A Brief History of the NHL
The NHL was founded in 1917 by four Canadian teams that broke away from the National Hockey Association (NHA), a predecessor league that had been plagued by disputes with one of its owners, Eddie Livingstone of the Toronto Blueshirts. The four teams were the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Quebec Bulldogs. They formed a new league called the National Hockey League, and temporarily replaced the Blueshirts with a new team, the Toronto Arenas.
The NHL faced competition from other major leagues in its early years, such as the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) and the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). These leagues also challenged for the Stanley Cup, which was then awarded to the best team in Canada or the United States, regardless of league affiliation. The NHL and its rivals often played interleague games and series to determine the Stanley Cup champion.
The NHL expanded into the United States in 1924 with the addition of the Boston Bruins, the first American team in the league. By 1926, the NHL had 10 teams in Ontario, Quebec, the Great Lakes region, and the Northeastern United States. The PCHA and the WCHL folded in 1926 and 1927, respectively, leaving the NHL as the sole major league and the sole competitor for the Stanley Cup.
The NHL entered a period of stability and dominance that lasted from 1942 to 1967, known as the Original Six era. The six teams that composed the league during this time were the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. These teams played each other frequently and developed intense rivalries and loyal fan bases. The Original Six era also saw some of the greatest players and moments in NHL history, such as Maurice Richard’s 50-goal season in 1944–45, Gordie Howe’s debut in 1946, Jacques Plante’s introduction of the goalie mask in 1959, and Bobby Orr’s flying goal in 1970.
The NHL doubled in size in 1967 by adding six new expansion teams: the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and California Seals. The expansion marked the beginning of a new era of growth and change for the NHL, as it sought to reach new markets and audiences across North America. The NHL also faced competition from a rival league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), which operated from 1972 to 1979 and lured away some of the NHL’s top players with lucrative contracts.
The NHL continued to expand throughout the 1970s and 1980s, adding teams in Atlanta, Buffalo, Vancouver, New York (Islanders), Washington, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hartford, Calgary, New Jersey, and San Jose. The league also merged with the WHA in 1979, absorbing four of its teams.
The NHL reached its current size of 32 teams in 2021 with the addition of the Seattle Kraken, the league’s newest expansion team. The NHL also relocated some of its existing teams over the years, such as the Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980, the Colorado Rockies to New Jersey in 1982, the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas in 1993, the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado in 1995, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix in 1996, the Hartford Whalers to Carolina in 1997, and the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg in 2011.
The NHL reached its current size of 32 teams in 2021 with the addition of the Seattle Kraken, the league’s newest expansion team. The NHL also relocated some of its existing teams over the years, such as the Atlanta Flames to Calgary in 1980, the Colorado Rockies to New Jersey in 1982, the Minnesota North Stars to Dallas in 1993, the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado in 1995, the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix in 1996, the Hartford Whalers to Carolina in 1997, and the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg in 2011.
The NHL has also seen many changes and innovations in its rules, format, and style of play over its history. Some of the notable changes include the introduction of the forward pass in 1929, the red line in 1943, the curved stick blade in 1959, the helmet rule in 1979, the shootout in 2005, and the three-on-three overtime in 2015. The NHL has also experimented with various playoff formats, division alignments, and scheduling systems to accommodate its expansion and growth.
The NHL has also been involved in many memorable events and milestones that have shaped its history and culture. Some of these include the Miracle on Ice in 1980, when a team of American college players defeated the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics; Wayne Gretzky’s trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles in 1988, which sparked a surge of interest and popularity for hockey in California and other non-traditional markets; Mario Lemieux’s comeback from cancer and retirement in 1993 and 2000, respectively; the 2004–05 lockout that canceled an entire season due to a labor dispute; Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics; and Alex Ovechkin’s 700th career goal in 2020.
The NHL is more than just a sports league; it is a cultural phenomenon that has influenced and inspired generations of fans, players, coaches, and executives. The NHL is a story of passion, perseverance, and excellence that continues to evolve and entertain. The NHL is history in the making.
Summary :
This article provides a brief overview of the history of the NHL from its founding in 1917 to its present state as one of the most popular and prestigious professional sports leagues in North America.
