National Hockey League
In a meeting in
Montreal's Windsor Hotel, the National Hockey League was formed and began operation
in 1917 with just four teams: the Montreal Wanderers (who would only play a handful
of games before folding due to a fire that decimated their home rink), the Montreal
Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Arenas. It wouldn't be until 1926-27
that the vaunted "original six," consisting of the Montreal Canadiens, the Toronto
Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins, the Detroit Red Wings (then the Cougars) and the
New York Rangers, would be assembled, with New York and Detroit joining for that
season. That same year the NHL became the owners of the Stanley Cup, officially
ending the era of the Cup as a challenge trophy. All six franchises still operate
today, and of course the Stanley Cup has become a major icon for the league and
for hockey worldwide. While the six teams that now comprise the original six were
all in the NHL in the late 1920's, it wasn't until 1942 that the league consisted
of just those six clubs. Having survived the Great Depression and the outbreak
of World War II, the league's stability was established and it was set for a prosperous
period. The NHL operated as a six-team circuit from 1942 until 1967. This era,
often referred to as the "golden age" saw the emergence of many great stars, among
them Maurice Richard, Max Bentley, Gordie Howe, Doug Harvey, Ted Lindsay, Jean
Beliveau, Terry Sawchuk, "Teeder" Kennedy and Glenn Hall. After many years
of stability and unprecedented success, the NHL took the bold step of doubling
its size. In 1967, it granted franchises to Minnesota, Philadelphia, Los Angeles,
Pittsburgh, California and St. Louis. The new twelve-team league would be structured
in two divisions, so that the new teams would play in their own division while
the "original six" teams would form the other, with an established team and a
new team meeting in the finals. The St. Louis Blues, stocked with solid NHL veterans,
including goaltenders Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante as well as Dickie Moore up
front and Doug Harvey on defense, enjoyed much early success although they were
always overmatched in the finals. It was the Philadelphia Flyers that emerged
as the most successful of the new clubs, capturing the Stanley Cup in just their
seventh season.  NHL
Expansion and Relocation
- California Seals 1967
- Los Angeles
Kings 1967
- Minnesota North Stars 1967
- Philadelphia Flyers 1967
- Pittsburgh
Penguins 1967
- St. Louis Blues 1967
- Buffalo Sabres 1970
- Vancouver
Canucks 1970
- Atlanta Flames 1972
- New York Islanders 1972
- Kansas
City Scouts 1974
- Washington Capitals 1974
- Cleveland Barons* 1976
- Colorado
Rockies** 1976
- Edmonton Oilers 1979
- Hartford Whalers 1979
- Quebec
Nordiques 1979
- Winnipeg Jets 1979
- Calgary Flames*** 1980
- New
Jersey Devils****1982
- San Jose Sharks 1991
- Ottawa Senators 1992
- Tampa
Bay Lightning 1992
- Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1993
- Florida Panthers
1993
- Dallas Stars ° 1993
- Colorado Avalanche °° 1995
- Phoenix
Coyotes °°° 1996
- Carolina Hurricanes °°°°
1997
- Nashville Predators 1998
- Atlanta Thrashers 1999
- Columbus
Blue Jackets 2000
- Minnesota Wild 2000
| | * | The
California Seals were transferred to Cleveland and became the Barons. | | ** | The
Kansas City Scouts were transferred to Colorado and became the Rockies. | | ***
| The Atlanta Flames were transferred to Calgary. |
| **** | The Colorado Rockies were transferred
to New Jersey and became the Devils. | | ° | The
Minnesota North Stars were transferred to Dallas and became the Stars. |
| ºº | The Quebec Nordiques were transferred
to Colorado and became the Avalanche. | | ººº |
The Winnipeg Jets were transferred to Phoeinx and became the Coyotes. |
| ºººº | The Hartford Whalers
were transferred to Carolina and became the Hurricanes. |
|
Draft
for the expansion of the National Hockey League in 1967.
