List of NHL seasons

Last updated

This is a list of seasons of the National Hockey League (NHL), a professional ice hockey league, since its inception in 1917. The list also includes the seasons of the National Hockey Association (NHA), the predecessor organization of the NHL, which had several teams that would continue play in the NHL. Only two franchises, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs (formerly the Arenas and St. Patricks), still exist from the founding of the league. The Quebec Bulldogs, which suspended after the last NHA season, returned to play in the third NHL season, although they were considered founding members of the NHL. The league would move the team to Hamilton in 1920 and dissolve the team in 1925. The original Ottawa Senators would continue in the league until 1935, where, after one season in St. Louis as the St. Louis Eagles, the franchise was dissolved by the league. The current Ottawa Senators franchise does recognize the history of the original Senators (through retired numbers and a heritage jersey).The list is sub-divided using the same eras as the series of articles on the history of the National Hockey League.

Contents

Championship format

Like predecessor leagues, the champion of the NHA league since its founding was the team with the best regular season record, with a playoff used only if more than one team had the best win–loss record. This changed in 1917 with the invention of the split-season, whereby the champion became the winner of the annual playoff. The NHL continued the split-season and playoff format upon the winding up of the NHA organization. Except for the 1919–20 season, when there was no playoff because Ottawa won both halves of the season, the champion of the NHL has been the playoff champion.

The NHA champion was awarded the O'Brien Cup. This was continued by the NHL. Until 1927, the NHL champion was awarded the O'Brien Cup, supplemented by the Prince of Wales Trophy, starting in 1925. To win the Stanley Cup, the NHL champion had to play and win a "world's series" with the champion of the Pacific Coast or Western Canada leagues. After 1927, the NHL playoff champion was awarded the Stanley Cup, while the O'Brien Cup and Prince of Wales Trophy were reused as division championship and playoff runner-up awards.

1910–1917: National Hockey Association

Hockey seasons traditionally started in January and ended in March until the 1910–11 season which was the first to start before the new year. The 1911–12 season saw the elimination of the rover position, reducing number of skaters per side to six, and changing the game to three 20-minute periods from two 30-minute periods. The 1916–17 season saw the introduction of the split schedule, an innovation attributed to Toronto NHA owner Eddie Livingstone. To symbolize the league championship, the NHA champion was awarded the O'Brien Cup, donated by the O'Brien family, owners of silver mines (being the source of the silver in the trophy), owners of several of the NHA franchises, and original owner of the Montreal Canadiens.

SeasonFinal [4a, b, c] No. of
Teams		Reg. season
games		Start
(begin reg. season)		Finish
(incl. NHA playoffs)		Top recordChampion
1910 1910 712January 5March 15 Montreal Wanderers (11–1–0) Montreal Wanderers
1910–11 1911 516December 31March 10 Ottawa Hockey Club (13–3–0) Ottawa Hockey Club
1911–12 1912 418December 30March 5 Quebec Bulldogs (10–8–0) Quebec Bulldogs
1912–13 1913 620December 25March 5 Quebec Bulldogs (16–4–0) Quebec Bulldogs
1913–14 1914 620December 27March 11 Toronto Blueshirts, Montreal Canadiens (13–7–0) [2] Toronto Blueshirts
1914–15 1915 620December 26March 13 Ottawa Senators, Montreal Wanderers (14–6–0) [2] Ottawa Senators [1]
1915–16 1916 524December 18March 18 Montreal Canadiens (16–7–1) Montreal Canadiens
1916–17 1917 6/4 [3] 20December 27March 10 Montreal Canadiens (7–3–0) (1st half)
Ottawa Senators (8–2–0) (2nd half)		 Montreal Canadiens [1] [5]
Notes

^ 1. All champion teams are also Stanley Cup champions unless marked.
^ 2. The league did not use tiebreakers to determine the top record. The two teams played off to determine the championship.
^ 3. Toronto and Battalion did not participate in the second half.
^ 4a. No Finals prior to 1914; Stanley Cup awarded to league winners and defended on a challenge basis.
^ 4b. Finals in 1915 and 1916 contested between top two teams of regular season.
^ 4c. Finals from 1917 through 1921 contested between qualifier from first half-season and qualifier from second half-season.

