Sport and Leisure/National Hockey League
Teams
The NHL is composed of 31 member clubs: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada
Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that made up the NHL for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. These six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs
Eastern Conference Atlantic
Boston Bruins
Arena – TD Garden
Stanley Cups – 6 (1928–29, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1969–70, 1971–72, 2010–11)
The team has been in existence since 1924. It is the league's third-oldest team and is the oldest in the United States. The Bruins have won six Stanley Cup championships, tied for fourth most of all-time with the Blackhawks. Their last win was in the 2010–11 season
Buffalo Sabres
Arena – First Niagara Center
Stanley Cups – 0
The team was established in 1970 and has twice advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975 and to the Dallas Stars in 1999
Detroit Red Wings
Arena – Joe Louis Arena
Stanley Cups – 11 (1935–36, 1936–37, 1942–43, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2007–08)
Founded in 1926, the team was known as the Detroit Cougars until 1930. For the following two seasons the team was called the Detroit Falcons, and in 1932 changed their name to the Red Wings. The Red Wings have won the most Stanley Cup championships of any NHL franchise based in the United States. Between 1967 and 1983, Detroit only made the playoffs twice, and the team was derisively known as the "Dead Wings". "The Legend of the Octopus" is a tradition during Detroit Red Wings home playoff games, in which an octopus is thrown onto the ice surface for good luck
Florida Panthers
Arena – BB&T Center (Sunrise)
Stanley Cups – 1 (2024)
The Panthers were founded in 1993. The team has made two appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals, in 1996; they lost to the Colorado Avalanche and in 2024 they beat the Edmonton Oilers. The rat trick is a celebration popularized by fans of the Florida Panthers during their 1995–96 season. The term, a play on hat trick, was coined by Panthers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck after teammate Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the locker room prior to the team's home opener with his stick, then scored two goals with the same stick. Fans immediately picked up on the idea and began throwing plastic rats on the ice to celebrate goals. They play home games at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, in the Miami metropolitan area
Montreal Canadiens
Arena – Bell Centre
Stanley Cups – 24 (1915–16, 1923–24, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1992–93)
Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team worldwide, and the only existing NHL club to predate the founding of the NHL. The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more times than any other franchise, 24 times. The team's championship season in 1992–93 was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. Montreal Canadiens are known as ‘the Habs’, coming from ‘Les Habitants’. Habitants is the name used to refer to both the French settlers and the inhabitants of French origin in Quebec. The team is owned by the Molson family, who are the founders of the Molson Brewery
Ottawa Senators
Arena – Canadian Tire Center
Stanley Cups – 0
Ottawa had been home to the original Senators, a founding NHL franchise and 11-time Stanley Cup champions that played in the NHL from 1917 to 1934. The current team was founded in 1990. They reached the Stanley Cup final in 2007, losing to the Anaheim Ducks
Tampa Bay Lightning
Arena – Amalie Arena
Stanley Cups – 3 (2003–04, 2019-20, 2020-21)
Established in 1992, Tampa Bay won their first Stanley Cup championship in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the Bolts. Steve Yzerman serves as general manager
The Amelie Arena is named after the Amalie Oil Company
Toronto Maple Leafs
Arena – Air Canada Centre
Stanley Cups – 13 (1917–18, 1921–22, 1931–32, 1941–42, 1944–45, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1966–67)
The franchise was founded in 1917, operating simply as Toronto and known today as the Toronto Arenas. In 1919, the NHL transferred the franchise to new owners who christened the team the Toronto St. Patricks. The franchise was sold in 1927 and was renamed the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club. The Maple Leafs won their last championship in 1967. With an estimated worth of US$1.3 billion, the Maple Leafs are the most valuable franchise in the NHL, followed by the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens
Curtis Joseph is a goaltender who last played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Joseph is immediately recognizable on the ice for his masks featuring a snarling dog, drawing inspiration from the Stephen King novel Cujo, which also happens to be his nickname
Eastern Conference Metropolitan
Carolina Hurricanes
Arena – PNC Centre (Raleigh)
Stanley Cups – 1 (2005–06)
The Hurricanes were formed in 1971 as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), and joined the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL–WHA merger, renaming themselves the Hartford Whalers. The team relocated to North Carolina in 1997 and won its first Stanley Cup during the 2005–06 season, beating the Edmonton Oilers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Arena – Nationwide Arena
Stanley Cups – 0
The Blue Jackets were founded as an expansion team in 2000. The team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 2009. The Blue Jackets' name and logos were inspired by Ohio's Civil War history
New Jersey Devils
Arena – Prudential Center (Newark)
Stanley Cups – 3 (1994–95, 1999–00, 2002–03)
The club was founded as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974. The Scouts moved to Denver in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1982 and took their current name. The team is named after the legend of the Jersey Devil, a creature that allegedly inhabited the Pine Barrens of South Jersey
