History of organizational changes in the NHL
Since being founded in 1917, the National Hockey League, which in its first two seasons started out as a three-team league and eventually grew to thirty-one in its current state, has expanded and contracted numerous times throughout its history. The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the NHL.
Early years
Four/three teams (1917–19)
The four teams that began the inaugural NHL season were the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the original Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas. However, after completing four games, the Wanderers withdrew from the league due to their arena burning down, and the NHL continued this season and the next with only three teams.| Withdrew after four games into the 1917–18 season § |
Four teams (1919–24)
In its third season, 1919–20, the NHL underwent its first expansion, adding the Quebec Bulldogs. Toronto changed its name to Toronto St. Patricks.1920: Quebec relocates to Hamilton
For the 1920–21 season, Quebec relocated to Hamilton, becoming the Hamilton Tigers. These same four teams continued to play up to 1923–24.| Hamilton Tigers | Montreal Canadiens | Ottawa Senators | Toronto St. Patricks |
Six teams (1924–25)
Two new teams joined the NHL in its eighth season, the Boston Bruins, and the Montreal Maroons.| First season in the NHL * | Last season in the NHL † |
Seven teams (1925–26)
The next season, the NHL added two new teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Americans. The Americans were stocked by purchasing the contracts of the Hamilton Tigers players, and the Tigers franchise was subsequently revoked by the league.Ten teams (1926–31)
The NHL continued to expand the following 1926–27 season, adding the Chicago Black Hawks, the Detroit Cougars, and the New York Rangers, growing to ten teams, thus more than doubling its size in its first decade of existence. The league realigned into two divisions: the American Division and the Canadian Division. Despite its name, the Canadian Division contained at least one team based in the U.S. throughout its existence.Midway through the 1926–27 season, the Toronto St. Patricks were sold and renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the NHL ruled that the team had to still officially use the St. Patricks name until the end of that season.
| 1926–27 was the first season in the NHL * |
1930: Pittsburgh relocates to Philadelphia
For the 1930–31 season, the Pirates moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, becoming the Philadelphia Quakers, and Detroit was renamed the Detroit Falcons.| Last season before hiatus, rejoined NHL later ^ | Last season in the NHL † |
Eight teams (1931–32)
After fourteen seasons of steady expansion, the NHL contracted to eight teams, dropping the Philadelphia Quakers and the original Ottawa Senators for the 1931–32 season.| Canadian Division | American Division |
| Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins |
| Montreal Maroons | Chicago Black Hawks |
| New York Americans | Detroit Falcons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | New York Rangers |
Nine teams (1932–35)
For the 1932–33 season, after missing one season, the original Ottawa Senators rejoined the NHL, and the Detroit Falcons were renamed the Detroit Red Wings.1934: Ottawa relocates to St. Louis
For the 1934–35 season, the Ottawa Senators relocated, becoming the St. Louis Eagles.Eight teams (1935–38)
The Eagles folded after one season, and the NHL was once again an eight-team league for three seasons.Seven teams (1938–42)
The Montreal Maroons withdrew from the league for the 1938–39 season, 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.| Boston Bruins | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | |||
| Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Canadiens | New York Americans |
1941: The Americans change their name
The New York Americans changed their name to the Brooklyn Americans for the 1941–42 season, their last.Original Six (1942–67)
The 1942–43 season saw the folding of the Brooklyn Americans, thus ushering in the Original Six era of the NHL, which lasted without any organizational changes for twenty-five seasons.| Boston Bruins | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | ||
| Chicago Black Hawks | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs |
Expansion years (1967–91)
Twelve teams (1967–70)
The 1967 expansion doubled the number of teams in the league, with an upfront expansion fee of $2 million each. For the 1967–68 season, six new teams were added to the NHL: the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues.Within a month into their first season, the California Seals were renamed the Oakland Seals.
