National Hockey League (NHL) | History, Teams, & Facts | Britannica (original) (raw)
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National Hockey League (NHL), organization of professional ice hockey teams in North America, formed in 1917 by four Canadian teams, to which the first U.S. team, the Boston Bruins, was added in 1924. The National Hockey League (NHL) became the strongest league in North America and in 1926 took permanent possession of the Stanley Cup, a trophy representing world supremacy in ice hockey. Headquarters are in New York City.
2018 Stanley Cup finalsGoalie Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights blocking a shot by Jakub Vrána of the Washington Capitals in game five of the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. The Capitals won the game and the series.
League membership rose to 10, then dropped, and held steady at six from 1942 to 1967. (Those teams—the Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs—are referred to as the “Original Six,” and that era has been celebrated by the hockey press and fans for generations.) After various periods of expansion and reorganization, the NHL now consists of 32 teams in two conferences and four divisions.
At the end of the league’s regular season, eight teams from each conference—the top three teams in each division and two wild-card teams with the best remaining records, regardless of divisional affiliation—qualify for the playoffs. The champions of each conference then compete in a best-of-seven series for possession of the Stanley Cup.
The table provides a list of Stanley Cup champions.
The Stanley Cup
| season | winner | runner-up | games |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Though Victoria defeated Quebec in challenge games, Victoria's win was not officially recognized. | |||
| **Series called because of flu epidemic. | |||
| 1892–93 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association | ||
| 1893–94 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association | ||
| 1894–95 | Montreal Victorias | ||
| 1895–96 | Winnipeg Victorias (Feb.) | ||
| Montreal Victorias (Dec.) | |||
| 1896–97 | Montreal Victorias | ||
| 1897–98 | Montreal Victorias | ||
| 1898–99 | Montreal Shamrocks | ||
| 1899–1900 | Montreal Shamrocks | ||
| 1900–01 | Winnipeg Victorias | ||
| 1901–02 | Montreal Amateur Athletic Association | ||
| 1902–03 | Ottawa Silver Seven | ||
| 1903–04 | Ottawa Silver Seven | ||
| 1904–05 | Ottawa Silver Seven | ||
| 1905–06 | Montreal Wanderers | ||
| 1906–07 | Kenora Thistles (Jan.) | ||
| Montreal Wanderers (March) | |||
| 1907–08 | Montreal Wanderers | ||
| 1908–09 | Ottawa Senators | ||
| 1909–10 | Montreal Wanderers | ||
| 1910–11 | Ottawa Senators | ||
| 1911–12 | Quebec Bulldogs | ||
| 1912–13* | Quebec Bulldogs | ||
| 1913–14 | Toronto Blueshirts | ||
| 1914–15 | Vancouver Millionaires | ||
| 1915–16 | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| 1916–17 | Seattle Metropolitans | ||
| 1917–18 | Toronto Arenas | Vancouver Millionaires | 3–2 |
| 1918–19 | no decision** | ||
| 1919–20 | Ottawa Senators | Seattle Metropolitans | 3–2 |
| 1920–21 | Ottawa Senators | Vancouver Millionaires | 3–2 |
| 1921–22 | Toronto St. Pats | Vancouver Millionaires | 3–2 |
| 1922–23 | Ottawa Senators | Edmonton | 2–0 |
| 1923–24 | Montreal Canadiens | Calgary | 2–0 |
| 1924–25 | Victoria Cougars | Montreal Canadiens | 3–1 |
| 1925–26 | Montreal Maroons | Victoria Cougars | 3–1 |
| 1926–27 | Ottawa Senators | Boston Bruins | 2–0 |
| 1927–28 | New York Rangers | Montreal Maroons | 3–2 |
| 1928–29 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers | 2–0 |
| 1929–30 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 2–0 |
| 1930–31 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–2 |
| 1931–32 | Toronto Maple Leafs | New York Rangers | 3–0 |
| 1932–33 | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–1 |
| 1933–34 | Chicago Black Hawks | Detroit Red Wings | 3–1 |
| 1934–35 | Montreal Maroons | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–0 |
| 1935–36 | Detroit Red Wings | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–1 |
| 1936–37 | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | 3–2 |
| 1937–38 | Chicago Black Hawks | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3–1 |
| 1938–39 | Boston Bruins | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–1 |
| 1939–40 | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–2 |
| 1940–41 | Boston Bruins | Detroit Red Wings | 4–0 |
| 1941–42 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–3 |
| 1942–43 | Detroit Red Wings | Boston Bruins | 4–0 |
| 1943–44 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–0 |
| 1944–45 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–3 |
| 1945–46 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–1 |
| 1946–47 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | 4–2 |
| 1947–48 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–0 |
| 1948–49 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–0 |
| 1949–50 | Detroit Red Wings | New York Rangers | 4–3 |
| 1950–51 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | 4–1 |