The Devils have reached the Stanley Cup Finals five times, winning in 1994–95, 1999–00 and 2002–03
Martin Brodeur played for the Devils from 1991 to 2015. He also won two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Brodeur is widely regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time
New York Islanders
Arena – Barclays Center
Stanley Cups – 4 (1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83)
The team was founded in 1972. The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983, led by Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy. Their 19 consecutive playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 is a feat that remains unparalleled in the history of professional sports
The team moved from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in suburban Uniondale to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015
New York Rangers
Arena – Madison Square Garden
Stanley Cups – 4 (1927–28, 1932–33, 1939–40, 1993–94)
The Rangers were founded in 1926. They were the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the Stanley Cup, in the 1927–28 season. Two further victories followed in the 1930s, and the most recent win was in 1993–94, where the Rangers ended their record 54-year championship drought with a victory over the Vancouver Canucks
Philadelphia Flyers
Arena – Wells Fargo Center
Stanley Cups – 2 (1973–74, 1974–75)
Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first expansion team in the post-Original Six era to win the Stanley Cup, victorious in 1973–74 and again in 1974–75. Since 1975, the Flyers have been in six Stanley Cup finals, losing on each occasion. The Flyers biggest adversaries have been the New York Rangers, with an intense rivalry stretching back to the 1970s
Pittsburgh Penguins
Arena – Consol Energy Center
Stanley Cups – 5 (1990–91, 1991–92, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2016-17)
Founded in 1967, the Penguins have qualified for four Stanley Cup Finals, winning all of them – in 1991, 1992, 2009, and 2016
Evgeni Malkin has played for the Penguins since 2004. He won the Art Ross Trophy in 2009 and 2012, the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009, and the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012
Washington Capitals
Arena – Verizon Center
Stanley Cups – 1 (2017-18)
Since their founding in 1974, the "Caps" reached the 1998 and 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. In 1997, the team moved their home hockey rink from the suburban Capital Centre before its own 1999 closure, to the new Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. They won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2018, defeating Vegas Golden Knights
Western Conference Central
Arizona Coyotes
Arena – Gila River Arena (Glendale)
Stanley Cups – 0
The Coyotes were founded in 1971, as the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA. After the WHA had ceased operations, they were absorbed into the National Hockey League and then granted membership in 1979. The Jets moved to Phoenix in 1996, and were renamed the Phoenix Coyotes. The NHL took over ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes franchise in 2009 after owner Jerry Moyes turned it over to the league after declaring bankruptcy. Moyes had attempted to privately sell the team to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who wanted to relocate the team to Hamilton, but the NHL protested that the attempted sale was a violation of league policy. The team changed its geographic name from "Phoenix" to "Arizona" in 2014
The Gila River Arena was named as part of a sponsorship deal with Gila River Casinos – a group of tribal casinos controlled by the Gila River Indian Community
The Seattle Kraken began playing in the 2021–22 season, increasing the Western Conference to 16 teams and the Arizona Coyotes moved to the Central Division from the Pacific Division to balance out the conference
Chicago Blackhawks
Arena – United Center
Stanley Cups – 6 (1933–34, 1937–38, 1960–61, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2014–15)
Founded in 1926, the team name was spelled Black Hawks until 1986. They have won six Stanley Cup championships, including three times in six seasons (2009–2010, 2012–2013, and 2014–2015)
Bill Wirtz, the longtime owner of the Blackhawks, died in 2007 and was succeeded by his son, Rocky
Jonathan Toews is the current captain of the Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Arena – Pepsi Center
Stanley Cups – 3 (1995–96, 2000–01, 2021–22)
The Avalanche were founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and were one of the charter franchises of the World Hockey Association. The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as a result of the NHL–WHA merger. Following the 1994–95 season, they were sold to the COMSAT Entertainment Group and relocated to Denver. In the club's first season in Denver, the Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the first NHL team to win the Stanley Cup in the season following a relocation. They won their second Stanley Cup in the 2000–01 season. In 2021–22 they won their third Stanley Cup, defeating defending champions Tampa Bay Lightning
Dallas Stars
Arena – American Airlines Center
Stanley Cups – 1 (1998–99)
The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The franchise relocated to Dallas for the 1993–94 NHL season. The Stars won the Stanley Cup in the 1998–99 season, and lost in the final the following season
Minnesota Wild
Arena – Xcel Energy Centre (St. Paul)
Stanley Cups – 0
The team was founded in 1997, but started playing in the 2000-01 NHL season
The Wild are the only one of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area's major professional sports league franchises to play in St. Paul; the other three play in Minneapolis
Nashville Predators
Arena – Bridgestone Arena
Stanley Cups – 0
The Predators joined the NHL as an expansion team in the 1998–99 season
The mascot of the Predators is Gnash, a blue sabre-toothed cat
