NHL Expansion History

[Historian]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=867 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=505 colSpan=7 rowSpan=59>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. </TD><TD colSpan=28 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=3></TD><TD height=3></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=3></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=47 colSpan=3 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/boston_bruins_1994.gif</TD><TD colSpan=20 height=3></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=42></TD><TD height=42></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=42></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=42></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=63 colSpan=16>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/montreal.gif</TD><TD height=42></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=42></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=20 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD><TD colSpan=28 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=2></TD><TD height=2></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=58 colSpan=11 rowSpan=5>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/new_york_rangers_1992.gif</TD><TD colSpan=33 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD><TD colSpan=20 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=47 colSpan=7 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/TorontoMapleLeafs4243.gif</TD><TD colSpan=6 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=47></TD><TD height=47></TD><TD height=47></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=62 colSpan=15>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/detroit_red_wings_1995.gif</TD><TD colSpan=4 height=47></TD><TD colSpan=6 height=47></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=5></TD><TD height=5></TD><TD colSpan=20 height=5></TD><TD colSpan=6 height=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=2></TD><TD height=2></TD><TD colSpan=33 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=17></TD><TD height=17></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=17></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD><TD colSpan=27 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=60 colSpan=15 rowSpan=4>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/los_angeles_kings_1969.gif</TD><TD colSpan=2 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD><TD colSpan=14 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=56 colSpan=11 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/oakland_seals_1970.gif</TD><TD colSpan=2 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=53></TD><TD height=53></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=58 colSpan=12>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/minnorstars67.jpg</TD><TD height=53></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=53></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=53></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=14 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=29 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=57 colSpan=12 rowSpan=4>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/st_louis_blues_1992.gif</TD><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=4></TD><TD colSpan=16 height=4></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=54 colSpan=10 rowSpan=4>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/pitpeng.gif</TD><TD colSpan=3 height=4></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=4></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=45></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=45></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=61 colSpan=13>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/philly.gif</TD><TD height=45></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=45></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=45></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=3></TD><TD colSpan=16 height=3></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=3></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=3></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=16 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=18 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=33></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=33></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=52></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=52></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=52 colSpan=6>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/buffalo_sabres_1993.gif</TD><TD colSpan=4 height=52></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=68 colSpan=18 rowSpan=2>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/vancouver_canucks_1976.gif</TD><TD colSpan=12 height=52></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=14 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=12 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=13></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=13></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=15 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=60 colSpan=15 rowSpan=2>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/new_york_islanders_2000.gif</TD><TD colSpan=14 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=59></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=59></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=57 colSpan=11>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/atlflames.gif</TD><TD colSpan=2 height=59></TD><TD colSpan=14 height=59></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=13></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=13></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=3></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=3></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=54 colSpan=8 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/kcscouts.gif</TD><TD colSpan=32 height=3></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=49></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=49></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=49></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=78 colSpan=21>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/washington_capitals_1992.gif</TD><TD colSpan=8 height=49></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=5></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=5></TD><TD colSpan=32 height=5></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=14></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=14></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=52 colSpan=6 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/clebar77.gif</TD><TD colSpan=35 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=52></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=52></TD><TD colSpan=6 height=52></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=57 colSpan=12>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/minnorstars67.jpg</TD><TD colSpan=17 height=52></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=35 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=21></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=21></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=22 height=2></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=57 colSpan=12 rowSpan=4>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/hartford_whalers_1996.gif</TD><TD colSpan=10 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=22 height=2></TD><TD height=2></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=52 colSpan=8 rowSpan=4>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/WinnipegJets79a.gif</TD><TD height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=47></TD><TD colSpan=6 height=47></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=70 colSpan=15>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/quebec_nordiques_1992.gif</TD><TD height=47></TD><TD height=47></TD><TD height=47></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=22 height=2></TD><TD height=2></TD><TD height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=7 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=53 colSpan=10 rowSpan=2>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/edmonton_oilers_1990.gif</TD><TD colSpan=18 height=1></TD><TD height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=54></TD><TD colSpan=7 height=54></TD><TD colSpan=27 height=54></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=22></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=22></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=57></TD><TD colSpan=5 height=57></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=69 colSpan=15>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/Sharks.gif</TD><TD colSpan=24 height=57></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=29></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=29></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=52></TD><TD colSpan=4 height=52></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=59 colSpan=11>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/ottawa_senators_1996.gif</TD><TD colSpan=4 height=52></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=58 colSpan=14 rowSpan=2>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/tampa_bay_lightning_1993.gif</TD><TD colSpan=11 height=52></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=19 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=11 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=24></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=24></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=18 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=60 colSpan=15 rowSpan=3>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/florida_panthers_1994.gif</TD><TD colSpan=11 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=56></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=56></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=61 colSpan=13>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/AnaheimMightyDucks.gif</TD><TD colSpan=2 height=56></TD><TD colSpan=11 height=56></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=18 height=2></TD><TD colSpan=11 height=2></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=23></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=23></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=56></TD><TD colSpan=2 height=56></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=67 colSpan=16>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/predators.gif</TD><TD colSpan=26 height=56></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=11></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=11></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=51></TD><TD colSpan=3 height=51></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=61 colSpan=13>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/thrashers.gif</TD><TD colSpan=28 height=51></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=13></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=13></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=1></TD><TD colSpan=24 height=1></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=61 colSpan=13 rowSpan=2>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/bluejackets.gif</TD><TD colSpan=7 height=1></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=50></TD><TD height=50></TD><TD vAlign=center align=middle width=79 colSpan=22>http://www.geocities.com/nhlexpandrelocate/wild.jpg</TD><TD height=50></TD><TD colSpan=7 height=50></TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD colSpan=3 height=9></TD><TD colSpan=44 height=9></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Historian]