| All Original Six teams were placed in the East Division |
| All 1967 expansion teams were placed in the West Division |
Fourteen teams (1970–72)
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 1970–71. The same season the NHL added two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks, paying an expansion fee of $6 million each. The Sabres and the Canucks were placed in the East, while the Chicago Black Hawks moved to the West| 1970–71 was the first season in the NHL * |
Sixteen teams (1972–74)
Two more teams joined for the 1972–73 NHL season, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames. With the competing World Hockey Association starting that same season, the NHL was not able to raise its expansion fee from the price of two years earlier, $6 million, with the Islanders paying an additional $5 million to the New York Rangers for infringing on their territory. The Islanders were placed in the East and the Flames were placed in the West.| 1972–73 was the first season in the NHL * |
Eighteen teams (1974–78)
Two more teams joined for the 1974–75 NHL season, the Washington Capitals and the Kansas City Scouts, 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 of two years and four years earlier. The earnings situation for the new franchises was so poor that the Capitals were able to negotiate a reduction to a total fee of $2.85 million.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 Prince of Wales Conference and consisted of the Adams Division and Norris Division. The West Division became the Clarence Campbell Conference and consisted of the Patrick Division and Smythe Division.
| 1974–75 was the first season in the NHL * |
1976: Two teams relocate
Going into the 1976–77 NHL season, the California Golden Seals relocated and became the Cleveland Barons, and the Kansas City Scouts moved as well, becoming the Colorado Rockies.Seventeen teams (1978–79)
For the first time since the 1942–43 season the NHL contracted, merging the Cleveland Barons into the Minnesota North Stars. The North Stars then took the Barons' place in the Adams Division.Twenty-one teams (1979–91)
Following seven seasons of revenue draining competition, the NHL–WHA merger was completed for the start of the 1979–80 NHL season. Four teams came over from the WHA, paying an expansion fee of $7.5 million each. These new NHL teams were the Edmonton Oilers, the Hartford Whalers, the Quebec Nordiques, and the Winnipeg Jets. This also doubled the number of Canadian teams in the league. Standing at 21 teams for twelve seasons, this was one of the longer stable periods of NHL history, though surpassed by the twenty-five seasons of the Original Six period, when no additions, moves nor name changes occurred.The Nordiques were placed in the Adams Division, the Whalers in the Norris, and the Oilers and the Jets were both placed in the Smythe. The Washington Capitals moved from the Norris to the Patrick Division.
1980: Flames relocate to Calgary
For the 1980–81 season, Atlanta relocated and became the Calgary Flames.1981 realignment
For the 1981–82 season, 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.1982: Colorado relocates to New Jersey
For the 1982–83 season, the Colorado Rockies moved, becoming the New Jersey Devils. The team was moved to the Patrick Division, while the Winnipeg Jets took their place in the Smythe DivisionFurther expansion
Twenty-two teams (1991–92)
The 1991–92 season saw the dawn of rapid expansion and relocation in the NHL, which lasted for the next ten years, starting with the addition of the San Jose Sharks, paying an expansion fee of $45 million. The Sharks were placed in the Smythe Division with the other West Coast teams.| 1991–92 was the first season in the NHL * |
Twenty-four teams (1992–93)
Two new teams joined the league the following season, the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning, paying an expansion fee of $45 million each. The Senators were placed in the Adams Division, and the Lightning in the Norris, so all four divisions would have six teams each.| 1992–93 was the first season in the NHL * |
Twenty-six teams (1993–98)
The next season, another two teams were added, the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, paying an expansion fee of $50 million each, with Anaheim paying an additional $25 million to the Los Angeles Kings for infringing on their region. The Minnesota North Stars relocated, becoming the Dallas Stars.The league realigned the teams. The names of the conferences were changed from Campbell and Wales to Western and Eastern respectively, and the divisions' names were changed from Adams, Patrick, Norris, and Smythe to Northeast, Atlantic, Central, and Pacific respectively.
| 1993–94 was the first season in the NHL * |
1995: Nordiques relocate to Colorado
For the 1995–96 season, the Quebec Nordiques relocated and became the Colorado Avalanche. The team also switched conferences, moving from the Northeast Division in the East to the Pacific Division in the West.1996: Jets relocate to Phoenix
The 1996–97 season, the Winnipeg Jets moved, becoming the Phoenix Coyotes. The team remained in the Central Division.1997: Whalers relocate to the Carolinas
The 1997–98 season saw the Hartford Whalers relocate, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. The team remained in the Northeast Division.Twenty-seven teams (1998–99)
The Nashville Predators joined the league for the 1998–99 season, paying an expansion fee of $80 million. The league also realigned to a strictly geographic six-division structure, with three per conference. The Eastern Conference had the Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast divisions; while the Western Conference had the Central, Northwest and Pacific divisions. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the only team to switch conferences, moving from the West to the East.| 1998–99 was the first season in the NHL * |
Twenty-eight teams (1999–2000)
The following season, another team started play, the Atlanta Thrashers, paying the same expansion fee of $80 million as the Predators paid a year earlier. The Thrashers were placed in the Southeast Division.| 1999–2000 was the first season in the NHL * |
Thirty teams (2000–2017)
For its 2000–01 season, the NHL added the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, each paying the same expansion fee of $80 million as Nashville and Atlanta paid in the previous two years. The Blue Jackets were placed in the Central Division, and the Wild in the Northwest, so all six divisions would have five teams each.For the next 17 seasons, the NHL maintained 30 teams, the second longest period of membership stability in its history.
