All Nhl Hockey Teams In History
If you are a fan of the National Hockey League, then you would know that it is the most premier ice hockey league in the world. Founded in 1917, this league has seen the rise and fall of various teams throughout its history. As a fan, it is always interesting to know about the history of these teams and the reasons they came and went.
In this article, we will be discussing all the NHL hockey teams in history, including the ones that still exist and the ones that have been dissolved.
The Original Six
The Original Six refers to the first six teams that formed the NHL in 1942. These teams are:
- Boston Bruins
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Detroit Red Wings
- Montreal Canadiens
- New York Rangers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
These teams were considered the cornerstone of the NHL and played each other regularly during the regular season. They also dominated the league during their era and have a rich and storied history.
Expansion Teams
After the Original Six era, the NHL began to expand, with more teams joining every few years. Some of these teams are still active today, while others have been dissolved. Here is a list of the expansion teams:
- Los Angeles Kings (1967)
- Philadelphia Flyers (1967)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (1967)
- St. Louis Blues (1967)
- Minnesota North Stars (1967)
- California Seals (1967)
- Buffalo Sabres (1970)
- Vancouver Canucks (1970)
- Atlanta Flames (1972)
- New York Islanders (1972)
- Kansas City Scouts (1974)
- Washington Capitals (1974)
- Colorado Rockies (1976)
- Cleveland Barons (1976)
- Hartford Whalers (1979)
- Winnipeg Jets (1979)
- Quebec Nordiques (1979)
- Edmonton Oilers (1979)
- New Jersey Devils (1982)
- San Jose Sharks (1991)
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1993)
- Florida Panthers (1993)
- Nashville Predators (1998)
- Atlanta Thrashers (1999)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (2000)
- Minnesota Wild (2000)
Out of these teams, only the Original Six teams, as well as the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and New Jersey Devils, are still active today. The others have either been relocated or dissolved.
Relocated and Disbanded Teams
There have been several teams that were either relocated or disbanded throughout the history of the NHL. Some of the notable ones include:
- Atlanta Flames (Moved to Calgary in 1980)
- Quebec Nordiques (Moved to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995)
- Winnipeg Jets (Moved to Phoenix and became the Arizona Coyotes in 1996)
- Hartford Whalers (Moved to Carolina and became the Hurricanes in 1997)
- Minnesota North Stars (Moved to Dallas and became the Stars in 1993)
- Atlanta Thrashers (Moved to Winnipeg and became the Jets in 2011)
On the other hand, there were teams that were dissolved due to various reasons, mostly financial. Some of these teams include:
- California Seals (Dissolved in 1976)
- Kansas City Scouts (Dissolved in 1976)
- Cleveland Barons (Merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978)
- Colorado Rockies (Moved to New Jersey and became the Devils in 1982)
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (Changed their name to Anaheim Ducks in 2006)
Conclusion
The NHL has a long and storied history, and the teams that have been part of it have contributed to it immensely. While some teams have come and gone, the memories they created with their fans will always be cherished. As the league continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see what new teams join and what old ones leave.
