List of NHL seasons
This is a list of
Championship format
Like predecessor leagues, the champion of the NHA league since its founding was the team with the best regular season record, with a playoff used only if more than one team had the best win–loss record. This changed in 1917 with the invention of the split-season, whereby the champion became the winner of the annual playoff. The NHL continued the split-season and playoff format upon the winding up of the NHA organization. Except for the 1919–20 season, when there was no playoff because Ottawa won both halves of the season, the champion of the NHL has been the playoff champion.
The NHA champion was awarded the
National Hockey Association
Hockey seasons traditionally started in January and ended in March until the 1910–11 season which was the first to start before the new year. The 1911–12 season saw the elimination of the rover position, reducing number of skaters per side to six, and changing the game to three 20-minute periods from two 30-minute periods. The 1916–17 season saw the introduction of the split schedule, an innovation attributed to Toronto NHA owner
Season | Final [4a, b, c] | No. of Teams |
Reg. season games |
Start (begin reg. season) |
Finish (incl. NHA playoffs) |
Top record | Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1910 | 1910 |
7 | 12 | January 5 | March 15 | Montreal Wanderers (11–1–0) | Montreal Wanderers |
1910–11 | 1911 |
5 | 16 | December 31 | March 10 | Ottawa Hockey Club (13–3–0) |
Ottawa Hockey Club
|
1911–12 | 1912 |
4 | 18 | December 30 | March 5 | Quebec Bulldogs (10–8–0) | Quebec Bulldogs |
1912–13 | 1913 |
6 | 20 | December 25 | March 5 | Quebec Bulldogs (16–4–0) | Quebec Bulldogs |
1913–14 | 1914 | 6 | 20 | December 27 | March 11 | Toronto Blueshirts, Montreal Canadiens (13–7–0)[2] | Toronto Blueshirts |
1914–15 | 1915 | 6 | 20 | December 26 | March 13 | Ottawa Senators, Montreal Wanderers (14–6–0)[2] | Ottawa Senators[1] |
1915–16 | 1916 | 5 | 24 | December 18 | March 18 | Montreal Canadiens (16–7–1) | Montreal Canadiens |
1916–17 | 1917 | 6/4[3] | 20 | December 27 | March 10 | Montreal Canadiens (7–3–0) (1st half) Ottawa Senators (8–2–0) (2nd half) |
Montreal Canadiens[1][5] |
- Notes
^ 1. All champion teams are also Stanley Cup champions unless marked.
^ 2. The league did not use tiebreakers to determine the top record. The two teams played off to determine the championship.
^ 3. Toronto and Battalion did not participate in the second half.
^ 4a. No Finals prior to 1914; Stanley Cup awarded to league winners and defended on a challenge basis.
^ 4b. Finals in 1915 and 1916 contested between top two teams of regular season.
^ 4c. Finals from 1917 through 1921 contested between qualifier from first half-season and qualifier from second half-season.
Early years
The NHL started with three of the six NHA clubs (Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators) and a Toronto franchise run by the Toronto Arena Co., which leased the players of the Toronto Blueshirts. Almost immediately after starting the season, the Wanderers folded, leaving three teams to complete the season. The same three teams returned for 1918–19 before Quebec 'returned' for 1919–20, moving to Hamilton the following year. The same four-team configuration lasted until 1924–25 when the Montreal Maroons and the Boston Bruins joined the league. Expansion into other cities followed, lasting until the 1930s, when several teams folded.