1917–1942: Early years

The NHL started with three of the six NHA clubs (Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators) and a Toronto franchise run by the Toronto Arena Co., which leased the players of the Toronto Blueshirts. Almost immediately after starting the season, the Wanderers folded, leaving three teams to complete the season. The same three teams returned for 1918–19 before Quebec 'returned' for 1919–20, moving to Hamilton the following year. The same four-team configuration lasted until 1924–25 when the Montreal Maroons and the Boston Bruins joined the league. Expansion into other cities followed, lasting until the 1930s, when several teams folded.

The new NHL did not have a championship trophy at first. The O'Brien Cup was revived in November 1921, and served as the league championship trophy until 1927. The new Prince of Wales Trophy, donated in 1925, was also given to the league champion until 1927. Henceforth, the trophies were designated for divisional championships, and the Stanley Cup became the de facto league championship trophy.

No.SeasonPlayoffsStanley Cup
Finals [4c] 		No. of
teams		Reg. season
games		Start
(reg. season)		Finish
(incl. NHL playoffs)		Top recordChampion
1 1917–18 1918 [1] 1918 4/3 [5] 22December 19March 13 Montreal Canadiens (10–4–0) (1st half)
Toronto Hockey Club (5–3–0) (2nd half)		 Toronto Hockey Club
2 1918–19 1919 1919 318December 19March 6 Montreal Canadiens (7–3–0) (1st half)
Ottawa Senators (7–1–0) (2nd half)		 Montreal Canadiens [1]
3 1919–20 1920 1920 4 [6] 24December 23March 10 [7] Ottawa Senators (9–3–0) (1st half)
Ottawa Senators (10–2–0) (2nd half)		 Ottawa Senators
4 1920–21 1921 1921 424December 22March 15 Ottawa Senators (8–2–0) (1st half)
Toronto St. Pats (10–4–0) (2nd half)		 Ottawa Senators
5 1921–22 1922 1922 424December 17March 13 Ottawa Senators (14–8–2) Toronto St. Pats
6 1922–23 1923 1923 424December 16March 9 Ottawa Senators (14–9–1) Ottawa Senators
7 1923–24 1924 1924 424December 15March 11 Ottawa Senators (16–8–0) Montreal Canadiens
8 1924–25 1925 1925 6 [8] 30November 29March 13 Hamilton Tigers (19–10–1) Montreal Canadiens [1]
9 1925–26 1926 1926 7 [9] 36November 28March 27 Ottawa Senators (24–8–4) Montreal Maroons
10 1926–27 1927 1927 10 [10] 44November 18April 13 Ottawa Senators (30–10–4) Ottawa Senators
11 1927–28 1928 1928 1044November 15April 14 Montreal Canadiens (26–11–7) New York Rangers
12 1928–29 1929 1929 1044November 15March 29 Montreal Canadiens (22–7–15) Boston Bruins
13 1929–30 1930 1930 1044November 14April 3 Boston Bruins (38–5–1) Montreal Canadiens
14 1930–31 1931 1931 1044November 11April 14 Boston Bruins (28–10–6) Montreal Canadiens
15 1931–32 1932 1932 8 [11] 48November 12April 9 Montreal Canadiens (25–16–7) Toronto Maple Leafs
16 1932–33 1933 1933 9 [12] 48November 10April 13 Boston Bruins (25–15–8) New York Rangers
17 1933–34 1934 1934 948November 9April 10 Toronto Maple Leafs (26–13–9) Chicago Black Hawks
18 1934–35 1935 1935 948November 8April 9 Toronto Maple Leafs (30–14–4) Montreal Maroons
19 1935–36 1936 1936 8 [13] 48November 7April 11 Detroit Red Wings (24–16–8) Detroit Red Wings
20 1936–37 1937 1937 848November 5April 15 Detroit Red Wings (25–14–9) Detroit Red Wings
21 1937–38 1938 1938 848November 4April 12 Boston Bruins (30–11–7) Chicago Black Hawks
22 1938–39 1939 1939 7 [14] 48November 3April 16 Boston Bruins (36–10–2) Boston Bruins
23 1939–40 1940 1940 748November 2April 13 Boston Bruins (31–12–5) New York Rangers
24 1940–41 1941 1941 748November 3April 12 Boston Bruins (27–8–13) Boston Bruins
25 1941–42 1942 1942 748November 1April 18 New York Rangers (29–17–2) Toronto Maple Leafs
The Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1938 HabsvLeafs2.JPG
The Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1938
Notes