| 1951–52 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | 4–0 |
| 1952–53 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–1 |
| 1953–54 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | 4–3 |
| 1954–55 | Detroit Red Wings | Montreal Canadiens | 4–3 |
| 1955–56 | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Red Wings | 4–1 |
| 1956–57 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–1 |
| 1957–58 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–2 |
| 1958–59 | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–1 |
| 1959–60 | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–0 |
| 1960–61 | Chicago Black Hawks | Detroit Red Wings | 4–2 |
| 1961–62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 |
| 1962–63 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–1 |
| 1963–64 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Detroit Red Wings | 4–3 |
| 1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3 |
| 1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | Detroit Red Wings | 4–2 |
| 1966–67 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Canadiens | 4–2 |
| 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | St. Louis Blues | 4–0 |
| 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | St. Louis Blues | 4–0 |
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | St. Louis Blues | 4–0 |
| 1970–71 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3 |
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers | 4–2 |
| 1972–73 | Montreal Canadiens | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 |
| 1973–74 | Philadelphia Flyers | Boston Bruins | 4–2 |
| 1974–75 | Philadelphia Flyers | Buffalo Sabres | 4–2 |
| 1975–76 | Montreal Canadiens | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–0 |
| 1976–77 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–0 |
| 1977–78 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins | 4–2 |
| 1978–79 | Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers | 4–1 |
| 1979–80 | New York Islanders | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–2 |
| 1980–81 | New York Islanders | Minnesota North Stars | 4–1 |
| 1981–82 | New York Islanders | Vancouver Canucks | 4–0 |
| 1982–83 | New York Islanders | Edmonton Oilers | 4–0 |
| 1983–84 | Edmonton Oilers | New York Islanders | 4–1 |
| 1984–85 | Edmonton Oilers | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–1 |
| 1985–86 | Montreal Canadiens | Calgary Flames | 4–1 |
| 1986–87 | Edmonton Oilers | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–3 |
| 1987–88 | Edmonton Oilers | Boston Bruins | 4–0 |
| 1988–89 | Calgary Flames | Montreal Canadiens | 4–2 |
| 1989–90 | Edmonton Oilers | Boston Bruins | 4–1 |
| 1990–91 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Minnesota North Stars | 4–2 |
| 1991–92 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Chicago Blackhawks | 4–0 |
| 1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens | Los Angeles Kings | 4–1 |
| 1993–94 | New York Rangers | Vancouver Canucks | 4–3 |
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils | Detroit Red Wings | 4–0 |
| 1995–96 | Colorado Avalanche | Florida Panthers | 4–0 |
| 1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–0 |
| 1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | Washington Capitals | 4–0 |
| 1998–99 | Dallas Stars | Buffalo Sabres | 4–2 |
| 1999–2000 | New Jersey Devils | Dallas Stars | 4–2 |
| 2000–01 | Colorado Avalanche | New Jersey Devils | 4–3 |
| 2001–02 | Detroit Red Wings | Carolina Hurricanes | 4–1 |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey Devils | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | 4–3 |
| 2003–04 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Calgary Flames | 4–3 |
| 2004–05 | canceled due to labour dispute | ||
| 2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes | Edmonton Oilers | 4–3 |
| 2006–07 | Anaheim Ducks | Ottawa Senators | 4–1 |
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4–2 |
| 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Detroit Red Wings | 4–3 |
| 2009–10 | Chicago Blackhawks | Philadelphia Flyers | 4–2 |
| 2010–11 | Boston Bruins | Vancouver Canucks | 4–3 |
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Kings | New Jersey Devils | 4–2 |
| 2012–13 | Chicago Blackhawks | Boston Bruins | 4–2 |
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Kings | New York Rangers | 4–1 |
| 2014–15 | Chicago Blackhawks | Tampa Bay Lightning | 4–2 |
| 2015–16 | Pittsburgh Penguins | San Jose Sharks | 4–2 |
| 2016–17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Nashville Predators | 4–2 |
| 2017–18 | Washington Capitals | Vegas Golden Knights | 4–1 |
| 2018–19 | St. Louis Blues | Boston Bruins | 4–3 |
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Dallas Stars | 4–2 |
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Montreal Canadiens | 4–1 |
| 2021–22 | Colorado Avalanche | Tampa Bay Lightning | 4–2 |
| 2022–23 | Vegas Golden Knights | Florida Panthers | 4–1 |
| 2023–24 | Florida Panthers | Edmonton Oilers | 4–3 |
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Will Gosner.