50 Fun Facts About NHL

Which of these teams is NOT one of the NHL's "Original Six" franchises?

The Original Six are the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers. The Flyers joined in the 1967 expansion.

How many teams currently compete in the NHL?

The NHL expanded to 32 teams with the addition of the Seattle Kraken in 2021. The league had 31 teams from 2017 to 2021 after the Vegas Golden Knights joined.

What was the name of the NHL team that relocated from Hartford, Connecticut to become the Carolina Hurricanes?

The Hartford Whalers played in the NHL from 1979 to 1997 before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina, and becoming the Carolina Hurricanes.

The NHL is divided into two conferences. What are they called?

The NHL is split into the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Each conference contains two divisions.

Which NHL team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden?

The New York Rangers have played at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan since 1968. It is one of the most iconic arenas in all of professional sports.

Which NHL team was the last to join the league, entering in 2021?

The Seattle Kraken became the NHL's 32nd franchise, beginning play in the 2021-22 season at Climate Pledge Arena.

Which Canadian province has the most NHL teams?

Ontario has two NHL teams: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Alberta also has two (Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames), but Ontario's are in larger markets.

What year did the NHL's first major expansion take place, when the league doubled from 6 to 12 teams?

The 1967 expansion doubled the NHL from 6 to 12 teams, adding the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Oakland Seals.

Which division do the Tampa Bay Lightning currently play in?

The Tampa Bay Lightning play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, alongside teams like the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers.

What is the name of the arena where the Toronto Maple Leafs play their home games?

The Toronto Maple Leafs play at Scotiabank Arena (formerly the Air Canada Centre), which also hosts the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. It opened in 1999.

The Vegas Golden Knights made NHL history in their inaugural 2017-18 season by doing what?

The Vegas Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final in their very first season, an unprecedented achievement for an expansion franchise. They lost to the Washington Capitals.

Which team did the Quebec Nordiques become after relocating in 1995?

The Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995. They won the Stanley Cup in their very first season in Colorado.

Which NHL arena is the oldest still in use, having opened in 1968?

The current Madison Square Garden opened in 1968, making it the oldest active NHL arena. Despite its age, it has undergone extensive renovations, most recently a $1 billion overhaul completed in 2013.

Which NHL team's logo features a bear inside the letter "B"?

The Boston Bruins' iconic logo features a spoked "B" with a bear incorporated into the design. The Bruins name itself means "brown bears" in Dutch.

What is the name of the annual event where NHL teams select amateur players?

The NHL Entry Draft (commonly called the NHL Draft) is held annually, usually in late June or early July. Teams select eligible amateur players in seven rounds.

Which team relocated from Atlanta to become the Winnipeg Jets in 2011?

The Atlanta Thrashers played in the NHL from 1999 to 2011 before being sold and relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where they became the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets.

How many divisions does the NHL currently have?

The NHL has four divisions: Atlantic and Metropolitan in the Eastern Conference, and Central and Pacific in the Western Conference.

Which NHL team is known as "The Bolts" and plays in Florida?

The Tampa Bay Lightning are nicknamed "The Bolts" (short for lightning bolts). They won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.

Which city is home to the NHL's oldest continuously operating franchise?

The Montreal Canadiens, founded in 1909, are the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey team and a founding member of the NHL in 1917.

What does the "C" on a player's jersey signify in the NHL?

The "C" on a jersey designates the team captain. Each NHL team has one captain who serves as the primary liaison between players and officials on the ice.

Connor McDavid was selected 1st overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by which team?

The Edmonton Oilers won the 2015 draft lottery and selected Connor McDavid first overall. He quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league.

Which NHL team retired jersey number 99 league-wide, making it unavailable for any player on any team?

In 2000, the NHL retired number 99 league-wide in honor of Wayne Gretzky. It is the only number retired across the entire league, meaning no NHL player can ever wear #99 again.

Which famous 1992 trade sent Eric Lindros from the Quebec Nordiques to the Philadelphia Flyers?

The Eric Lindros trade was one of the largest in NHL history. The Nordiques received Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, a 1st round pick, Chris Simon, future considerations, and $15 million.

What is the NHL's salary cap officially called?

The NHL uses a hard salary cap system. The official term is the "upper limit of the salary cap range." Teams cannot exceed this amount in total player salaries. The cap is tied to league revenue.

Which team did the Minnesota North Stars become after relocating in 1993?

The Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993 and became the Dallas Stars. Minnesota later got a new franchise, the Minnesota Wild, which began play in 2000.

What is the name of the Montreal Canadiens' home arena?

The Montreal Canadiens play at the Bell Centre, which opened in 1996 and seats over 21,000 fans, making it one of the largest arenas in the NHL.

Sidney Crosby was drafted 1st overall in 2005 by which NHL team?

The Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2005 draft lottery and selected Sidney Crosby first overall. He went on to captain the team to three Stanley Cup championships.

Which NHL team has the longest active Stanley Cup drought, not having won since 1967?

The Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967, the longest active drought in the NHL. Despite being one of the most valuable franchises, they have not won in over 55 years.

What trophy is awarded annually to the NHL's most valuable player during the regular season?

The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player judged most valuable to his team during the regular season, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Which NHL team's logo features a crossed pair of hockey sticks behind the letter "S"?

The Buffalo Sabres' logo features two crossed sabres (swords) behind a buffalo, though their classic logo featured the crossed sabres prominently with the team name. The sabres are integrated into multiple versions of their branding.

Which NHL franchise was originally known as the Oakland Seals when it joined the league in 1967?

The Oakland Seals (later California Golden Seals) relocated to Cleveland in 1976 as the Barons. They merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978 — the only franchise merger in NHL history.

What year did the NHL introduce the salary cap?

The NHL introduced the salary cap in 2005 as part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement following the 2004-05 lockout that cancelled the entire season. It was the first major North American league to lose a full season to a labor dispute.

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player during which part of the NHL season?

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is named after Conn Smythe, the former coach and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Which NHL team has the record for the longest winning streak in a single season, winning 17 consecutive games in 2012-13?

The Pittsburgh Penguins won 15 consecutive games during the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season. However, the record for longest winning streak is actually held by the 2012-13 Penguins at 15 games. The Penguins hold one of the longest winning streaks in modern NHL history.

What was unique about the 2004-05 NHL season?

The 2004-05 NHL season was completely cancelled due to a labor dispute between the NHL and the NHLPA over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. It was the first time a major North American sports league lost an entire season.

Which Original Six team is the only one based in the United States' Midwest?

The Chicago Blackhawks are the only Original Six franchise based in the Midwest. Detroit is sometimes considered Midwest too, but Chicago is squarely in the center. The other four Original Six teams — Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Bruins, and Rangers — are in the Northeast.

What is the AHL's relationship to the NHL?

The American Hockey League (AHL) serves as the primary development league for the NHL. Every NHL team has an AHL affiliate where they develop prospects and send players for conditioning.

Which NHL coach holds the record for most career wins?

Scotty Bowman holds the record for most career coaching wins in NHL history with 1,244. He also won 9 Stanley Cups as a head coach — the most by any coach in league history.

Which NHL team was the first based in the Sun Belt (a non-traditional hockey market in the southern US)?

The Atlanta Flames, founded in 1972, were the first NHL team in the Sun Belt region. They relocated to Calgary in 1980 and became the Calgary Flames. The Sun Belt expansion later accelerated in the 1990s.

What is the "trade deadline" in the NHL?

The NHL trade deadline is the last date during the regular season when teams can make trades. It typically falls in early March. After this date, teams cannot acquire players via trade until after the season ends.

Which NHL team was controversially relocated to Arizona in 1996, angering its passionate fanbase?

The original Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Phoenix Coyotes (later Arizona Coyotes, now Utah Hockey Club). The move was deeply unpopular with Winnipeg fans, who eventually got a new team in 2011.

What happened to the Arizona Coyotes franchise in 2024?

The Arizona Coyotes relocated to Salt Lake City in 2024 and became the Utah Hockey Club. After years of arena issues in Arizona, including playing at a 5,000-seat arena at Arizona State University, the franchise moved to Utah.

Which NHL general manager is famous for building the 1980s Edmonton Oilers dynasty?

Glen Sather served as both general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Oilers during their dynasty of the 1980s, winning five Stanley Cups between 1984 and 1990.

The NHL Draft Lottery was introduced to prevent teams from intentionally losing games. What is this practice commonly called?

"Tanking" refers to teams deliberately losing or playing poorly to secure a higher draft pick. The NHL introduced and has repeatedly revised its draft lottery system to discourage this by adding randomness to pick order.

Which NHL team's jersey features a "Jolly Roger" pirate flag logo?

No current NHL team uses a Jolly Roger or pirate-themed logo. The Pittsburgh Penguins feature a skating penguin, Tampa Bay Lightning has a lightning bolt, and the Florida Panthers use a leaping panther.

Which team won the Stanley Cup in its first season after relocating from Quebec to Colorado?

The Colorado Avalanche, formerly the Quebec Nordiques, won the Stanley Cup in their very first season in Denver (1995-96), sweeping the Florida Panthers in the Finals. Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic led the team.

What is the Calder Trophy awarded for in the NHL?

The Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL's top rookie (best first-year player). It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL.

How many rounds are in the modern NHL Entry Draft?

The modern NHL Entry Draft consists of 7 rounds. Each of the 32 teams gets one pick per round (though picks can be traded), for a total of 224 selections.

Which NHL franchise has been in continuous operation since 1917 and holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins?

The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, the most of any franchise. They are one of the founding members of the NHL in 1917 and have been in continuous operation since.

In 2017, the NHL expanded for the first time since 2000. Which team joined the league that year?

The Vegas Golden Knights entered the NHL in 2017 as the league's 31st franchise. The previous expansion was in 2000 when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild joined. Vegas went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2023.