St. Louis Blues
Arena – Scottrade Center
Stanley Cups – 1 (2018-19)
The franchise was founded as an expansion team in 1967 and is named after the W. C. Handy song Saint Louis Blues. The Blues won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 2019, defeating the Boston Bruins
Winnipeg Jets
Arena – MTS Centre
Stanley Cups – 0
The Jets began play as the Atlanta Thrashers in the 1999–2000 NHL season. True North Sports & Entertainment then bought the team in 2011 and relocated the franchise to Winnipeg prior to the 2011–12 season (the first NHL franchise to relocate since the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997). The team was renamed the Jets after Winnipeg's original WHA/NHL team, which relocated after the 1995–96 season to become the Arizona Coyotes
Western Conference Pacific
Anaheim Ducks
Arena – Honda Center
Stanley Cups – 1 (2006–07)
The club was founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a name based on the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. Disney sold the franchise in 2005, and the new owners changed the name of the team to the Anaheim Ducks before the 2006–07 season. The Ducks have won one Stanley Cup (2006–07)
Calgary Flames
Arena – ScotiaBank Saddledome
Stanley Cups – 1 (1988–89)
The team was founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames until relocating to Calgary in 1980. The Flames won their first and only championship in 1988–89
The Red Mile is the name given to a stretch of 17th Avenue in Calgary during the Calgary Flames 2004 Stanley Cup playoff run. It gained worldwide notoriety both for the relative lack of violence, as well as for the Mardi Gras-like atmosphere
Edmonton Oilers
Arena – Rexall Place
Stanley Cups – 5 (1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90)
The Oilers were founded in 1971, with the team playing its first season in 1972 as the Alberta Oilers. They changed their name to Edmonton Oilers the following year. After joining the NHL in 1979, the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup on five occasions between 1984 and 1990. This remains the most championships won by any team since the NHL-WHA merger and also the most won by any team that joined the league in or after 1967
Los Angeles Kings
Arena – Staples Center
Stanley Cups – 2 (2011–12, 2013–14)
The Kings were founded in 1967. Wayne Gretzky led the Kings to the franchise's sole division title in 1990–91, and the Kings' first Stanley Cup Final in 1993
After a bankruptcy in 1995, the Kings have won the Stanley Cup twice – in 2012 and 2014
San Jose Sharks
Arena – SAP Centre at San Jose
Stanley Cups – 0
The Sharks were founded in 1991 and were the first NHL franchise based in the San Francisco Bay Area since the California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland in 1976
The Sharks finished the 2008–09 regular season as Presidents' Trophy champions, but were eliminated by the eighth-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the playoffs. They reached their first Stanley Cup final in 2016, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins
They play their home games at the SAP Center, known locally as the Shark Tank
Seattle Kraken
Arena – Climate Pledge Arena
Stanley Cups – 0
The NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve Seattle's expansion team in December 2018, to begin play in the 2021–22 season
Vancouver Canucks
Arena – Rogers Arena
Stanley Cups – 0
The Canucks joined the league in 1970 as an expansion team along with the Buffalo Sabres. The team has advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals three times, losing in 1982, 1994 and 2011
Canuck is a slang term for a Canadian
Vegas Golden Knights
Arena – T-Mobile Arena, Paradise
Stanley Cups – 1 (2022-23)
The Golden Knights joined the Western Conference Pacific in 2017-18. Reached the Stanley Cup in 2018, losing to Washington Capitals
They won the Stanley Cup in 2023, defeating Florida Panthers
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff winner. Originally commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, then–Governor General of Canada, who awarded it to Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. The first Cup was awarded in 1893 to Montreal HC. Professional teams then became eligible to challenge for the Stanley Cup in 1906. It was established as the de facto championship trophy of the NHL in 1926 and then the de jure NHL championship prize in 1947
The current Stanley Cup, topped with a copy of the original bowl, is made of a silver and nickel alloy; it has a height of 89.5 cm and weighs 15.5 kilograms
The Stanley Cup was not awarded in 1919 because of a Spanish flu epidemic, and in 2005, as a consequence of the 2004–05 NHL lockout
Most Stanley Cup wins – Montreal Canadiens (24), Toronto Maple Leafs (13), Detroit Red Wings (11)
Awards
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Trophy for Most Valuable Player was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1923–24 NHL season. The winner of the first Hart Trophy was Frank Nighbor of the Ottawa Senators. The original Hart Trophy was retired in Hockey Hall of Fame in 1960, and the NHL began presenting a new trophy, which was dubbed the Hart Memorial Trophy in its place. Wayne Gretzky won the award a record 9 times during his career, 8 consecutively. Gordie Howe won the award 6 times
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team (MVP) during Stanley Cup playoffs (and not just the Stanley Cup final), and has been awarded since the 1964–65 NHL season. Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy 3 times
Art Ross Trophy
The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1947–48 NHL season. The first winner was Elmar Lach of the Montreal Canadiens. Wayne Gretzky has won the trophy 10 times, including 7 consecutive. Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux have each won it 6 times, while Phil Esposito (Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, 1963–81) and Jaromir Jagr (eight teams, 1988 – present) each have 5.