The new NHL did not have a championship trophy at first. The
No. | Season | Playoffs | Stanley Cup Finals [4c] |
No. of teams |
Reg. season games |
Start (reg. season) |
Finish (incl. NHL playoffs) |
Top record | Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1917–18 | 1918 [1] | 1918 | 4/3[5] | 22 | December 19 | March 13 | Montreal Canadiens (10–4–0) (1st half) Toronto Hockey Club (5–3–0) (2nd half) |
Toronto Hockey Club |
2 | 1918–19 | 1919 | 1919 | 3 | 18 | December 19 | March 6 | Montreal Canadiens (7–3–0) (1st half) Ottawa Senators (7–1–0) (2nd half) |
Montreal Canadiens[1] |
3 | 1919–20 | 1920 |
1920 | 4[6] | 24 | December 23 | March 10[7] | Ottawa Senators (9–3–0) (1st half) Ottawa Senators (10–2–0) (2nd half) |
Ottawa Senators |
4 | 1920–21 | 1921 |
1921 | 4 | 24 | December 22 | March 15 | Toronto St. Pats (10–4–0) (2nd half) |
Ottawa Senators |
5 | 1921–22 | 1922 | 1922 | 4 | 24 | December 17 | March 13 | Ottawa Senators (14–8–2) | Toronto St. Pats
|
6 | 1922–23 | 1923 | 1923 | 4 | 24 | December 16 | March 9 | Ottawa Senators (14–9–1) | Ottawa Senators |
7 | 1923–24 | 1924 | 1924 | 4 | 24 | December 15 | March 11 | Ottawa Senators (16–8–0) | Montreal Canadiens |
8 | 1924–25 | 1925 |
1925 | 6[8] | 30 | November 29 | March 13 | Hamilton Tigers (19–10–1) | Montreal Canadiens[1] |
9 | 1925–26 | 1926 |
1926 | 7[9] | 36 | November 28 | March 27 | Ottawa Senators (24–8–4) | Montreal Maroons |
10 | 1926–27 | 1927 | 1927 | 10[10] | 44 | November 18 | April 13 | Ottawa Senators (30–10–4) | Ottawa Senators |
11 | 1927–28 | 1928 |
1928 | 10 | 44 | November 15 | April 14 | Montreal Canadiens (26–11–7) | New York Rangers |
12 | 1928–29 | 1929 |
1929 | 10 | 44 | November 15 | March 29 | Montreal Canadiens (22–7–15) | Boston Bruins |
13 | 1929–30 | 1930 |
1930 | 10 | 44 | November 14 | April 3 | Boston Bruins (38–5–1) | Montreal Canadiens |
14 | 1930–31 | 1931 |
1931 | 10 | 44 | November 11 | April 14 | Boston Bruins (28–10–6) | Montreal Canadiens |
15 | 1931–32 | 1932 |
1932 | 8[11] | 48 | November 12 | April 9 | Montreal Canadiens (25–16–7) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
16 | 1932–33 | 1933 |
1933 | 9[12] | 48 | November 10 | April 13 | Boston Bruins (25–15–8) | New York Rangers |
17 | 1933–34 | 1934 |
1934 | 9 | 48 | November 9 | April 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs (26–13–9) | Chicago Black Hawks |
18 | 1934–35 | 1935 |
1935 | 9 | 48 | November 8 | April 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs (30–14–4) | Montreal Maroons |
19 | 1935–36 | 1936 |
1936 | 8[13] | 48 | November 7 | April 11 | Detroit Red Wings (24–16–8) | Detroit Red Wings |
20 | 1936–37 | 1937 |
1937 | 8 | 48 | November 5 | April 15 | Detroit Red Wings (25–14–9) | Detroit Red Wings |
21 | 1937–38 | 1938 |
1938 | 8 | 48 | November 4 | April 12 | Boston Bruins (30–11–7) | Chicago Black Hawks |
22 | 1938–39 | 1939 |
1939 | 7[14] | 48 | November 3 | April 16 | Boston Bruins (36–10–2) | Boston Bruins |
23 | 1939–40 | 1940 |
1940 | 7 | 48 | November 2 | April 13 | Boston Bruins (31–12–5) | New York Rangers |
24 | 1940–41 | 1941 |
1941 | 7 | 48 | November 3 | April 12 | Boston Bruins (27–8–13) | Boston Bruins |
25 | 1941–42 | 1942 |
1942 | 7 | 48 | November 1 | April 18 | New York Rangers (29–17–2) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
- Notes
^ 1. | All champion teams are also Stanley Cup champions unless marked. |
^ 4c. | Finals from 1917 through 1921 contested between qualifier from first half-season and qualifier from second half-season. |
^ 5. | Wanderers withdrew after six games (four completed, two forfeited). |
^ 6. | The Quebec Bulldogs started play. |
^ 7. | No playoffs. |
^ 8. | The Montreal Maroons and Boston Bruins started play. |
^ 9. | The New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates started play. Hamilton Tigers dissolved. |
^ 10. | The Detroit Cougars and New York Rangers started play.