^ 1. All champion teams are also Stanley Cup champions unless marked.
^ 4c. Finals from 1917 through 1921 contested between qualifier from first half-season and qualifier from second half-season.
^ 5. Wanderers withdrew after six games (four completed, two forfeited).
^ 6. The Quebec Bulldogs started play.
^ 7. No playoffs.
^ 8. The Montreal Maroons and Boston Bruins started play.
^ 9. The New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates started play. Hamilton Tigers dissolved.
^ 10. The Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars and New York Rangers started play.
^ 11. The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Quakers suspended operations for the season.
^ 12. The Ottawa Senators resumed play.
^ 13. The St. Louis Eagles were dissolved.
^ 14. The Montreal Maroons were dissolved.

1942–1967: Original Six era

Prior to the 1942–43 season, the New York Americans suspended operations. This reduced the number of teams to six, starting the 'Original Six' era. During the Original Six era, the NHL played in a single six-team division. Each season, four of the six teams qualified for the playoffs to determine the Stanley Cup and NHL champion.

No.SeasonPlayoffsFinalsReg. season
games		Start
(reg. season)		Finish
(incl. playoffs)		Top recordChampion
26 1942–43 1943 1943 50October 31April 8 Detroit Red Wings (25–14–11) Detroit Red Wings
27 1943–44 1944 1944 50October 30April 13 Montreal Canadiens (38–5–7) Montreal Canadiens
28 1944–45 1945 1945 50October 28April 22 Montreal Canadiens (38–8–4) Toronto Maple Leafs
29 1945–46 1946 1946 50October 24April 9 Montreal Canadiens (28–17–5) Montreal Canadiens
30 1946–47 1947 1947 60October 16April 19 Montreal Canadiens (34–16–10) Toronto Maple Leafs
31 1947–48 1948 1948 60October 15April 14 Toronto Maple Leafs (32–15–13) Toronto Maple Leafs
32 1948–49 1949 1949 60October 13April 16 Detroit Red Wings (34–19–7) Toronto Maple Leafs
33 1949–50 1950 1950 70October 12April 23 Detroit Red Wings (37–19–14) Detroit Red Wings
34 1950–51 1951 1951 70October 11April 21 Detroit Red Wings (44–13–13) Toronto Maple Leafs
35 1951–52 1952 1952 70October 11April 15 Detroit Red Wings (44–14–12) Detroit Red Wings
36 1952–53 1953 1953 70October 9April 16 Detroit Red Wings (36–16–18) Montreal Canadiens
37 1953–54 1954 1954 70October 8April 16 Detroit Red Wings (37–19–14) Detroit Red Wings
38 1954–55 1955 1955 70October 7April 14 Detroit Red Wings (42–11–11) Detroit Red Wings
39 1955–56 1956 1956 70October 6April 10 Montreal Canadiens (45–15–10) Montreal Canadiens
40 1956–57 1957 1957 70October 11April 16 Detroit Red Wings (38–20–12) Montreal Canadiens
41 1957–58 1958 1958 70October 8April 20 Montreal Canadiens (43–17–10) Montreal Canadiens
42 1958–59 1959 1959 70October 8April 18 Montreal Canadiens (39–18–13) Montreal Canadiens
43 1959–60 1960 1960 70October 7April 14 Montreal Canadiens (40–18–12) Montreal Canadiens
44 1960–61 1961 1961 70October 5April 16 Montreal Canadiens (41–19–10) Chicago Black Hawks
45 1961–62 1962 1962 70October 11April 22 Montreal Canadiens (42–14–14) Toronto Maple Leafs
46 1962–63 1963 1963 70October 12April 18 Toronto Maple Leafs (35–23–12) Toronto Maple Leafs
47 1963–64 1964 1964 70October 8April 25 Montreal Canadiens (36–21–13) Toronto Maple Leafs
48 1964–65 1965 1965 70October 12May 1 Detroit Red Wings (40–23–7) Montreal Canadiens
49 1965–66 1966 1966 70October 23May 5 Montreal Canadiens (41–21–8) Montreal Canadiens
50 1966–67 1967 1967 70October 19May 2 Chicago Black Hawks (41–17–12) Toronto Maple Leafs

1967–1992: Expansion era

Since 1967, the league re-organized several times as it grew. In 1967, the league played in two divisions, with the playoff winner of each division playing off for the NHL championship. As the league grew the league changed its championship format to allow cross-over seeding, then changed to a division-based championship, leading to conference-based championship, with conference champions playing off for the Stanley Cup. In 1985, the Presidents' Trophy was inaugurated to reward the team with the top regular season record, irrespective of division or conference.

No.SeasonPlayoffsFinalsNo. of
teams		Reg. season
games		Start
(reg. season)		Finish
(incl. playoffs)		Top recordChampion
51 1967–68 1968 1968 12 [15] 74October 11May 11 Montreal Canadiens (42–22–10) Montreal Canadiens
52 1968–69 1969 1969 1276October 11May 4 Montreal Canadiens (46–19–11) Montreal Canadiens
53 1969–70 1970 1970 1276October 11May 10 Chicago Black Hawks (45–22–9) Boston Bruins
54 1970–71 1971 1971 14 [16] 78October 9May 18 Boston Bruins (57–14–7) Montreal Canadiens
55 1971–72 1972 1972 1478October 8May 11 Boston Bruins (54–13–11) Boston Bruins
56 1972–73 1973 1973 16 [17] 78October 7May 10 Montreal Canadiens (52–10–16) Montreal Canadiens
57 1973–74 1974 1974 1678October 10May 19 Boston Bruins (52–17–9) Philadelphia Flyers
58 1974–75 1975 1975 18 [18] 80October 9May 27 Philadelphia Flyers (51–18–11) Philadelphia Flyers
59 1975–76 1976 1976 1880October 7May 16 Montreal Canadiens (58–11–11) Montreal Canadiens
60 1976–77 1977 1977 18 [19] 80October 5May 14 Montreal Canadiens (60–8–12) Montreal Canadiens
61 1977–78 1978 1978 1880October 12May 25 Montreal Canadiens (59–10–11) Montreal Canadiens
62 1978–79 1979 1979 17 [20] 80October 11May 21 New York Islanders (51–15–14) Montreal Canadiens
63 1979–80 1980 1980 21 [21] 80October 9May 24 Philadelphia Flyers (48–12–20) New York Islanders
64 1980–81 1981 1981 21 [22] 80October 9May 21 New York Islanders (48–18–14) New York Islanders
65 1981–82 1982 1982 2180October 6May 16 New York Islanders (54–16–10) New York Islanders
66 1982–83 1983 1983 21 [23] 80October 5May 17 Boston Bruins (50–20–10) New York Islanders
67 1983–84 1984 1984 2180October 4May 19 Edmonton Oilers (57–18–5) Edmonton Oilers
68 1984–85 1985 1985 2180October 11May 30 Philadelphia Flyers (53–20–7) Edmonton Oilers
69 1985–86 1986 1986 2180October 10May 24 Edmonton Oilers (56–17–7) Montreal Canadiens
70 1986–87 1987 1987 2180October 9May 31 Edmonton Oilers (50–24–6) Edmonton Oilers
71 1987–88 1988 1988 2180October 8May 26 Calgary Flames (48–23–9) Edmonton Oilers
72 1988–89 1989 1989 2180October 6May 25 Calgary Flames (54–17–9) Calgary Flames
73 1989–90 1990 1990 2180October 5May 24 Boston Bruins (46–25–9) Edmonton Oilers
74 1990–91 1991 1991 2180October 4May 25 Chicago Blackhawks (49–23–8) Pittsburgh Penguins
75 1991–92 1992 1992 22 [24] 80October 3June 1 New York Rangers (50–25–5) Pittsburgh Penguins
Notes

^ 15. The California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues started play.
^ 16. The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks started play.
^ 17. The Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders started play.
^ 18. The Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals started play.
^ 19. The California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, renamed Cleveland Barons. Kansas City Scouts relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamed Colorado Rockies.
^ 20. The Cleveland Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars.
^ 21. The Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) joined the NHL.
^ 22. The Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary, Alberta, renamed Calgary Flames.
^ 23. The Colorado Rockies relocated to East Rutherford, New Jersey, renamed New Jersey Devils.
^ 24. The San Jose Sharks started play.