© CBC/Radio-Canada.
Draft
Transcript |
The NHL expanded quickly and into markets
that might not have been ready because they were engaged in a North American turf
war against an upstart league, the World Hockey Association. Not since the PCHA
had the NHL had a true rival for fans or players. Just like the PCHA, the two
leagues battled with each other over players, but after eight tumultuous seasons,
the WHA was dissolved and in 1979 four of its franchises were admitted to the
NHL, bringing the total to twenty-one teams. 
Forgotten NHL clubs. The Colorado Rockies, the Atlanta Flames, the Oakland Seals,
the Cleveland Barons and the Kansas City Scouts.
© Imperial Oil-Turofsky/Hockey
Hall of Fame
The 1980's saw the league flourish and two dynasties
emerge in the New York Islanders and the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers. A
major part of the success of the NHL in the 1980 and '90's was the international
make up of its talent. In the mid-seventies European-born players began to trickle
into the league but by the 1980's, many teams boasted major stars from other countries.
This new pool of talent allowed the NHL to consider further expansion. 
The
stars of today come from all over the world…Mike Modano (USA), Paul Kariya (CAN),
Pavel Bure (RUS), Jaromir Jagr (CZE), Peter Forsberg (SWE), Teemu Selanne (FIN).
© Dave Sandford/Hockey Hall of Fame.
As the new millennium began,
the NHL comprised thirty franchises. While the club teams are all based in North
America, it has become a truly international league. With Wayne Gretzky retired,
the star players carrying the league into the next era include players like Jaromir
Jagr (Czech), Peter Forsberg (Swedish), Paul Kariya (Canadian), Teemu Selanne
(Finnish), Pavel Bure (Russian) and Mike Modano (American) literally coming from
all over the world. 
The
future of Canadian hockey: Wade Redden, Ryan Smyth, Roberto Luongo, Brad Stuart,
Simon Gagne, Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier.
© Steve Babineau-Dave
Sandford/Hockey Hall of Fame
| |
Howie Morenz was one of the NHL's Biggest stars in the early days.
©
Hockey Hall of Fame
Maurice "the Rocket" Richard would terrorize opposing netminder's with
the crazed look in his eyes.
© Imperial Oil-Turofsky/Hockey Hall of Fame
"Terrible" Ted Lindsay starred with the Red Wings for many years and
was a driving force behind the attempt to form the first player's association.
© Imperial Oil-Turofsky/Hockey Hall of Fame
Andy Bathgate, a long-time New York Ranger and Cup champion in Toronto resurfaces
as a Pittsburgh Penguin.
© Graphic Artists/Hockey Hall of Fame
Fisher
Transcripts
 
Expansion put familiar faces in new places. Here Red Wing legend Terry Sawchuck
defends the Los Angeles Kings' net.
© Graphic Artists/Hockey Hall of
Fame
Glenn Hall was a legend in Chicago before he moved on to form a solid veteran
tandem with Jacques Plante in St. Louis.
© Graphic Artists/Hockey Hall
of Fame
Mark
Messier, Wayne Gretzky and Kevin Lowe celebrate their fourth Stanley Cuyp. Later
that summer Wayne Gretzky would be traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
©
Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club
Trevor
Linden led the Vancouver Canucks to within a goal of winning the 1994 Stanley
Cup.
© Doug MacLellan/Hockey Hall of Fame
Joe
Sakic was a star player with the Quebec Nordiques up until they moved to Colorado
in 1996, the same year that the franchise won their first Stanley Cup.
©
Doug MacLellan/Hockey Hall of Fame
Guy
Carbonneau served as the Canadiens captain when they won the 1993 Stanley Cup,
the twenty-fourth in team history.
© Doug MacLellan/Hockey Hall of Fame
Peter
Sidorkiewicz had many a long night as the goaltender for the expansion Ottawa
Senators, and was rewarded with an all-star berth for his troubles.
©
Doug MacLellan/Hockey Hall of Fame
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