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Did you know that 7 teams are still yet to win the Stanley Cup!

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The NHL the best hockey league to ever exist and one of the biggest national sports. It consists of 31 teams and 4 divisions but at the end of a season only one team will be good enough to hoist the Stanley Cup!

The NHL

The National Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is considered to be the best professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America and the best according to some, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The National Hockey League was organized on November 26, 1917, at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association (NHA), which had been founded in 1909 in Renfrew, Ontario. At its inception, the NHL had four teams—all in Canada, thus the adjective "National" in the league's name. The league expanded to the United States in 1924, when the Boston Bruins joined, and has since consisted of American and Canadian teams. From 1942 to 1967, the league had only six teams, collectively nicknamed the "Original Six". The NHL added six new teams to double its size at the 1967 NHL expansion. The league then increased to 18 teams by 1974 and 21 teams in 1979. Between 1991 and 2000, the NHL further expanded to 30 teams. It added it's 31st team in 2017 The Vegas Goldenknights.

Woman in the NHL

From 1952 to 1955, Marguerite Norris served as president of the Detroit Red Wings, the first woman NHL executive and the first woman to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup. In 1992, Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play a game in any of the major professional North American sports leagues, as a goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning in an NHL pre-season game against the St. Louis Blues, stopping seven of nine shots. In 2016, Dawn Braid was hired as the Arizona Coyotes' skating coach, making her the first female full-time coach in the NHL. These are all great achievements for women in the NHL.

Teams in The NHL

Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, St Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets

Former teams of The NHL

Atlanta Flames – 1972 – 1980, (they became the Calgary Flames),
Atlanta Thrashers – 1999 – 2011, (moved to Winnipeg and were renamed The Jets),
California Golden Seals – (were active from 1967 to 1976 when they became the Cleveland Barons),
Cleveland Barons – (active from 1976 to 1978 when they merged with the Minnesota North Stars)
Colorado Rockies – 1976 to 1982 (when they became the New Jersey Devils),
Hamilton Tigers – 1920 – 1925, Hartford Whalers – 1980 – 1997 (when they became the Carolina Hurricanes),
Kansas City Scouts – (were active from 1974 until 1976 when they moved to Colorado),
Minnesota North Stars – 1967 to 1993 (when they became the Dallas Stars),
Montreal Wanderers – 1917- 1918,
Montreal Maroons – 1924- 1938,
New York Americans – 1925 – 1942,
Ottawa Senators – 1917 – 1934,
Philadelphia Quakers – 1930 – 1931,
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1925 – 1930,
Quebec Bulldogs – 1919 – 1920,
Quebec Nordiques – 1980 to 1995 (when they became the Colorado Avalanche),
St Louis Eagles – 1934 – 1935,
Winnipeg Jets – 1980 – 1996 (when they became the Coyotes).

Awards of The NHL

Hart Memorial Trophy, Most Valuable Player
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, Player who "exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability"
Vezina Trophy, Top Goalie
Calder Memorial Trophy, Rookie of the Year
Art Ross Trophy Top Point Scorer James Norris Memorial Trophy, Top Defenseman
Conn Smythe Trophy, Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, Qualities of Perseverance and Sportsmanship
Ted Lindsay Award, Most Outstanding Player as Selected by the NHLPA; FKA Lester B. Pearson Award
Frank J. Selke Trophy, Top Defensive Forward
William M. Jennings Trophy, Goalie(s) With the Fewest Goals Scored Against
King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Leadership and Humanitarian Contribution
Maurice Richard Trophy, Top Goal Scorer
Jack Adams Award, Coach of the Year
Stanley Cup, NHL Playoff Champion (Since 1927)
Presidents' Trophy, Best Overall Record (Based on Points)