1992–2017: Further expansion

In 1993, coinciding with the naming of Gary Bettman as commissioner, the league re-organized into the Eastern and Western Conferences, with two divisions each, organized along geographical lines. The playoff format was changed to provide conference champions without divisional playoff champions. A new round of expansion began. By 2000–01, the number of teams increased to 30 and the number of divisions increased to six. This era has seen three seasons changed due to labour disputes between the NHL and the players' union. The 1994–95 and 2012–13 seasons were shortened to 48 intraconference games, and the 2004–05 season's games were cancelled entirely. According to the 2011 NHL Guide and Record Book, the NHL includes the 2004–05 season in its count of seasons. For example, the 2011 NHL Guide lists the Tampa Bay Lightning as entering their 19th 'NHL Season', although a count of the Lightning's seasons of play would determine the 2010–11 season to be their 18th season of play. [1]

No.SeasonPlayoffsFinalsNo. of
teams		Reg. season
games		Start
(reg. season)		Finish
(incl. playoffs)		Top recordChampion
76 1992–93 1993 1993 24 [25] 84October 6June 9 Pittsburgh Penguins (56–21–7) Montreal Canadiens
77 1993–94 1994 1994 26 [26] 84October 5June 14 New York Rangers (52–24–8) New York Rangers
78 1994–95 1995 1995 2648 [27] January 20June 24 Detroit Red Wings (33–11–4) New Jersey Devils
79 1995–96 1996 1996 26 [28] 82October 6June 10 Detroit Red Wings (62–13–7) Colorado Avalanche
80 1996–97 1997 1997 26 [29] 82October 4June 7 Colorado Avalanche (49–24–9) Detroit Red Wings
81 1997–98 1998 1998 26 [30] 82October 1June 16 Dallas Stars (49–22–11) Detroit Red Wings
82 1998–99 1999 1999 27 [31] 82October 9June 19 Dallas Stars (51–19–12) Dallas Stars
83 1999–00 2000 2000 28 [32] 82October 1June 10 St. Louis Blues (51–19–11–1) New Jersey Devils
84 2000–01 2001 2001 30 [33] 82October 4June 9 Colorado Avalanche (52–16–10–4) Colorado Avalanche
85 2001–02 2002 2002 3082October 3June 13 Detroit Red Wings (51–17–10–4) Detroit Red Wings
86 2002–03 2003 2003 3082October 9June 9 Ottawa Senators (52–21–8–1) New Jersey Devils
87 2003–04 2004 2004 3082October 8June 7 Detroit Red Wings (48–21–11–2) Tampa Bay Lightning
88 2004–05 Season not played due to lockout
89 2005–06 2006 2006 3082October 5June 19 Detroit Red Wings (58–16–8) Carolina Hurricanes
90 2006–07 2007 2007 30 [34] 82October 4June 6 Buffalo Sabres (53–22–7) Anaheim Ducks
91 2007–08 2008 2008 3082September 29June 4 Detroit Red Wings (54–21–7) Detroit Red Wings
92 2008–09 2009 2009 3082October 4June 12 San Jose Sharks (53–18–11) Pittsburgh Penguins
93 2009–10 2010 2010 3082October 1June 9 Washington Capitals (54–15–13) Chicago Blackhawks
94 2010–11 2011 2011 3082October 7June 15 Vancouver Canucks (54–19–9) Boston Bruins
95 2011–12 2012 2012 30 [35] 82October 6June 11 Vancouver Canucks (51–22–9) Los Angeles Kings
96 2012–13 2013 2013 3048 [36] January 19June 24 Chicago Blackhawks (36–7–5) Chicago Blackhawks
97 2013–14 2014 2014 30 [37] 82October 1June 13 Boston Bruins (54–19–9) Los Angeles Kings
98 2014–15 2015 2015 30 [38] 82October 8June 15 New York Rangers (53–22–7) Chicago Blackhawks
99 2015–16 2016 2016 3082October 7June 12 Washington Capitals (56–18–8) Pittsburgh Penguins
100 2016–17 2017 2017 3082October 12June 11 Washington Capitals (55–19–8) Pittsburgh Penguins
Notes

^ 25. The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning started play.
^ 26. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers started play. Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas, Texas, renamed Dallas Stars.
^ 27. Season shortened due to lockout.
^ 28. The Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamed Colorado Avalanche.
^ 29. The Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, July 1996, renamed Phoenix Coyotes.
^ 30. The Hartford Whalers relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, renamed Carolina Hurricanes.
^ 31. The Nashville Predators started play. The league realigned into 3 divisions per conference, ultimately with 5 teams per division.
^ 32. The Atlanta Thrashers started play. The Carolina Hurricanes moved to their intended home of Raleigh, North Carolina.
^ 33. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild started play.
^ 34. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim rebranded as the Anaheim Ducks.
^ 35. The Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, renamed Winnipeg Jets.
^ 36. Season shortened due to lockout. Last season to have 5 teams per division.
^ 37. League realigned back into 2 divisions per conference, with 16 teams in the Eastern Conference (8 teams per division) and 14 in the Western Conference (7 teams per division).
^ 38. The Phoenix Coyotes rebranded as the Arizona Coyotes.

2017–present: Modern era

The league began its second century in 2017 and has continued to grow by adding two new expansion franchises. It has also seen one of its teams indefinitely suspend operations, with the team's hockey assets, including its roster and coaches, being transferred to a third expansion franchise.

This era has seen two seasons changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019–20 season was stopped at 68–71 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulted in a one-time playoff format change involving 24 teams; the subsequent 2020–21 season was shortened to 56 intradivisional games, with teams temporarily realigned and the playoff format modified.

No.SeasonPlayoffsFinalsNo. of
teams		Reg. season
games		Start
(reg. season)		Finish
(incl. playoffs)		Top recordChampion
101 2017–18 2018 2018 31 [39] 82October 4June 7 Nashville Predators (53–18–11) Washington Capitals
102 2018–19 2019 2019 3182October 3June 12 Tampa Bay Lightning (62–16–4) St. Louis Blues
103 2019–20 2020 2020 3168–71 [40] October 2September 28 Boston Bruins (44–14–12) [40] Tampa Bay Lightning
104 2020–21 2021 2021 3156 [41] January 13July 7 Colorado Avalanche (39–13–4) Tampa Bay Lightning
105 2021–22 2022 2022 32 [42] 82October 12June 26 Florida Panthers (58–18–6) Colorado Avalanche
106 2022–23 2023 2023 3282October 7June 13 Boston Bruins (65–12–5) Vegas Golden Knights
107 2023–24 2024 2024 3282October 10June 24 New York Rangers (55–23–4) Florida Panthers
108 2024–25 2025 2025 32 [43] 82October 4TBDTBDTBD
Notes

^ 39. The Vegas Golden Knights started play.
^ 40. Season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020. Due to the uneven schedule, the Boston Bruins were awarded the top record in the regular season by points percentage.
^ 41. Season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to cross border travel restrictions, the league temporarily realigned into 4 divisions, with the 7 Canadian teams in the North Division and the 24 American teams equally divided among the East, Central, and West Divisions.
^ 42. The Seattle Kraken started play.
^ 43. The Arizona Coyotes cease operations, while their assets including their roster continue as the Utah Hockey Club.

All-time top regular season record holders

This table lists the number of times that NHL/NHA teams had the top record in the regular season (this list does not count Stanley Cup/League Champion wins). The Presidents' Trophy is the current award for the team with the best regular season record, which began being awarded starting with the 1985–86 NHL season. From 1938 to 1967 the Prince of Wales Trophy was the award for the team with the best record in the regular season. Following the expansion of 1967–68 no award was given until the inception of the Presidents' Trophy.

