Dive deep into the history of the NHL, exploring how the league began
and evolved over time, from its early days to its current status as a
premier professional hockey league.
Founded on November 26, 1917, as the National Hockey League (NHL),
the league was established in Montreal, Canada, as a replacement for
the National Hockey Association (NHA). The NHL initially consisted
of four teams and began to grow in popularity as the sport of ice
hockey gained traction across North America.
The NHL's expansion in the 1960s and 1970s saw the introduction of
new teams and the rise of iconic players such as Wayne Gretzky and
Bobby Orr. The league's growth during this period established it as
a major force in professional sports, with teams from both Canada
and the United States contributing to its development.
The 1990s and 2000s marked a new era of global expansion and
increased competitiveness, driven by the inclusion of international
stars and the introduction of new technologies and media coverage.
Today, the NHL stands as a leading professional hockey league, known
for its high level of play, legendary players, and ongoing
commitment to advancing the sport globally.
2024 Champion
Stanley Cup Final 2024 Recap: Florida Panthers Defeat Edmonton Oilers in
7 Games
In what was the longest NHL season to date, you were able to watch
regular season hockey, the Stanley Cup playoffs and the 2024 Stanley
Cup Final on ABC and the ABC app as the quest for the Cup concluded
with the first-ever title for those cool cats from the Sunshine
State. It was a fitting finale after a series of fierce battles
between two of the NHL's elite teams.
NHL Teams
Discover the elite teams competing in the NHL, showcasing the best of
American Hockey.
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey...
Founded: 1993
Stadium: Honda Center
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey...
Founded: 1924
Stadium: TD Garden
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1970
Stadium: First Niagra Center
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1972
Stadium: Scotiabank Saddledome
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1972
Stadium: PNC Arena
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled as Black Hawks before 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the...
Founded: 1926
Stadium: United Center
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are an American professional ice hockey franchise based in Denver, Colorado. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League,...
Founded: 1972
Stadium: Pepsi Center
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National...
Founded: 1997
Stadium: Nationwide Arena
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are an American professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1967
Stadium: American Airlines Center
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1926
Stadium: Little Caesars Arena
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1972
Stadium: Rogers Place
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of...
Founded: 1993
Stadium: BB&T Center
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the...
Founded: 1967
Stadium: Crypto.com Arena
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild is a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National...
Founded: 2000
Stadium: Xcel Energy Center
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (French: Les Canadiens de Montréal) are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference...
Founded: 1909
Stadium: Centre Bell
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
In...
Founded: 1998
Stadium: Bridgestone Arena
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are members of the league's Metropolitan Division...
Founded: 1974
Stadium: Prudential Center
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey...
Founded: 1972
Stadium: Nassau Coliseum
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern...
Founded: 1926
Stadium: Madison Square Garden
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1990
Stadium: Canadian Tire Centre
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL)....
Founded: 1967
Stadium: Wells Fargo Center
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL)....
Founded: 1967
Stadium: PPG Paints Arena
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the...
Founded: 1991
Stadium: SAP Center at San Jose
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey expansion team based in Seattle. The team will compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division...
Founded: 2021
Stadium: Climate Pledge Arena
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are an American professional ice hockey team in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey...
Founded: 1967
Stadium: Scottrade Center
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Founded: 1992
Stadium: Amalie Arena
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club) is a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division in...
Founded: 1917
Stadium: Scotiabank Arena
Utah Mammoth
The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division...
Founded: 2024
Stadium: Delta Center
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey...
Founded: 1945
Stadium: Rogers Arena
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The team began play in the 2017–18 NHL season, and is a member...
Founded: 2017
Stadium: T-Mobile Arena
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C., that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are members of the league's Metropolitan Division of...
Founded: 1974
Stadium: Capital One Arena
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL)....