It took 26 years, after the NHL was founded, but the "original six" teams were now The Boston Bruins, the New York Rangers, The Detroit Red Wings, the Chicago Black Hawks, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. This group of teams played, as the NHL until expansion in the 1967-68 season. This expansion doubled the league size to 12 teams with the addition of the Minnesota North Stars, California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Before their first season is over the California Seals became the Oakland Seals, finally ending up the California Golden Seals in 1970. Based on this expansion is where the name the "original six" originated, not from the formation of the NHL. The original six teams played in their own division until the 1970-1 season, when the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks joined the league.
<o:p></o:p>
In 1972-3 two additional teams were added, the Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders. Expansion continued for the 1974-5 season with the addition of the Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitols.<o:p></o:p>

In 1976-7 the movement of franchises restarts. The California franchise moves to Cleveland, renamed the Barons, and the Kansas City franchise moves to Colorado under the Rockies name. In 1978-9 season the troubled Cleveland franchise merges with the Minnesota franchise.<o:p></o:p>

In 1979-80 the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets join the league from the now defunct WHA league. In 1980-1 the Atlanta franchise is moved to Calgary. In 1982-3 the Colorado Rockies franchise is moved to New Jersey, renamed the Devils. In the 1991-2 season another new franchise is added, the San Jose Sharks. The NHL consists of 22 teams at this point.
<o:p></o:p>
The league stays stable at this level until the following season when the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators are added. In the 1993-4 season The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers are added, while the Minnesota franchise is moved to Dallas, and renamed the Stars.

In 1995-6 season the Quebec franchise is transferred to Colorado, renamed the Avalanche and the following year the Jets are moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix and renamed the Coyotes. In 1997-8 the Hartford franchise is transferred to Raleigh and renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.

The addition of the Nashville Predator franchise in 1998-9 brought the league to 27 teams and a major realignment of divisions took place for the addition of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise in 1999-2000 season and the addition of the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets franchises for the 2000-1 season. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>

[SABURZFAN]

i miss the Whalers.

[Ebenezer]

"original six"?? The NHL existed a long time before that...the six refers to the time after the Montreal Maroons folded and the 1967 expansion.

[JD]

Hey EB. can you change my title thing? like how the green is on it..i wanted that on my username not the other thing..thanks if u can :D

[YardRat]

Nice job, Hist...we were just discussing this subject at work the other day, specifically the '67 expansion to double the size of the league.