Milestones
Formed: November 26, 1917
Status: Active
First Game: December 19, 1917
Seasons: 106
States & Provinces: AB, AZ, BC, CA, CN, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, MB, MI MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV NY, OH, ON, PA, QC, TN, TX, UT, WA
Leadership
Commissioner: Gary Bettman, February 1, 1993-present
Trophy Case
History
The National Hockey League was established in 1917, as way for owners of teams in the National Hockey Association (NHA) to rid themselves of an owner they didn’t care for (Eddie Livingstone, owner of Toronto Shamrocks and Toronto Blueshirts). Initially, the new circuit was made up of four teams all based in Eastern Canada: The Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas. Only the Canadiens and Arenas (now the Maple Leafs) are still in existence.
When the NHL owners couldn’t permanently detached from Livingstone, the decided to continue on with the new league.
List of Former/Relocated Teams
| FRANCHISE | FIRST SEASON | FINAL SEASON | STANLEY CUPS | WHERE ARE THEY NOW? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Coyotes | 1996 | 2024 | NONE | Suspended. Assets transferred to Utah Hockey Club |
| Atlanta Flames | 1972 | 1980 | NONE | Became Calgary Flames |
| Atlanta Thrashers | 1999 | 2011 | NONE | Became new Winnipeg Jets |
| Brooklyn Americans | 1941 | 1942 | NONE | FOLDED |
| California Golden Seals | 1967 | 1976 | NONE | Became Cleveland Barons |
| Cleveland Barons | 1976 | 1978 | NONE | Merged into Minnesota North Stars |
| Colorado Rockies | 1976 | 1982 | NONE | Became New Jersey Devils |
| Hamilton Tigers | 1920 | 1925 | NONE | FOLDED |
| Hartford Whalers | 1979 | 1997 | NONE | Became Carolina Hurricanes |
| Kansas City Scouts | 1974 | 1976 | NONE | Became Colorado Rockies |
| Minnesota North Stars | 1967 | 1993 | NONE | Became Dallas Stars |
| Montreal Maroons | 1924 | 1938 | 1926, 1935 | FOLDED |
| Montreal Wanderers | 1917 | 1918 | NONE | FOLDED |
| New York Americans | 1921 | 1941 | NONE | Became Brooklyn Americans |
| Ottawa Senators | 1917 | 1934 | 1920, 1921, 1923, 1927 | Became St. Louis Eagles |
| Philadelphia Quakers | 1930 | 1931 | NONE | FOLDED |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 1925 | 1930 | NONE | Became Philadelphia Quakers |
| Quebec Bulldogs | 1919 | 1920 | NONE | Became Hamilton Tigers |
| Quebec Nordiques | 1979 | 1995 | NONE | Became Colorado Avalanche |
| St. Louis Eagles | 1934 | 1935 | NONE | FOLDED |
| Winnipeg Jets | 1979 | 1996 | NONE | Became Phoenix (later Arizona) Coyotes |
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