Ted Lindsay Award
The Ted Lindsay Award, formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. It is a companion to the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the League's MVP, as judged by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. It was first awarded after the 1970–71 season. Wayne Gretzky has won the award 5 times.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is presented each year to the National Hockey League hockey player voted to have shown the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with performance in play. First awarded after the 1924–25 season. Frank Boucher (Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers, 1921–44) has won the award 7 times.
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The trophy is named in honor of the late Bill Masterton, a Minnesota North Stars player who died in January1968, after sustaining an injury during a hockey game. First awarded after the 1967–68 season
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the NHL to the team that finishes with the most points (i.e. best record) in the League during the regular season. It was first awarded during the 1985–86 season
Ten leading players
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby joined Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. By his second season, he won the Art Ross Trophy, becoming the youngest player and the only teenager to win a scoring title in any major North American sports league. In 2008 became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup. Crosby was selected for Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and scored the game-winning goal against the United States in the gold medal game. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2016
Wayne Gretsky
Wayne Gretsky is the leading scorer in NHL history, with more goals and more assists than any other player. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season – a feat he accomplished four times. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records. He won four Stanley Cups with Edmonton Oilers, and also played for Los Angeles Kings, St Louis Blues and finished his career with New York Rangers. After his retirement in 1999, he was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The NHL retired his jersey number 99 league-wide, making him the only player to receive this honour. Nicknamed "The Great One"
Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe is the only player to have competed in the NHL in five different decades (1940s through 1980s). A four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, he won six Hart Trophies and six Art Ross Trophies. He was the recipient of the first NHL Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Howe held many of the sport's scoring records until they were broken in the 1990s by Wayne Gretzky. Howe became the namesake of the "Gordie Howe hat trick": a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game. Nicknamed "Mr. Hockey". He died in 2016.
Bobby Hull
Bobby Hull is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. He possessed the most feared slapshot of his day. In his 23 years in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy twice and the Art Ross Trophy three times, and helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961. Nicknamed "The Golden Jet"
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux led Pittsburgh Penguins to two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. Under his ownership, the Penguins won a third Cup in 2009. He is the only man to have his name on the Cup as both a player and an owner. He also led Team Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002. He won three Hart Trophies, six Art Ross Trophies, and successive Conn Smythe Trophies. Nicknamed "The Magnificent One" and "Super Mario"
Mark Messier
Mark Messier played for Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks.
He is second on the all-time career lists for regular season points, playoff points and regular season games played. He won six Stanley Cups, five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only professional athlete to captain two different teams to championships. Nicknamed "The Messiah" and "The Moose"
Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr played in the NHL for 12 seasons, starting with 10 with the Boston Bruins followed by two with the Chicago Black Hawks. He won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972. Winning a record eight straight Norris Trophies as the league's best defenceman, Orr is often credited for revolutionizing his position, and is the only defenceman to have won the league scoring title with two Art Ross Trophies
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin is a winger and captain of Washington Capitals. He was the first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, drafted from HC Dynamo Moscow. He has won three Hart Memorial Trophies, three Ted Lindsay Awards and one Art Ross Trophy. Known for being a physical player, Ovechkin is the first Russian member of the NHL to reach the 500-plus goal mark. Ovechkin has won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy nine times
Maurice Richard
Maurice "Rocket" Richard played 18 seasons in the NHL for Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, and the first to reach 500 career goals. Richard was a member of eight Stanley Cup championship teams, including five straight between 1956 and 1960. In 1998 the Canadiens donated the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy to the NHL, awarded annually to the league's regular season leading goal-scorer
Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman spent his entire 23-year NHL playing career with the Detroit Red Wings, and captained the team to three Stanley Cups. In 2006, Yzerman officially retired from professional hockey, finishing his career ranked as the sixth all-time leading scorer in NHL history. He was executive director of Team Canada for the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games, and is currently general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning
