Even if the league was financially strapped in the first decade, NHL's team's performance on the court was still very dazzling; In the first nine years of NHL, NHL team won Stanley Cup seven times. By 1926, NHL became the only league competing for the Stanley Cup. After that, NHL began its expansion plan; Hamilton tigers 1920-2 1 season into the league; Boston bruins and Montreal Malone 1924-25 season to join; New york Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates 1925-26 season; 1926-27 season, new york Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Cougars (now called Detroit Red Wings) joined. By the end of the season, there were 1930-3 1 0 teams in NHL. For some reasons, such as economic panic and World War II, NHL was reduced to six teams. These six teams (Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Boston bruins and new york Rangers) are called the original six teams, which means the original six teams. For the next quarter century, these six teams were the only teams in the NHL.
The Western Hockey League, which was regarded by the authorities as a major league and challenged the Stanley Cup, prompted the NHL to expand for the first time since the 1920s in 1967, with six new teams joining and being placed in a brand-new division. These six teams include: Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Star (now Minnesota Wild Team), Los Angeles Kings, Oakland Sea Lions (1976 joined Minnesota North Star) and Pittsburgh Penguins. Three years later, NHL added Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres.
1972, the World Hockey Association was founded. Although it has never threatened the status of Stanley Cup, its potential competitor status has not been ignored by NHL. In view of this, NHL decided to fully implement its expansion plan in response. In the same year, it added new york and Atlanta Flame, and two years later, it added Kansas Surveyors and Washington Capital. The two leagues competed for fans and players until WHA was dissolved in 1979. Four remaining WHA teams joined NHL: Harvard Whaling Team, Edmonton Refueling Team, Winnipeg Jets Team and Quebec Nordic Team.
From 65438 to the early 1990s, NHL added five more teams. San Jose sharks join1991; A season later, the Ottawa Senators entered the league with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 1993, Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers also joined the league. Near 2000, NHL added four new teams: Nashville Predators (1998), Atlanta Thrushcross Team (1999), Minnesota Wilderness Team and Columbus Blue Team (all in 2000), with a total of 30 teams.