The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier organization overseeing professional ice hockey teams in North America. Established in 1917 by four Canadian teams, it grew steadily, admitting its first U.S. team, the Boston Bruins, in 1924. Moreover, by 1926, the NHL had solidified its position as a dominant league in North America and gained permanent control of the prestigious Stanley Cup, symbolizing ice hockey supremacy worldwide.
Presently, headquartered in New York City, the NHL has evolved over the years, with membership fluctuating before stabilizing at six teams between 1942 to 1967, famously known as the "Original Six." Since then, the league has experienced periods of expansion and restructuring, culminating in its current configuration of 32 teams divided into two conferences and four divisions.
NHL Teams
The NHL season structure comprises the pre-season, regular season, and the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the pre-season, held in the last two weeks of September, teams engage in exhibition games to evaluate talent and prepare for the competitive season. The regular season typically runs from early October to early April, featuring each team playing 82 games, divided evenly between home and away matches. Teams face divisional rivals four times, non-divisional conference opponents three times, and play each team from the opposing conference twice. This ensures 1,312 scheduled games, with additional considerations for events like the All-Star Game, Christmas break, and avoiding scheduling conflicts with the Super Bowl.
The following tables gives a glimpse into teams that participated in the 2023-24 season:
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference | ||
| Pacific Division | Central Division | Atlantic Division | Metropolitan Division |
| Anaheim Ducks | Chicago Blackhawks | Boston Bruins | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Calgary Flames | Colorado Avalanche | Buffalo Sabres | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Edmonton Oilers | Dallas Stars | Detroit Red Wings | New Jersey Devils |
| Los Angeles Kings | Minnesota Wild | Florida Panthers | New York Islanders |
| San Jose Sharks | Nashville Predators | Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers |
| Seattle Kraken | St. Louis Blues | Ottawa Senators | Philadelphia Flyers |
| Vancouver Canucks | Arizona Coyotes | Tampa Bay Lightning | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Vegas Golden Knights | Winnipeg Jets | Toronto Maple Leafs | Washington Capitals |
Note: This table includes teams that played the 2023-24 season. However, with the Arizona Coyotes suspending their operations after the conclusion of the regular season, a deal brokered by the NHL, they moved the Coyotes to Salt Lake City for the creation of a Utah based team.
How many games does every team play during the regular season?
During the NHL regular season, each team plays 82 games, with 41 games at home and 41 games away.
In addition to the 82 regular season games, each NHL team also plays seven or eight exhibition games during the pre-season. Furthermore, once the regular season concludes, 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, where an additional 16 to 24 games may be played by the teams that advance through the various rounds of the playoffs.
All-time Top Regular Season Record Holders
Throughout NHL’s history, certain teams have consistently dominated the regular season standings, earning the top record multiple times. The Montreal Canadiens lead the pack with an impressive 23 top regular season records, with their most recent achievement dating back to the 1977-78 season. Following closely behind are the Detroit Red Wings, boasting 18 top regular season records, with their most recent achievement in the 2007-08 season.
The Boston Bruins have also demonstrated their prowess with 14 top regular season records, the latest being in the 2022-23 season. Other notable teams include the Ottawa Senators (original) with 9 top records, the Toronto Maple Leafs with 6, and the Chicago Blackhawks with 4 records. Notably, the Presidents' Trophy, introduced in the 1985-86 season, now honors the team with the best regular season record, succeeding the Prince of Wales Trophy which was awarded from 1938 to 1967.
The following table gives a glimpse into team with NHL teams with the best All-time top regular record holders:
| Total | Team | Most 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 |
| 4 | Chicago Blackhawks | 2012–13 |
| 4 | New York Rangers | 2014–15 |
| 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 |
| 1 | Buffalo Sabres | 2006–07 |
| 1 | Florida Panthers | 2021–22 |
| 1 | Hamilton Tigers | 1924–25 |
| 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 |
FAQ's On NHL Season
A. The NHL is the primary organization overseeing pro ice hockey in North America. Founded in 1917 by Canadian teams, it grew to include U.S. teams by 1924 and gained control of the Stanley Cup by 1926.
A. The total number of games in an NHL season as of 2023-24 stands at 1,312.
A. Every NHL team plays 82 games, split equally between home and away matches.
A. The Montreal Canadiens have won the most matches in the NHL, with 3,556 wins till now.
A. From its Original Six era (1942-1967) to its current 32-team, two-conference, and four-division setup, the NHL has adapted through periods of expansion and reorganization.
