List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams

Last updated

Map of relocated NHL teams Nhl relocation map 1495x1155.png
Map of relocated NHL teams

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional men's ice hockey league, founded in 1917. [1] The NHL Board of Governors review and approve the relocation of any member club. [2] Each team appoints an individual or individuals to represent their team on the Board of Governors. [3] A majority vote is needed for relocation of a club. [4] Clubs are considered permanently relocated when moved out of their respective home territories, which includes the city that they were located in, plus 50 miles from the city's corporate limits. [3]

Contents

Under the constitution of the NHL, membership is on a partnership basis, each partner holding a franchise from the League for the operation of a hockey club in its designated city. [5] The franchise can out-live teams located in different cities. For example, the Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies, and New Jersey Devils are one franchise. A franchise's history includes the records of competition won in different cities, as differently-named teams. Naming and team logos and designs are registered with the league. Two current teams use the names of previous franchises – the Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets. These franchises do not include the history of the previous franchises, but have used the original franchises' logos and jersey designs. The league considers the history of the current Ottawa Senators to not include the original Senators; the Jets' franchise history includes the Atlanta Thrashers' history, not the first Winnipeg Jets (later the Arizona Coyotes).

There are 19 defunct and relocated NHL teams. The Montreal Wanderers, original Ottawa Senators, and the Quebec Bulldogs had played in the NHA before joining the NHL; Quebec City joined the NHL two years later as the Athletics. [6] The Pittsburgh Pirates played in the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association as the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets before joining the NHL in 1925. [7] The first NHL team to disband was the Montreal Wanderers, citing the lack of available players due to World War I. [8] The first team to relocate was the Athletics, who relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, to become the Hamilton Tigers. The NHL president at the time, Frank Calder, stripped the franchise from owner Mike Quinn and sold it to a Hamilton-based company. [9] Three franchises became defunct due to the Great Depression: the Philadelphia Quakers, the St. Louis Eagles, and the Montreal Maroons. During their time in the NHL, the Senators and Maroons both won the Stanley Cup championship multiple times, with four and two respectively. The Brooklyn Americans was the last team to become defunct in the NHL. The franchise was struggling financially and, due to the lack of players because of World War II, was suspended prior to the 1942–43 season. The franchise formally ceased in 1946. [10] The Americans' departure reduced the number of teams to six. This began what became known as the Original Six era of the NHL.

The Original Six era ended when the NHL expanded twofold in 1967. Two teams from the expansion—the California Golden Seals and the Minnesota North Stars—relocated to other cities. The Golden Seals moved after nine seasons in Oakland to become the Cleveland Barons; this was the first time in four decades the NHL approved a franchise relocation. [11] Two years later, after failed overtures towards merging with the Washington Capitals and the Vancouver Canucks, the Barons merged with the North Stars. [12] The Barons are the only NHL team to merge operations with another one. [13] The North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993 to become the Stars. [14]

After six additional expansion teams, the merger of the Cleveland Barons with the Minnesota North Stars, and the NHL–WHA merger, the league had expanded to 21 teams by 1979. Three of the four teams from the NHL–WHA merger relocated to other cities: the Quebec Nordiques, the original Winnipeg Jets, and the Hartford Whalers. [15] The Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995, while the Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 and rebranded as the Arizona Coyotes in 2014 (but then becoming defunct in 2024), with the Hartford Whalers moving to North Carolina and becoming the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997. The Winnipeg Jets identity was revived in 2011, when a Winnipeg-based company received approval from the league to purchase the struggling Atlanta Thrashers and relocate them to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 season. [16]

In a unique situation in 2024, the Arizona Coyotes was deactivated and its players and personnel were transferred to a new expansion team in Utah. Under the original agreement, Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo retained the rights to the team name and history, as well as an option for reactivation in Arizona for five years, under the condition a new arena is completed in that time. However he ceded his rights to the franchise less than two months later. [17] As of July 2024, the league has not yet indicated whether the Arizona franchise will now fold outright, hold the rights to the Coyotes and wait for a potential expansion team, and/or whether its history, records and/or intellectual property will be transferred to the Utah Hockey Club and/or split between Utah and the current Winnipeg Jets. [18]

