PROSPECTIVE CITIES
TEAMS IN TROUBLE
RELOCATION HISTORY
MESSAGE BOARDS
TERMINOLOGY 101
NEWS ARCHIVE
1942-1943 season -- 6 teams - The six original teams are in place: Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. No team additions are made for 26 years.
1967-1968 season -- 12 teams - The Minnesota North Stars, the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues are added to the NHL..
1970-1971 season -- 14 teams -- The Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks are added.
1972-1973 season -- 16 teams - The Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders join the League.
1974-1975 season -- 18 teams - The Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals join the ranks.
1978-1979 season -- 17 teams - The Cleveland Barons (formerly California Seals) merge with the Minnesota North Stars.
1979-1980 season -- 21 teams -- Four WHA League teams merge into the NHL: the Quebec Nordiques, the Hartford Whalers, the Winnipeg Jets, and the Edmonton Oilers.
1991-1992 season -- 22 teams - The San Jose Sharks are added to the league.
1992-1993 season -- 24 teams -- The Ottawa Senators andTampa Bay Lightning are added.
1993-1994 season -- 26 teams -- The Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Florida Panthers join the league.
1998-1999 season -- 27 teams -- The Nashville Predators are now part of the League.
1999-2000 season -- 28 teams - The Atlanta Thrashers join the NHL..
2000-2001 season -- 30 teams -- The Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets are the newest team to join the league.
