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National Hockey League

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Article Genealogy
Parent: 1972 Summit Series Hop 3
Expansion Funnel Raw 85 → Dedup 58 → NER 44 → Enqueued 44
1. Extracted85
2. After dedup58 (None)
3. After NER44 (None)
Rejected: 14 (not NE: 14)
4. Enqueued44 (None)
National Hockey League
Current season2023–24 NHL season
SportIce hockey
Founded26 November 1917
FounderMontreal Wanderers
Teams32
ChampionVegas Golden Knights (1st title)
Most champsMontreal Canadiens (25)
CeoGary Bettman
HeadquartersNew York City
CountriesCanada (7 teams), United States (25 teams)

National Hockey League. The National Hockey League is a premier professional ice hockey league comprising 32 teams, with 25 based in the United States and 7 in Canada. Headquartered in New York City under the leadership of Commissioner Gary Bettman, it is widely considered the world's top league for the sport. The league's championship trophy, the Stanley Cup, is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America.

History

The league was founded on November 26, 1917, in the Montreal Windsor Hotel, succeeding the National Hockey Association (NHA). The original teams were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas. The league survived the early challenges of the Spanish flu pandemic and the Great Depression, gradually expanding into the United States with teams like the Boston Bruins in 1924. A major period of growth began with the 1967 NHL expansion, which doubled the league's size from six to twelve teams. The league later absorbed many stars from the rival World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1979. The modern era has been defined by further expansion, labor disputes like the 2004–05 NHL lockout, and the establishment of a hard salary cap.

Teams

The league's 32 teams are divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference is further split into two divisions; the East contains the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, while the West contains the Central and Pacific divisions. The seven Canadian teams are the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. Notable American franchises with long histories include the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and New York Rangers, while recent additions include the Vegas Golden Knights (2017) and Seattle Kraken (2021).

Season structure

The regular season typically runs from early October to mid-April, with each team playing 82 games. The schedule is weighted heavily within a team's own division and conference. Following the regular season, the top three teams in each division, plus two wild card teams from each conference based on the next highest point totals, qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The playoffs are a four-round, best-of-seven elimination tournament culminating in the Stanley Cup Finals. Key annual events include the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Stadium Series of outdoor games.

Rules and gameplay

The league operates under the rules of ice hockey as defined by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), with some modifications. A standard game consists of three 20-minute periods of five-on-five play. Unique rules include the icing infraction and the offside rule. The league employs a system of on-ice officials, including referees and linesmen, and utilizes video review for certain calls. Major penalties include fighting, governed by a specific code, and the shootout is used to decide games tied after a five-minute overtime.

Trophies and awards

The most prestigious award is the Stanley Cup, presented to the playoff champion. Individual performance is recognized with annual awards, most notably the Hart Memorial Trophy for most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy for top goaltender. Other major awards include the James Norris Memorial Trophy for best defenseman, the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, and the Art Ross Trophy for the leading point-scorer. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Notable players

The league's history is defined by legendary players. Early stars like Howie Morenz and Maurice Richard built the game's foundation. The mid-20th century was dominated by Gordie Howe and later Bobby Orr, who revolutionized the defenseman position. The late 20th century featured the iconic rivalry between Wayne Gretzky, the league's all-time leading scorer, and Mario Lemieux. Modern era greats include Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid. Many of these players are honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

International influence

While primarily a North American league, it has a significant global footprint. A large percentage of players hail from outside North America, particularly from Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the Czech Republic. The league has regularly participated in international competitions, pausing its season for events like the 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympic Games. It has also organized premier events like the NHL Challenge and the World Cup of Hockey in partnership with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the IIHF.

Category:National Hockey League Category:Ice hockey leagues in Canada Category:Ice hockey leagues in the United States Category:Professional sports leagues in North America