NHL Franchise Origins

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

Here is what the current 30 teams in the National Hockey League have to show for the years they have put in as members of the NHL, the early National Hockey Association (NHA) and the more recent World Hockey Association (WHA). League titles and Stanley Cup championships are noted by year won. The Stanley Cup has automatically gone to the NHL champion since the 1926-27 season. Following the 1992-93 season, the NHL renamed the Clarence Campbell Conference the Western Conference, while the Prince of Wales Conference became the Eastern Conference.

Western Conference

 First SeasonLeague TitlesFranchise Stops
Anaheim Ducks1993-94 (NHL)1 Cup (2007)•Anaheim, CA (1993– )
Calgary Flames1972-73 (NHL)1 Cup (1989)•Atlanta (1972-80)
–Calgary (1980– )
Chicago Blackhawks1926-27 (NHL)3 Cups (1934,38,61)•Chicago (1926– )
Colorado Avalanche1972-73 (WHA)1 WHA (1977)•Quebec City (1972–95)
  2 Cups (1996, 2001)•Denver (1995– )
Columbus Blue Jackets2000-01 (NHL)None•Columbus, OH (2000– )
Dallas Stars1967-68 (NHL)1 Cup (1999)•Bloomington, MN (1967–93)
   â€¢Dallas (1993– )
Detroit Red Wings1926-27 (NHL)10 Cups (1936-37,43,50,52,54-55,97,98, 2002)•Detroit (1926– )
Edmonton Oilers1972-73 (WHA)5 Cups (1984-85,87-88,90)•Edmonton (1972– )
Los Angeles Kings1967-68 (NHL)None•Inglewood, CA (1967–99)
    •Los Angeles (1999– )
Minnesota Wild2000-01 (NHL)None•St. Paul, MN (2000– )
Nashville Predators1998-99 (NHL)None•Nashville, TN (1998– )
Phoenix Coyotes1972-73 (WHA)3 WHA (1976, 78-79)•Winnipeg (1972-96)
   â€¢Phoenix (1996– )
St. Louis Blues1967-68 (NHL)None•St. Louis (1967– )
San Jose Sharks1991-92 (NHL)None•San Francisco (1991-93)
   â€¢San Jose (1993–)
Vancouver Canucks1970-71 (NHL)None•Vancouver (1970– )

Eastern Conference

 First SeasonLeague TitlesFranchise Stops
Atlanta Thrashers1999-00 (NHL)None•Atlanta (1999– )
Boston Bruins1924-25 (NHL)5 Cups (1929,39,41,70,72)•Boston (1924– )
Buffalo Sabres1970-71 (NHL)None•Buffalo (1970– )
Carolina Hurricanes1972-73 (WHA)1 WHA (1973), 1 Cup (2006)•Boston (1972-74)
   â€¢ Springfield, MA (1974–75)
   â€¢Hartford, CT (1975–78)
   â€¢Springfield, MA (1978–80)
   â€¢Hartford (1980–97 )
   â€¢Greensboro, NC (1997–99)
   â€¢Raleigh, NC (1999–)
Florida Panthers1993-94 (NHL)None•Miami (1993–98)
   â€¢Sunrise, FL (1998– )
Montreal Canadiens1909-10 (NHA)2 NHA (1916-17)•Montreal (1909– )
  2 NHL (1924-25) 
  24 Cups (1916,24,30-31,44,46,53,56-60,65-66,68-69,71,73,76-79,86,93) 
New Jersey Devils1974-75 (NHL)3 Cups (1995, 2000,03)•Kansas City (1974–76)
   â€¢Denver (1976–82)
   â€¢E. Rutherford, NJ (1982– )
New York Islanders1972-73 (NHL)4 Cups (1980-83)•Uniondale, NY (1972– )
New York Rangers1926-27 (NHL)4 Cups (1928,33,40,94)•New York (1926– )
Ottawa Senators1992-93 (NHL)None•Ottawa (1992–1996)
   â€¢Kanata, Ont. (1996– )
Philadelphia Flyers1967-68 (NHL)2 Cups (1974-75)•Philadelphia (1967– )
Pittsburgh Penguins1967-68 (NHL)2 Cups (1991-92)•Pittsburgh (1967– )
Tampa Bay Lightning1992-93 (NHL)1 Cup (2004)•Tampa, FL (1992-93 )
   â€¢St. Petersburg, FL (1993–96)
   â€¢Tampa, FL (1996– )
Toronto Maple Leafs1916-17 (NHA)2 NHL (1918,22)•Toronto (1916– )
  13 Cups (1918,22,32,42,45,47-49,51,62-64,67) 
Washington Capitals1974-75 (NHL)None•Landover, MD (1974–97 )
   â€¢Washington, D.C. (1997– )
Note: The Hartford Civic Center roof collapsed after a snowstorm in January 1978, forcing the Whalers to move their home games to Springfield, Mass., for two years.
Sources +