| 2000–01 was the first season in the NHL * |
2006: Anaheim shortens its name
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed their name to the Anaheim Ducks in the 2006–07 season.| East | Atlantic | Northeast | Southeast |
| East | New Jersey Devils | Boston Bruins | Atlanta Thrashers |
| East | New York Islanders | Buffalo Sabres | Carolina Hurricanes |
| East | New York Rangers | Montreal Canadiens | Florida Panthers |
| East | Philadelphia Flyers | Ottawa Senators | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| East | Pittsburgh Penguins | Toronto Maple Leafs | Washington Capitals |
| West | Central | Northwest | Pacific |
| West | Chicago Blackhawks | Calgary Flames | Anaheim Ducks |
| West | Columbus Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche | Dallas Stars |
| West | Detroit Red Wings | Edmonton Oilers | Los Angeles Kings |
| West | Nashville Predators | Minnesota Wild | Phoenix Coyotes |
| West | St. Louis Blues | Vancouver Canucks | San Jose Sharks |
2011: Thrashers relocate to Winnipeg
The Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, becoming the second version of the Winnipeg Jets in the 2011–12 NHL season. The team remained in the Southeast Division.| East | Atlantic | Northeast | Southeast |
| East | New Jersey Devils | Boston Bruins | Carolina Hurricanes |
| East | New York Islanders | Buffalo Sabres | Florida Panthers |
| East | New York Rangers | Montreal Canadiens | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| East | Philadelphia Flyers | Ottawa Senators | Washington Capitals |
| East | Pittsburgh Penguins | Toronto Maple Leafs | Winnipeg Jets |
| West | Central | Northwest | Pacific |
| West | Chicago Blackhawks | Calgary Flames | Anaheim Ducks |
| West | Columbus Blue Jackets | Colorado Avalanche | Dallas Stars |
| West | Detroit Red Wings | Edmonton Oilers | Los Angeles Kings |
| West | Nashville Predators | Minnesota Wild | Phoenix Coyotes |
| West | St. Louis Blues | Vancouver Canucks | San Jose Sharks |
2013 realignment
The 2011 relocation of the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise to the Winnipeg Jets in prompted the league to discuss realignment. However, disagreement between the NHL Board of Governors and the National Hockey League Players' Association caused it to be pushed to 2013.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. However on January 6, 2012, the National Hockey League Players' Association rejected that proposed realignment. A new joint NHL-NHLPA plan was proposed in February 2013 as a modification of the previous plan with both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings moving to the East and the Winnipeg Jets moving to the West. The NHLPA officially gave its consent to the NHL's proposed realignment plan on March 7, and then the NHL's Board of Governors approved the realignment on March 14, to be implemented prior to the 2013–14 season. The league then announced the names of the divisions on July 19: the two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference would be the Atlantic Division and the Metropolitan Division, and the two seven-team divisions in the Western Conference would be the Central Division and the Pacific Division.
2014: The Coyotes change their name
The Phoenix Coyotes changed their name to Arizona Coyotes for the 2014–15 season.Thirty-one teams (2017–2021)
On June 22, 2016, the Board of Governors voted 30-0 to add an expansion franchise in Las Vegas for the 2017–18 season, charging an expansion fee of $500 million. The new team, the Vegas Golden Knights, were put into the Pacific Division.| 2017–18 was the first season in the NHL * |
Thirty-two teams (2021–future)
On December 4, 2018, Seattle was announced as the location of the future thirty-second franchise to begin play in the 2021–22 season, with an expansion fee of $650 million. The new Seattle Kraken will be placed in the Pacific Division, while the Arizona Coyotes will be moved to the Central Division.| 2021–22 will be the first season in the NHL * |