Out of the seven active relocated franchises in the NHL, only one has not yet won the Stanley Cup championship, the Jets (they have also never been to the Stanley Cup Finals). [19]

Most of the metropolitan areas that have hosted relocated or defunct teams have been given another NHL team. Montreal, Quebec City and Atlanta all have two defunct or relocated teams with the Wanderers and Maroons, the Athletics and Nordiques, and the Flames and Thrashers, respectively. Philadelphia (Philadelphia Flyers), Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh Penguins), and St. Louis (St. Louis Blues) gained teams during the 1967 expansion. After losing the Americans, two more teams have been added into the New York metropolitan area: the New York Islanders in 1972 and the New Jersey Devils in 1982. Other former host-metropolitan areas of NHL teams that have been given another team include: San Francisco Bay Area (San Jose Sharks in 1991), Ottawa (current Ottawa Senators in 1992), Denver (Colorado Avalanche in 1995), Minneapolis – St. Paul (Minnesota Wild in 2000) and Winnipeg (current Jets in 2011). [20]

Defunct and relocated teams

FirstFirst year in the NHL
LastLast year in the NHL
RecordWin–loss–tie–overtime record
Win% Winning percentage
PANHL (1918–1926) / Stanley Cup playoff (1927–present) appearances
SC Stanley Cup wins
*Denotes active franchise
^City would later receive a new franchise
TeamFirstLastRelocated toSeasonsRecordWin%PASCReason for relocation/disbandmentReference
Montreal Wanderers ^19171918 [g] 1.16700Lack of available players due to World War I and arena burned down [8] [21]
Quebec Bulldogs ^19191920 Hamilton Tigers 1.16700Sold to a Hamilton-based company [9] [22]
Hamilton Tigers 192019255.37700Ceased operations due to players' strike; players were bought by the New York Americans. [23] [24]
Pittsburgh Pirates ^ [a] 19251930 Philadelphia Quakers 5.37020Financial problems during the Great Depression [7] [25]
Philadelphia Quakers ^193019311.13600Financial problems during the Great Depression [7] [26]
Ottawa Senators ^ [b] 19171934 St. Louis Eagles 16 [h] .53494Financial problems during the Great Depression [27] [28]
St. Louis Eagles ^193419351.29200Financial problems during the Great Depression [29] [30]
Montreal Maroons 1924193814.509112Financial problems during the Great Depression [31] [32]
Brooklyn Americans ^ [c] 1925194217.40650Financial problems, plus lack of players due to World War II; formally ceased in 1946. [10] [33]
California Golden Seals ^ [d] 19671976 Cleveland Barons 9.34320In search of better financial conditions; Cleveland is the hometown of minority owner George Gund III. [34] [35]
Kansas City Scouts 19741976 Colorado Rockies 2.24100Financial problems; sold to a group of investors with the intention to move. [36] [37]
Cleveland Barons 19761978Defunct
Merged with Minnesota North Stars
2.37500Both teams with financial problems. [12] [35]
Atlanta Flames ^19721980 Calgary Flames*8.50660Financial problems; sold to Nelson Skalbania with the intention to move to Calgary. [38] [39]
Colorado Rockies ^ [e] 19761982 New Jersey Devils*6.32510Sold to John McMullen in search of better financial conditions; New Jersey is McMullen's home state. [40] [37]
Minnesota North Stars ^19671993 Dallas Stars*26.449170In search of better financial conditions. [14] [41] [42]
Quebec Nordiques 19791995 Colorado Avalanche*16.45990Financial problems; sold to a Denver-based group. [43] [44]
Winnipeg Jets ^ [f] 19791996 Phoenix Coyotes 17.442110Sold to a group of investors with the intention to move in search of better financial conditions. [45] [46]
Hartford Whalers 19791997 Carolina Hurricanes*18.43880In search of better financial conditions. [47] [48]
Atlanta Thrashers 19992011 Winnipeg Jets*11 [i] .44710Evicted from arena; sold to a Winnipeg-based company TNSE. [16] [49]
Arizona Coyotes [j] 19962024Suspended
Hockey assets transferred to Utah Hockey Club
27 [i] .49590Inability of team to construct new arena after two seasons playing in Mullett Arena. Hockey assets sold to Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz. [17] As of July 2024, the league has not yet indicated whether the Arizona franchise will now fold outright, hold the rights to the Coyotes and wait for a potential expansion team, and/or whether its history, records and/or intellectual property will be transferred to the Utah Hockey Club and/or split between Utah and the current Winnipeg Jets. [50] [18] [17] [18]

