The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the oldest men's ice hockey leagues in North America as it was established in 1917. Presently,the team is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.
Presently, the league boasts 32 active teams ( 25 from US and 7 from Canada) and is considered as one of the top ranked professional ice hockey leagues in the world. Notably, players from 17 countries take part in the league, showcasing the league's wide market and reach. The NHL is also the fifth-highest grossing professional sport league in the world by revenue, following the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and the English Premier League (EPL).
NHL Teams in Alphabetical Order
There are presently 33 teams participating in the NHL, with only 32 of them being active, after operations of the Arizona Coyotes were suspended and an Utah based team was announced in April 2024. The team was formed after acquiring the Arizona Coyotes' assets.They will be a part of the Central Division and play their home games at the Delta Center.
Moreover, 25 of them belong to the US while 7 of them belong to Canada. Many teams that once participated in the NHL discontinued however many of them are presently not part of the NHL.
The following table looks at all NHL teams in an alphabetical order:
| 1 | Anaheim Ducks |
| 2 | Arizona Coyotes (inactive) |
| 3 | Boston Bruins |
| 4 | Buffalo Sabres |
| 5 | Calgary Flames |
| 6 | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 7 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 8 | Colorado Avalanche |
| 9 | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 10 | Dallas Stars |
| 11 | Detroit Red Wings |
| 12 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 13 | Florida Panthers |
| 14 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 15 | Minnesota Wild |
| 16 | Montreal Canadiens |
| 17 | Nashville Predators |
| 18 | New Jersey Devils |
| 19 | New York Islanders |
| 20 | New York Rangers |
| 21 | Ottawa Senators |
| 22 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 23 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 24 | San Jose Sharks |
| 25 | Seattle Kraken |
| 26 | St. Louis Blues |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 28 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 29 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 30 | Vegas Golden Knights |
| 31 | Washington Capitals |
| 32 | Winnipeg Jets |
Note: A 33rd NHL team was announced in April 2024 with play beginning in the 2024-25 season. The team will be based in Salt Lake City, Utah with Delta Center serving as their home arena.
Defunct NHL Teams
Notably, in the past, there used to be many NHL teams which used to play alongside present day giants. However, these teams ceased operations due to financial woes and player strikes.
Montreal Wanderers
Quebec Bulldogs
Pittsburgh Pirates
Philadelphia Quakes
Original Ottawa Senators
St. Louis Eagles
Montreal Maroons
FAQ's On NHL Teams
Q. Which was the newest expansion team to join the NHL?
A. Seattle Kraken were the latest NHL expansion team until a Utah based team was announced in the first half of 2024.
A. Seattle Kraken were the latest NHL expansion team until a Utah based team was announced in the first half of 2024.
Q. Which team has the most Stanley Cups?
A. The Montreal Canadiens lead the pack with a record 24 Stanley Cup Championships followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs who have 13 to their name.
A. The Montreal Canadiens lead the pack with a record 24 Stanley Cup Championships followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs who have 13 to their name.
Q. What teams make the “Original Six” of the NHL?
A. The Boston Bruins, Chicago BlackHawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs make the Original Six of the NHL.
A. The Boston Bruins, Chicago BlackHawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs make the Original Six of the NHL.
Q. Which NHL teams have never made the finals?
A. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes have never made it to the Stanley Cup finals.
A. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes have never made it to the Stanley Cup finals.
Q. What is the smallest NHL stadium?
A. The Arizona Coyotes’ arena, Mullet Arena, was the smallest arena of the NHL until recently with a seating capacity of 5,000. However, with their operations ceased, the Winnipeg Jets have the smallest with a seating capacity of 15,321 individuals ( Canada Life Centre).
A. The Arizona Coyotes’ arena, Mullet Arena, was the smallest arena of the NHL until recently with a seating capacity of 5,000. However, with their operations ceased, the Winnipeg Jets have the smallest with a seating capacity of 15,321 individuals ( Canada Life Centre).
