their_entire_career_with_one_franchise" title="List of NHL players who spent their entire career with one franchise">Careers with one franchise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_head_coaches" title="List of NHL head coaches">Head coaches</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_current_NHL_general_managers" title="List of current NHL general managers">General managers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_franchise_owners" class="mw-redirect" title="List of NHL franchise owners">Owners</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_family_relations_in_the_NHL" title="List of family relations in the NHL">Notable families</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_commissioner" title="NHL commissioner">Presidents and Commissioners</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_on-ice_officials" title="List of NHL on-ice officials">Referees and linesmen</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Records</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:NHL_statistical_records" title="Category:NHL statistical records">League records</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_records_(individual)" title="List of NHL records (individual)">individual</a>, <a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_records_(team)" title="List of NHL records (team)">team</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_statistical_leaders" title="List of NHL statistical leaders">Statistical leaders</a> (<a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_statistical_leaders_by_country" class="mw-redirect" title="List of NHL statistical leaders by country">by country of birth</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_1,000_points" title="List of NHL players with 1,000 points">Points, career (min. 1,000)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_career_assists_leaders" title="List of NHL career assists leaders">Assists, career (min. 600)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_500_goals" title="List of NHL players with 500 goals">Goals, career (min. 500)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_100-point_seasons" title="List of NHL players with 100-point seasons">Points, season (min. 100)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_50-goal_seasons" title="List of NHL players with 50-goal seasons">Goals, season (min. 50)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/50_goals_in_50_games" title="50 goals in 50 games">50 goals in 50 games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_1,000_games_played" title="List of NHL players with 1,000 games played">Games, career (min. 1,000)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_500_consecutive_games_played" title="List of NHL players with 500 consecutive games played">Consecutive games, career (min. 500)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_players_with_2,000_career_penalty_minutes" title="List of NHL players with 2,000 career penalty minutes">PIMs, career (min. 2,000)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_players_with_five_or_more_goals_in_an_NHL_game" title="List of players with five or more goals in an NHL game">5+ goals, game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_players_with_eight_or_more_points_in_an_NHL_game" title="List of players with eight or more points in an NHL game">8+ points, game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_goaltenders_with_300_wins" title="List of NHL goaltenders with 300 wins">Goaltender wins, career (min. 300)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_goalscoring_NHL_goaltenders" title="List of goalscoring NHL goaltenders">Goaltenders who have scored</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Wayne_Gretzky" title="List of career achievements by Wayne Gretzky">Wayne Gretzky's records</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gordie_Howe#Records" title="Gordie Howe">Gordie Howe's records</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_longest_winning_streaks" title="List of NHL longest winning streaks">Longest winning streaks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_longest_losing_streaks" title="List of NHL longest losing streaks">Longest losing streaks</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_international_games_played_by_NHL_teams" title="List of international games played by NHL teams">International games with NHL teams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_international_ice_hockey_competitions_featuring_NHL_players" title="List of international ice hockey competitions featuring NHL players">International games with NHL players</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2025_4_Nations_Face-Off" title="2025 4 Nations Face-Off">4 Nations Face-Off</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/World_Cup_of_Hockey" title="World Cup of Hockey">World Cup of Hockey</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hockey_Fights_Cancer" title="Hockey Fights Cancer">Hockey Fights Cancer</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Hockey_League_attendance_figures" title="List of National Hockey League attendance figures">Attendance totals</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trade_(sports)#NHL_2" title="Trade (sports)">Trade deadline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Waivers_(NHL)" title="Waivers (NHL)">Waivers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_player_salaries_in_the_NHL" class="mw-redirect" title="List of player salaries in the NHL">Player salaries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Hockey_League_Players%27_Association" title="National Hockey League Players' Association">NHLPA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_Collective_Bargaining_Agreement" title="NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement">CBA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_ice_hockey_video_games" title="List of ice hockey video games">Video games</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NHL_mascots" title="List of NHL mascots">Mascots</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Analytics_(ice_hockey)" title="Analytics (ice hockey)">Advanced statistics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/NHL_uniform" title="NHL uniform">NHL uniform</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&oldid=1263435171">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&oldid=1263435171</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Category</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:National_Hockey_League_history" title="Category:National Hockey League history">National Hockey League history</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_the_EasyTimeline_extension" title="Category:Pages using the EasyTimeline extension">Pages using the EasyTimeline extension</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_archiveis_links" title="Category:Webarchive template archiveis links">Webarchive template archiveis links</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list">CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description is different from Wikidata">Short description is different from Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_potentially_dated_statements_from_July_2024" title="Category:Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2024">Articles containing potentially dated statements from July 2024</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_containing_potentially_dated_statements" title="Category:All articles containing potentially dated statements">All articles containing potentially dated statements</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 16 December 2024, at 17:14<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a>. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization.</li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><picture><source media="(min-width: 500px)" srcset="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia.svg" width="25" height="25" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" lang="en" loading="lazy"></picture></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><picture><source media="(min-width: 500px)" srcset="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" width="88" height="31"><img src="/w/resources/assets/mediawiki_compact.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="25" height="25" loading="lazy"></picture></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-header-container vector-sticky-header-container"> <div id="vector-sticky-header" class="vector-sticky-header"> <div class="vector-sticky-header-start"> <div class="vector-sticky-header-icon-start vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" aria-hidden="true"> <button class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-sticky-header-search-toggle" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="ui.vector-sticky-search-form.icon"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </button> </div> <div role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box"> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="vector-sticky-search-form" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia"> <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-header-context-bar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-sticky-header-toc" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-sticky-header-toc vector-sticky-header-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-sticky-header-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-sticky-header-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-sticky-header-toc-label" for="vector-sticky-header-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-sticky-header-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="vector-sticky-header-context-bar-primary" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the National Hockey League</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-header-end" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="vector-sticky-header-icons"> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-talk-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="talk-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-speechBubbles mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-speechBubbles"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-subject-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="subject-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-article mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-article"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-history-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="history-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-history mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-history"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only mw-watchlink" id="ca-watchstar-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="watch-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-star mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-star"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-edit-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="wikitext-edit-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikiText mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-wikiText"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-ve-edit-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="ve-edit-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-edit mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-edit"></span> <span></span> </a> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only" id="ca-viewsource-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="ve-edit-protected-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-editLock mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-editLock"></span> <span></span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-header-buttons"> <button class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet mw-interlanguage-selector" id="p-lang-btn-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-wikimedia-language"></span> <span>1 language</span> </button> <a href="#" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive" id="ca-addsection-sticky-header" tabindex="-1" data-event-name="addsection-sticky-header"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-speechBubbleAdd-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-speechBubbleAdd-progressive"></span> <span>Add topic</span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-header-icon-end"> <div class="vector-user-links"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-d8647bfd6-77lx7","wgBackendResponseTime":155,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.752","walltime":"0.936","ppvisitednodes":{"value":23395,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":127763,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":3704,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":21,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":13,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":73777,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":0,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 688.216 1 -total"," 25.90% 178.259 1 Template:Reflist"," 19.55% 134.545 15 Template:Inflation"," 16.62% 114.394 6 Template:Cite_news"," 16.21% 111.566 1 Template:NHL"," 15.76% 108.461 1 Template:Navbox_with_columns"," 13.49% 92.810 1 Template:Short_description"," 8.74% 60.132 2 Template:Pagetype"," 8.66% 59.615 15 Template:Inflation/US"," 8.12% 55.878 30 Template:Inflation/US/dataset"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.277","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":6197548,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-api-int.codfw.main-59df4c699b-zsldk","timestamp":"20250220193253","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false}}});});</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"Timeline of the National Hockey League","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timeline_of_the_National_Hockey_League","sameAs":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q5868314","mainEntity":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q5868314","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/static\/images\/wmf-hor-googpub.png"}},"datePublished":"2010-08-26T19:21:30Z","dateModified":"2024-12-16T17:14:11Z","headline":"list of NHL organizational changes"}</script> </body> </html>