TotalTeamMost recent
23 Montreal Canadiens ^ 1977–78
18 Detroit Red Wings 2007–08
14 Boston Bruins 2022–23
9 Ottawa Senators (original) ^ 1927–28
6 Toronto Maple Leafs 1962–63
5 New York Rangers 2023–24
4 Chicago Blackhawks 2012–13
3 Colorado Avalanche 2020–21
3 Edmonton Oilers 1986–87
3 New York Islanders 1981–82
3 Philadelphia Flyers 1984–85
3 Washington Capitals 2016–17
2 Calgary Flames 1988–89
2 Dallas Stars 1998–99
2 Vancouver Canucks 2011–12
2 Quebec Bulldogs (NHA) 1912–13
1 Buffalo Sabres 2006–07
1 Florida Panthers 2021–22
1 Hamilton Tigers 1924–25
1 Montreal Wanderers (NHA) 1910
1 Nashville Predators 2017–18
1 Ottawa Senators 2002–03
1 Pittsburgh Penguins 1992–93
1 San Jose Sharks 2008–09
1 St. Louis Blues 1999–00
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 2018–19
1 Toronto Blueshirts (NHA) 1913–14
Notes
Defunct teams denoted in italics.
^ The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators (original) each have 2 top regular season records in the NHA in addition to their NHL seasons.

See also

Related Research Articles

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The 1920–21 NHL season was the fourth season of the National Hockey League (NHL). Four teams each played 24 games in a split season. The Quebec franchise was transferred to Hamilton, Ontario, to become the Hamilton Tigers. The Ottawa Senators won the league championship in a playoff with the Toronto St. Patricks. The Senators went on to win the Stanley Cup by defeating the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association three games to two in a best-of-five series. This would be the last split season before the NHL changed its regular season and playoff formats.

The 1924–25 NHL season was the eighth season of the National Hockey League. The NHL added two teams this season, a second team in Montreal, the Montreal Maroons and the first U.S. team, the Boston Bruins. Six teams each played 30 games.

The 1925–26 NHL season was the ninth season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL dropped the Hamilton Tigers and added two new teams, the New York Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates, to bring the total number of teams to seven. The Ottawa Senators were the regular-season champion, but lost in the NHL playoff final to the Montreal Maroons. The Maroons then defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Victoria Cougars of the newly renamed Western Hockey League three games to one in a best-of-five series to win their first Stanley Cup.

The 1927–28 NHL season was the 11th season of the National Hockey League. Ten teams played 44 games each. This was the first full season that the Toronto club used the Toronto Maple Leafs name following ownership changes in February 1927. The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup beating the Montreal Maroons, becoming the first NHL team based in the United States to win it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Senators (original)</span> Canadian ice hockey club from 1883 to 1954

The Ottawa Senators were an ice hockey team based in Ottawa, which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League (NHL) and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934. The club, which was officially the Ottawa Hockey Club, was known by several nicknames, including the Generals in the 1890s, the Silver Seven from 1903 to 1907 and the Senators dating from 1908.

The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey is the National Hockey League's (NHL) annual championship series. The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional sports trophy, and one of the "most important championships available to the sport [of ice hockey]" according to the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The 1915–16 NHA season was the seventh season of the National Hockey Association. Five teams played a 24 game schedule. Montreal Canadiens won the league championship and defeated the Portland Rosebuds to win their first ever Stanley Cup.

The Stanley Cup playoffs is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season points totals. The final round is commonly known as the Stanley Cup Finals, which matches the two conference champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1914–15 NHA season</span> National Hockey Association season

The 1914–15 NHA season was the sixth season of the National Hockey Association and played from December 26, 1914, until March 3, 1915. Each team played 20 games. The Ottawa Senators won the NHA championship in a two-game, total goal playoff against the Montreal Wanderers. The Senators, however fell to the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association in the Stanley Cup championship. It was the second 'World's Series' between the NHA and the PCHA for the Stanley Cup.

In Ottawa, Canada, ice hockey clubs date back to the first decade of recorded organized ice hockey play. The men's senior-level Ottawa Hockey Club is known to have played in a Canadian championship in 1884. Today, Ottawa hockey clubs are represented in all age brackets, in both men's and women's, in amateur and professional.

The 1910 NHA season was the first season of the National Hockey Association men's professional ice hockey league. The season started on January 5, but was suspended immediately and the league then absorbed the Ottawa and Shamrocks teams of the Canadian Hockey Association and the season continued from January 15 to March 15. Seven teams played 12 games each. The Ottawa Hockey Club played two Stanley Cup challenges during the season, but lost the Cup to their rivals the Montreal Wanderers who won the league championship and played a Cup challenge afterwards.

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Dinger 2010, p. 95.
Bibliography

Commons-logo.svg Media related to National Hockey League seasons at Wikimedia Commons

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