From 1917 To 1924 The Early Years

The National Hockey League: A History of Expansion and Realignment

From 1917 to 1924: The Early Years

The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded in 1917 with four teams: the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas. The league expanded to six teams in 1924 with the addition of the Boston Bruins and New York Americans.

From 1925 to 1967: The Original Six Era

The NHL entered its "Original Six" era in 1925 when the Hamilton Tigers relocated to New York and became the New York Rangers. The league remained at six teams for over 40 years, with the Original Six teams becoming some of the most iconic in hockey history.

From 1967 to 1974: The Expansion Era

The NHL began to expand in the late 1960s, adding six new teams between 1967 and 1974: the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Vancouver Canucks. These expansion teams helped to bring hockey to new markets and grow the popularity of the sport.

From 1974 to 1991: The Second Expansion Era

The NHL continued to expand in the 1970s and 1980s, adding another six teams: the Atlanta Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Cleveland Barons, Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and Quebec Nordiques. These expansion teams further solidified the NHL's status as a major professional sports league.

From 1991 to 2000: The Relocation Era

The 1990s saw a number of NHL teams relocate to new cities. The Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche, the Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

From 2000 to Present: The Modern Era

The NHL has continued to grow in the 21st century, adding new teams in Las Vegas, Seattle, and Nashville. The league currently consists of 32 teams, with plans to expand to 33 teams in the near future.