|
^ 11. | The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Quakers suspended operations for the season. |
^ 12. | The Ottawa Senators resumed play. |
^ 13. | The St. Louis Eagles were dissolved. |
^ 14. | The Montreal Maroons were dissolved. |
Original Six era
Prior to the 1942–43 season, the New York Americans suspended operations. This reduced the number of teams to six, starting the 'Original Six' era. During the Original Six era, the NHL played in a single six-team division. Each season, four of the six teams qualified for the playoffs to determine the Stanley Cup and NHL champion.
No. | Season | Playoffs | Finals | Reg. season games |
Start (reg. season) |
Finish (incl. playoffs) |
Top record | Champion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | 1942–43 | 1943 |
1943 | 50 | October 31 | April 8 | Detroit Red Wings (25–14–11) | Detroit Red Wings |
27 | 1943–44 | 1944 |
1944 | 50 | October 30 | April 13 | Montreal Canadiens (38–5–7) | Montreal Canadiens |
28 | 1944–45 | 1945 |
1945 | 50 | October 28 | April 22 | Montreal Canadiens (38–8–4) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
29 | 1945–46 | 1946 |
1946 | 50 | October 24 | April 9 | Montreal Canadiens (28–17–5) | Montreal Canadiens |
30 | 1946–47 | 1947 |
1947 | 60 | October 16 | April 19 | Montreal Canadiens (34–16–10) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
31 | 1947–48 | 1948 | 1948 | 60 | October 15 | April 14 | Toronto Maple Leafs (32–15–13) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
32 | 1948–49 | 1949 |
1949 | 60 | October 13 | April 16 | Detroit Red Wings (34–19–7) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
33 | 1949–50 | 1950 |
1950 | 70 | October 12 | April 23 | Detroit Red Wings (37–19–14) | Detroit Red Wings |
34 | 1950–51 | 1951 | 1951 | 70 | October 11 | April 21 | Detroit Red Wings (44–13–13) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
35 | 1951–52 | 1952 |
1952 | 70 | October 11 | April 15 | Detroit Red Wings (44–14–12) | Detroit Red Wings |
36 | 1952–53 | 1953 |
1953 | 70 | October 9 | April 16 | Detroit Red Wings (36–16–18) | Montreal Canadiens |
37 | 1953–54 | 1954 |
1954 | 70 | October 8 | April 16 | Detroit Red Wings (37–19–14) | Detroit Red Wings |
38 | 1954–55 | 1955 |
1955 | 70 | October 7 | April 14 | Detroit Red Wings (42–11–11) | Detroit Red Wings |
39 | 1955–56 | 1956 |
1956 | 70 | October 6 | April 10 | Montreal Canadiens (45–15–10) | Montreal Canadiens |
40 | 1956–57 | 1957 |
1957 | 70 | October 11 | April 16 | Detroit Red Wings (38–20–12) | Montreal Canadiens |
41 | 1957–58 | 1958 |
1958 | 70 | October 8 | April 20 | Montreal Canadiens (43–17–10) | Montreal Canadiens |
42 | 1958–59 | 1959 |
1959 | 70 | October 8 | April 18 | Montreal Canadiens (39–18–13) | Montreal Canadiens |
43 | 1959–60 | 1960 | 1960 | 70 | October 7 | April 14 | Montreal Canadiens (40–18–12) | Montreal Canadiens |
44 | 1960–61 | 1961 |
1961 | 70 | October 5 | April 16 | Montreal Canadiens (41–19–10) | Chicago Black Hawks |
45 | 1961–62 | 1962 |
1962 | 70 | October 11 | April 22 | Montreal Canadiens (42–14–14) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
46 | 1962–63 | 1963 |
1963 | 70 | October 12 | April 18 | Toronto Maple Leafs (35–23–12) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
47 | 1963–64 | 1964 |
1964 | 70 | October 8 | April 25 | Montreal Canadiens (36–21–13) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
48 | 1964–65 | 1965 |
1965 | 70 | October 12 | May 1 | Detroit Red Wings (40–23–7) | Montreal Canadiens |
49 | 1965–66 | 1966 |
1966 | 70 | October 23 | May 5 | Montreal Canadiens (41–21–8) | Montreal Canadiens |
50 | 1966–67 | 1967 | 1967 | 70 | October 19 | May 2 | Chicago Black Hawks (41–17–12) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
Expansion years
Since 1967, the league re-organized several times as it grew. In 1967, the league played in two divisions, with the playoff winner of each division playing off for the NHL championship. As the league grew the league changed its championship format to allow cross-over seeding, then changed to a division-based championship, leading to conference-based championship, with conference champions playing off for the Stanley Cup. In 1985, the Presidents' Trophy was inaugurated to reward the team with the top regular season record, irrespective of division or conference.
