With the current discussions surrounding the future of the Phoenix Coyotes, I thought an article about the formation of the NHL would be appropriate. Contrary to popular belief, expansion, relocation and contraction in the NHL is not a new trend. It has occurred many times during the league’s history, particularly in the early years. The evolution of the NHL’s teams is an interesting story; the following is a list of each expansion, relocation and contraction which ultimately resulted in the NHL as it is today.
THE ROOTS OF PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
In 1910, a professional hockey league known as the National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed in Eastern Canada and the United States. Shortly after that came the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a comparable hockey league in the west. In 1914, a transcontinental championship series was arranged between the two, with the winner getting the coveted Stanley Cup. World War I threw the entire hockey establishment into disarray, and the men running the NHA decided to suspend operations. But after the war, the hockey power brokers decided to start a whole new organization that would be known as the National Hockey League (NHL). At its inception, the NHL boasted five franchises- the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs, and the Toronto Arenas. When the PCL folded in 1926, the NHL, which at that point had ten teams, divided into two divisions and took control of the Stanley Cup.
1917- “Founding Five”- Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas
1919- Montreal Wanderers withdrew from league; Toronto Arenas changed name to Toronto St. Patricks (decrease to 4 teams)
1920- Quebec Bulldogs transferred to Hamilton as Hamilton Tigers
1923- Boston Bruins (first American based-team) and Montreal Maroons granted franchises (increase to 6 teams)
1925- Hamilton Tigers withdrew from league; players signed by the new New York American franchise
1926- Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars granted franchises (increase to 10 teams)
1927- Toronto St. Patrick's changed name to the Toronto Maple Leafs
1930- Detroit Cougars changed name to the Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Pirates transferred to Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Quakers
1931- Philadelphia Quakers withdrew from league (decrease to 9 teams)
1932- Detroit Falcons franchise changed name to the Detroit Red Wings
1934- Ottawa Senators transferred to St. Louis as St. Louis Eagles
1935- St.Louis Eagles withdrew from league (decrease to 8 teams)
1938- Montreal Maroons withdrew from league (decrease to 7 teams)
1941- New York Americans changed name to Brooklyn Americans
1942- Brooklyn Americans withdrew from league (decrease to 6 teams)
1943- “Original Six“- Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks remain
1967- Minnesota North Stars, California/Oakland Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues granted franchises (increase to 12 teams)
1970- Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks granted franchises (increase to 14 teams)
1972- Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders granted franchises (increase to 16 teams)
1974- Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals granted franchises (increase to18 teams)
1976- California Golden Seals transferred to Cleveland as Cleveland Barons; Kansas City Scouts transferred to Colorado as Colorado Rockies
1978- Cleveland franchise merges with the Minnesota North Stars (decrease to 17 teams)
1979- Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets joined the league from defunct World Hockey Association (increase to 21 teams)
1980- Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary as Calgary Flames
1982- Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey as New Jersey Devils
1991- San Jose Sharks granted franchise (increase to 22 teams)
1992- Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators granted franchises (increase to 24 teams)
1993- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers granted franchises; Minnesota North Stars transferred to Dallas as Dallas Stars (increase to 26 teams)
1995- Quebec Nordiques transferred to Colorado as Colorado Avalanche
1996- Winnipeg Jets transferred to Phoenix as Phoenix Coyotes
1997- Hartford Whalers transferred to Raleigh as Carolina Hurricanes
1998- Nashville Predators granted franchise (increase to 27 teams)
1999- Atlanta Thrashers granted franchise (increase to 28 teams)
2001- Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets granted franchises (increase to 30 teams)
2006- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed name to Anaheim Ducks
The debate on possible franchise relocation and even expansion to 32 teams continues. With several teams struggling both financially and attendance-wise, and with the league always searching for new sources of revenue, one or the other is inevitable. Which struggling teams will be moved: Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina or Phoenix? What new cities will be the beneficiary: Portland, Seattle, Houston, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas or Hamilton? Stay tuned…….
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I think Tampa Bay and Carolina are going to stick around for a while since they have both had success, but Florida, Atlanta, Nashville, and Phoenix. I say moved them to Quebec City, Winnipeg, Hamilton and Seattle. I'd like to see a maritime team but there is no market big enough. Expansion is a terrible idea because there are already too many struggling markets as is. But Bettman is a moron so this will never come to fruition...
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