Origins of the NHL
The NHL was established in 1917, following the dissolution of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The NHA was created in 1909 and was made up of four teams: the Toronto Blueshirts, the Montreal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, and the Quebec Bulldogs. The NHA dissolved in 1917 after a dispute between the owners, and the NHL was formed in its place. Initially, the NHL only had four teams, but it quickly expanded and by 1926, the league had grown to 10 teams. The first expansion team was the Montreal Maroons in 1924, followed by the Boston Bruins in 1925. The NHL continued to expand from there, culminating in the addition of the Hartford Whalers in 1979 and the Minnesota North Stars in 1967.
The NHL was the first professional hockey league in North America and the only major league at the time. The NHL was also the first league to implement a salary cap, which was put in place in 1982. This allowed teams to remain competitive while controlling their payrolls. This was an important step in making the NHL a major professional sports league.
Expansion of the NHL
The NHL continued to expand throughout the 20th century, adding teams in the United States and Canada. In 1967, the NHL expanded to twelve teams, adding the Los Angeles Kings, Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. The league continued to expand throughout the 1970s, adding the Atlanta Flames, Cleveland Barons, Kansas City Scouts, and Hartford Whalers. In 1979, the NHL added four more teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers.
The NHL continued to expand in the 1980s, adding the San Jose Sharks in 1991 and the Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993. The NHL also added the Nashville Predators in 1998, the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999, and the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000. The league further expanded in 2017, adding the Vegas Golden Knights and bringing the total number of teams to 31.
NHL Greats: Legends and Superstars
The NHL has seen some of the best players in the history of hockey. From legends like Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky to superstars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Auston Matthews, the NHL has been home to some of the greatest players in the world.
Bobby Orr is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in NHL history. He played for the Boston Bruins from 1966 to 1976 and is best known for his incredible skating speed and skill. He is the only defenseman to have ever won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s leading scorer. He is also the only player in history to have won the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Conn Smythe Trophy in a single season.
Wayne Gretzky is another NHL great, considered to be the greatest player of all time. He played for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers from 1979 to 1999. During his career, he set numerous records, including the most goals (894), assists (1,963), and points (2,857) in NHL history. He won four Stanley Cups, nine Hart Memorial Trophies, and five Art Ross Trophies.
Sidney Crosby is widely considered to be the best player in the NHL today. He has been with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2005 and has led them to three Stanley Cups. He has won two Hart Memorial Trophies, two Ted Lindsay Awards, and two Art Ross Trophies. He is also the youngest player to ever become a 100-point scorer in the NHL.
Connor McDavid is another current NHL star, considered to be one of the best players in the league. He has been with the Edmonton Oilers since 2015 and has been a prolific scorer, winning two Art Ross Trophies and two Ted Lindsay Awards. He has also been named the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 2017 and 2018.
Auston Matthews is the NHL’s most recent superstar, having joined the league in 2016. He has been with the Toronto Maple Leafs since then and has quickly become one of the league’s best players. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2017 and has already recorded over 100 points in a single season.
NHL Historical Events
Throughout its history, the NHL has seen some of the most memorable events in sports. Here are some of the most noteworthy events in NHL history:
The Original Six Era: The NHL had six teams from 1942 to 1967. The teams were the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. During this era, the NHL saw some of the greatest players in history, including Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, and Maurice Richard.
The Miracle on Ice: In 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice”. The victory was seen as a major upset and a symbol of freedom for the United States. Many of the players from the team went on to play in the NHL, including Mark Johnson and Mike Eruzione.
The Montreal Forum: The Montreal Forum was the home of the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996. It was the site of many memorable events in NHL history, including Maurice Richard’s 500th goal and the Canadiens’ 24th Stanley Cup victory in 1993. The Forum was demolished in 1996 and is now a shopping mall.
The Gretzky Trade: In 1988, the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings in one of the most controversial trades in NHL history. The trade was seen as a betrayal by Oilers fans, but it allowed Gretzky to become the face of the NHL in the United States.
NHL's Modern Age
The NHL has seen several changes in the modern era. The salary cap was implemented in 2005, allowing teams to remain competitive while controlling their payrolls. The league also introduced the shootout in 2005, allowing teams to settle a game in a single-elimination shootout.
The NHL has also made several changes to the game, such as reducing the size of goalie equipment, increasing the size of the goal nets, and introducing the “coach’s challenge” rule. These changes have allowed the NHL to remain competitive and exciting for fans.