- Notes
^ 15. | The California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues started play. |
^ 16. | The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks started play. |
^ 17. | The Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders started play. |
^ 18. | The Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals started play. |
^ 19. | The California Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, renamed Cleveland Barons. Kansas City Scouts relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamed Colorado Rockies . |
^ 20. | The Cleveland Barons merge with the Minnesota North Stars. |
^ 21. | The Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) join the NHL. |
^ 22. | The Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary, Alberta, renamed Calgary Flames. |
^ 23. | The Colorado Rockies relocated to East Rutherford, New Jersey, renamed New Jersey Devils. |
^ 24. | The San Jose Sharks started play. |
Current era
In 1993, coinciding with the naming of
- Notes
^ 25. The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning started play. |
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers started play. Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas, Texas, renamed Dallas Stars . |
^ 27. Season shortened due to lockout. |
^ 28. The Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamed Colorado Avalanche. |
Winnipeg Jets (1972–96) relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, July 1996, renamed Phoenix Coyotes . |
^ 30. The Hartford Whalers relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, renamed Carolina Hurricanes. |
^ 31. The Nashville Predators started play. The league realigns into 3 divisions per conference, ultimately with 5 teams per division. |
^ 32. The Atlanta Thrashers started play. The Carolina Hurricanes move to their intended home of Raleigh, North Carolina. |
^ 33. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild started play. |
^ 34. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim rebrand as the Anaheim Ducks. |
^ 35. The Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, renamed Winnipeg Jets. |
^ 36. Season shortened due to lockout. Last season to have 5 teams per division. |
^ 37. League realigns back into 2 divisions per conference, with 16 teams in the Eastern Conference (8 teams per division) and 14 in the Western Conference (7 teams per division). |
^ 38. The Phoenix Coyotes rebrand as the Arizona Coyotes. |
^ 39. The Vegas Golden Knights started play. |
^ 40. Season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020. Due to the uneven schedule, the Boston Bruins were awarded the top record in the regular season by points percentage. |
^ 41. Season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to cross border travel restrictions, the league temporarily realigns into 4 divisions, with the 7 Canadian teams in the North Division and the 24 American teams equally divided among the East, Central, and West Divisions. |
^ 42. The Seattle Kraken started play. |
All-time top regular season record holders
This table lists the number of times that NHL/NHA teams had the top record in the regular season (this list does not count Stanley Cup/League Champion wins). The Presidents' Trophy is the current award for the team with the best regular season record, which began being awarded starting with the 1985–86 NHL season. From 1938 to 1967 the Prince of Wales Trophy was the award for the team with the best record in the regular season. Following the expansion of 1967–68 no award was given until the inception of the Presidents' Trophy.
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 |
2 | Quebec Bulldogs (NHA) | 1912–13 |
1 | Buffalo Sabres | 2006–07 |
1 | Florida Panthers | 2021–22 |
1 | Hamilton Tigers | 1924–25 |
1 | Montreal Wanderers (NHA) | 1910 |
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 |
1 | Toronto Blueshirts (NHA) | 1913–14 |
- Notes
- Defunct teams denoted in italics.
- ^ The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators (original) each have 2 top regular season records in the NHA in addition to their NHL seasons.
See also
References
- Footnotes
- ^ Dinger 2010, p. 95.
- Bibliography
- "National Hockey League". hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Dan Diamond & Associates. ISBN 978-1-894801-19-5.
External links
Media related to National Hockey League seasons at Wikimedia Commons