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Who were the first NHL teams?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 24, 2026

The “original” hockey teams — the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers — were the six teams that comprised the NHL from 1942 to 1967.

Who were the first 6 NHL teams?

Here's a brief history of expansion in the NHL: 1942: With the demise of the Brooklyn Americans, the NHL's Original Six era begins. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs make up the League for the next 25 seasons.

Who were the original 4 NHL teams?

The four teams that began the inaugural NHL season were the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the original Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas.

Who was the first NHL team ever?

The Original Six (French: six équipes originales) are the teams that comprised the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1942 and 1967. The six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Who founded the NHL?

The Shaky Beginnings of Professional Hockey

In 1900, the Portage Lakes hockey club, founded by a Canadian dentist living in Michigan by the name of J.L. Gibson, paid top Canadian players to c'mon down. The idea caught on. In 1904, there were three teams — they called themselves the International Hockey League.

33 related questions found

Who were the original 8 NHL teams?

The “Original” Hockey Teams

  • Montreal Canadiens. The Montreal Canadiens joined the NHL in 1917 and were founded in 1909. ...
  • Toronto Maple Leafs. The Toronto Maple Leafs were formed and joined the NHL in 1917. ...
  • Boston Bruins. ...
  • Chicago Blackhawks. ...
  • Detroit Red Wings. ...
  • New York Rangers.

Who won the first NHL Stanley Cup?

1916: The Montreal Canadiens win the first of their 24 Stanley Cups by beating Portland in a five-game final.

What country invented hockey?

The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton. The first Hockey Association was formed in the UK in 1876 and drew up the first formal set of rules.

When did the Florida Panthers join the NHL?

The new franchise joined the NHL for participation in the 1993–94 season, along with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Who has the most NHL Stanley Cups?

Having lifted the trophy a total of 24 times, the Montreal Canadiens are the team with more Stanley Cup titles than any other franchise. Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team and the only existing NHL club to predate the founding of the NHL itself.

How many Canadian NHL teams are there?

There are seven NHL teams located in Canada. From the date of their first NHL season the seven teams are: Montreal Canadians (1917), Toronto Maple Leafs (1917), Vancouver Canucks (1970), Edmonton Oilers (1979), Calgary Flames (1980), Ottawa Senators (1992), and Winnipeg Jets (2011).

Who is the oldest hockey team?

Montreal Canadiens, Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The oldest continually operating team in the National Hockey League (NHL), the Canadiens have won more Stanley Cup titles than any other team (24) and are the most successful franchise in league history.

What arenas have the Sabres called home?

KeyBank Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Buffalo, New York. Originally known as Marine Midland Arena, the venue has since been named HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center. Home to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League since 1996, is the largest indoor arena in Western New York, seating 19,070.

Who is on the cover of NHL 04?

EA SPORTS - NHL 2004 (2003) Joe Sakic graced the cover of NHL '04.

Who was on the cover of NHL 97?

The cover of the game features goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who played for the Florida Panthers between 1993–98.

Has a goalie been on the cover of NHL?

However, the game has had an NHL player grace the cover beginning with their first video game (NHL Hockey) that was released in 1991 with L.A. Kings goaltender Glenn Healy on the cover.

Did Vancouver Millionaires win Stanley Cup?

The Millionaires/Maroons succeeded as PCHA champions six times (1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924) and won the Stanley Cup once, in 1915, against the Ottawa Senators of the NHA. Their jerseys were maroon, featuring a white V with "Vancouver" spelled down one side of the V and up the other.

Are there 2 Stanley Cups?

There are actually three Stanley Cups: the original bowl of the "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup", the authenticated "Presentation Cup", and the spelling-corrected "Permanent Cup" on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame whenever the Presentation Cup is not available.

Why was Gretzky traded?

Gretzky had just married actress Janet Jones and was spending part of the summer living in the Hollywood home of actor Alan Thicke. Knowing that Gretzky was living in Los Angeles and certain he wouldn't re-sign with the Oilers when his contract expired, Pocklington accepted McNall's offer.

Who took over Atlanta Thrashers?

Now, the Thrashers. The struggling NHL franchise was sold Tuesday to a group that will move it to Winnipeg next season, making Atlanta the first city in the league's modern era to lose two teams. The Flames left for Calgary in 1980. The Thrashers are following them to Canada three decades later.

Why did they throw octopus on the ice?

Al the Octopus is the mascot of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. During many games, octopuses are thrown onto the ice by fans for good luck, this usually occurring after the national anthem is sung or after a goal is scored.

When did Ottawa join the NHL?

The Senators made their debut as an expansion team in 1992, taking their nickname from Ottawa's status as the seat of the Canadian national government and from an earlier hockey team based in the city that won the Stanley Cup 11 times between 1903 and 1927.