Notes

Map of defunct and relocated teams

Map of the defunct and relocated NHL teams; the team names are clickable. Nhldefunctteams.pngPhiladelphia QuakersPhiladelphia Quakers
Map of the defunct and relocated NHL teams; the team names are clickable.

Timeline

List of defunct and relocated National Hockey League teams

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Coyotes</span> Former National Hockey League team (1996–2024)

The Arizona Coyotes were a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area, which competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division and the Pacific Division (1998–2020) in the Western Conference, and the West Division (2020–2021). They played at America West Arena in downtown Phoenix from 1996 to 2003, at Glendale's Gila River Arena from 2003 to 2022, and at Mullett Arena in Tempe from 2022 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)</span> Former team of the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association

The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. They began play in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. The club joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979 after the NHL merged with the WHA. Due to mounting financial troubles, in 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. The team played their home games at Winnipeg Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Doan</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1976)

Shane Albert Doan is a Canadian ice hockey executive and former player currently serving as an assistant to Brad Treliving for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Doan spent the entirety of his 21-season NHL career with the Arizona Coyotes franchise, beginning with the original Winnipeg Jets in 1995 before playing in Arizona for two decades. He was the last remaining player active in the NHL from the original Winnipeg Jets franchise before he announced his retirement in the summer of 2017.

In sports, a revival is a new club or franchise is using a name or colours of a previously active team. The previously active team may be defunct, temporarily suspended or may have transferred its operations to another city. The new team may be a new team or franchise, or it may be a transferred team taking over a previous team's colours and/or name. Sports teams names or nicknames are copyrighted in North America and elsewhere. Therefore, permission often must be granted from the owner or family of the defunct team.

The 1979 NHL expansion, popularly referred to as the NHL–WHA merger, was the culmination of several years of negotiations between the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). The result of the negotiations was that the WHA folded, and four of its six surviving teams - the Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets – entered the NHL as expansion teams who commenced play in the NHL in the 1979–80 season. The agreement officially took effect on June 22; it ended the seven-year existence of the WHA and re-established the NHL as the sole major league in North American professional ice hockey.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has undergone several rounds of expansion and other organizational changes during its history to reach its current thirty-two active teams: twenty-five in the United States, and seven in Canada. The newest additions to the league are the Seattle Kraken in 2021 and the Utah Hockey Club in 2024. The league has also relocated several franchises, most recently in 2011 when the former Atlanta Thrashers became the second and current incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets.

The 2011–12 NHL season was the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals four games to two to win the team's first Stanley Cup in their second Stanley Cup Finals appearance; they had lost to Montreal Canadiens in the 1993 Finals.

The following is a complete history of organizational changes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL was founded in 1917 as a successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), starting out with four teams from the predecessor league, and eventually grew to thirty-two in its current state. The NHL has expanded and contracted numerous times throughout its history, including in 1979 when four teams came over from the World Hockey Association (WHA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnipeg Jets</span> National Hockey League team in Manitoba, Canada

The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, playing its home games at Canada Life Centre.

Alex Meruelo is a Cuban-American billionaire who holds business interests in banking, real estate, media, restaurants, food, casinos, and professional sports. He is the owner of Meruelo Group, as well as Meruelo Media, which owns five radio stations and two television stations in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucson Roadrunners</span> American Hockey League team in Tucson, Arizona

The Tucson Roadrunners are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play for the 2016–17 season. Based in Tucson, Arizona, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Utah Hockey Club, the Roadrunners play their home games at the Tucson Convention Center Arena.

The 2019–20 Winnipeg Jets season was the 21st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997, and the ninth in Winnipeg, since the franchise relocated from Atlanta prior to the start of the 2011–12 NHL season.

The 2023–24 Arizona Coyotes season was the 45th and final season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, the 28th and final of the Coyotes after relocation from Winnipeg following the 1995–96 season, and the 52nd and final overall season for the original Jets/Coyotes organization, including their World Hockey Association (WHA) years. It was also their second and final season playing their home games at Mullett Arena, which held the distinction of being the smallest venue in the National Hockey League based on seating capacity in the modern 21st century era, accommodating just 4,600 spectators at maximum capacity.

References

Footnotes

  1. Holzman & Nieforth 2002 , p. 159
  2. McGran, Kevin (June 6, 2009). "NHL's secret constitution revealed". Toronto Star . Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Constitution of the National Hockey League" (PDF). The Star. Toronto. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
  4. Wiebe, Ken (May 23, 2011). "NHL return remains on ice". Edmonton Sun . Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  5. NHL Constitution, p. 2
  6. Pincus 2006 , p. 24
  7. 1 2 3 Bouchette, Ed (May 2, 1999). "Ice Age". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  8. 1 2 McFarlane, Brian. "Early Leagues and the Birth of the NHL". National Hockey League . Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Holzman & Nieforth 2002 , p. 230
  10. 1 2 McFarlane 1990 , p. 43
  11. McFarlane 1990 , p. 144
  12. 1 2 McFarlane 1990 , p. 163
  13. "10 Sports Franchises That Have Gone Bankrupt: 1978 Cleveland Barons". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  14. 1 2 Montville, Leigh (April 19, 1993). "Spleen for Green". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on January 20, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  15. Willes, Ed (2004). The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association . McClelland & Stewart. ISBN   0-7710-8947-3.
  16. 1 2 Dan Rosen (June 21, 2011). "NHL Board unanimous on Winnipeg sale, relocation". National Hockey League. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "NHL board approves relocation of Arizona Coyotes to Utah". Sportsnet. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Bettman confirms Meruelo will not be re-activating Coyotes franchise". Sportsnet.ca. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  19. "Stanley Cup Champions and Finalists". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  20. "Teams". National Hockey League. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  21. "Montreal Wanderers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  22. "Quebec Bulldogs Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  23. Pincus 2006 , p. 35
  24. "Hamilton Tigers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  25. "Pittsburgh Pirates Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  26. "Philadelphia Quakers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  27. "No NHL Hockey Team for Ottawa Next Winter". The Ottawa Evening Citizen . April 7, 1934. p. 1.
  28. "Ottawa Senators Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  29. "St Louis Out of Title Hunt: League Buys Franchise Splits Players Among Remaining Eight Clubs". Leader-Post . October 16, 1935. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  30. "St. Louis Eagles Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  31. Coleman, Charles L. (1969). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol II. Progressive Publications.
  32. "Montreal Maroons Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  33. "New York Americans Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  34. Bass, Alan (2011). The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed the NHL Forever. iUniverse. p. 83. ISBN   978-1-4502-8605-3.
  35. 1 2 "Cleveland Barons Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  36. "Scout Move Almost Complete". Leader-Post. Associated Press. July 16, 1976. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  37. 1 2 "New Jersey Devils Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  38. "Flames Sold, To Move to Calgary". The Palm Beach Post . May 24, 1980. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  39. "Calgary Flames Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  40. McFarlane 1990 , p. 206
  41. "The 35 Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History". D Magazine . December 16, 2009. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  42. "Dallas Stars Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  43. Deacon, James (June 5, 1995). "Nordiques Move to Colorado". Maclean's . Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  44. "Colorado Avalanche Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  45. "Phoenix isn't only city interested in Winnipeg Jets". The Daily Courier . December 3, 1995. p. 2B. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  46. "Phoenix Coyotes Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  47. Rabinovitz, Jonathan (March 27, 1997). "Another Blow to Hartford: Whalers to Leave, Rejecting Arena Offer". The New York Times . Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  48. "Carolina Hurricanes Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  49. "Atlanta Thrashers Franchise Index". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  50. "Embattled Meruelo leaving Coyotes ownership after failed land auction". Associated Press. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  51. "1917-18 NHL Season Summary". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 30, 2011.

Citations