National Hockey League: Difference between revisions

| teams = 3332 (with one inactive franchise)<ref group="nb" name="Teams"/>

| countries = [[Canada]] (7 teams)<br />[[United States]] (2625 teams)

The '''National Hockey League''' ('''NHL'''; {{lang-fr|Ligue nationale de hockey}} {{IPA|fr|liɡ nɑsjɔnal də ɔkɛ|}}, ''LNH'') is a men's professional [[ice hockey]] [[sports league|league]] in [[North America]] comprising 3332 teams (32 of which are active)<ref group="nb" name="Teams">In April 2024, the NHL announced that the [[Arizona Coyotes]] franchise would be deactivated with all players and hockey-related assets sold to an expansion franchise based in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]]. The current owner of the Arizona franchise, Alex Meruelo, has until 2029 to secure a suitable NHL arena in Arizona in order to reactivate the team. Thus as of 2024, of the NHL's 33 franchises, only 32 are part of the playing schedule.</ref>{{snd}}2625 in the United States (withplus thean Arizonainactive operationfranchise inactivein Arizona) and 7<!--Per MOS:NUM, comparable quantities should all be in the same format, so the numeral 7 is correct here. Please do not change it to "seven".--> in Canada. The [[Stanley Cup]], the oldest professional sports trophy in North America,<ref>{{cite news|last=Roarke|first=Shawn P.|title=Stanley Cup has incredible history|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup-has-incredible-125-years-of-history/c-287633638|website=NHL.com|date=March 12, 2017|access-date=June 12, 2020|archive-date=May 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526114504/https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup-has-incredible-125-years-of-history/c-287633638|url-status=live}}</ref> is awarded annually to the [[Stanley Cup playoffs|league playoff champion]] at the end of each season. The NHL is one of the [[major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada]] and is considered to be the top ranked professional ice hockey league in the world,<ref name="premier">{{cite encyclopedia |title=National Hockey League |first=James |last=Marsh |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-hockey-league/ |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |year=2006 |access-date=June 11, 2006 |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020011613/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-hockey-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with players from 17 countries {{As of|alt=as of the {{NHL Year|2023|app=season}}|2023|10}}.<ref name="2324playernationalities">{{cite web |title=Active NHL Players Totals by Nationality ‑ 2023‑2024 Stats |website=QuantHockey.com |url=https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality-totals/active-nhl-players-2022-23-stats.html |access-date=November 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418081144/https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality-totals/active-nhl-players-2022-23-stats.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[International Ice Hockey Federation]] (IIHF) also views the Stanley Cup as one of the "most important championships available to the sport".<ref>{{cite web|title=Triple Gold Goalies... not|url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=850|website=International Ice Hockey Federation|author=Podnieks, Andrew|date=March 25, 2008|access-date=June 17, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825225356/http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=850|url-status=live}}</ref> The NHL is headquartered in [[Midtown Manhattan]].

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 both American and Canadian teams. From 1942 to 1967, the league had only six teams, collectively (if not contemporaneously) 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 [[1979 NHL expansion|21 teams in 1979]]. Between 1991 and 2000, the NHL further expanded to 30 teams. It added its 31st and 32nd teams in 2017 and 2021, respectively,. followedUtah bywas awarded a 33rd franchise in 2024 as it acquired the hockey assets of the Arizona franchise, which became inactive, thus maintaining the total number of teams at 32.<ref group="nb" name="Teams"/>

The NHL fought the WHA for players, losing 67 to the new league in its first season of [[1972–73 WHA season|1972–73]],<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=113}}</ref> including the Chicago Black Hawks' [[Bobby Hull]], who signed a 10-year, $2.5&nbsp;million contract with the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|Winnipeg Jets]], then the largest in hockey history.<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=33}}</ref> The league attempted to block the defections in court, but a counter-suit by the WHA led to a Philadelphia judge ruling the NHL's [[reserve clause]] to be illegal, thus eliminating the elder league's monopoly over the players.<ref>{{Harvnb|McFarlane|1990|p=133}}</ref> Seven years of battling for players and markets financially damaged both leagues, leading to a [[NHL–WHA merger|a merger agreement in 1979]] that saw the WHA cease operations while the NHL absorbed the Winnipeg Jets, the [[Edmonton Oilers]], the [[Hartford Whalers]], and the [[Quebec Nordiques]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=214}}</ref> The owners initially rejected this merger agreement by one vote, but a massive boycott of [[Molson Brewery]] products by Canadian fans resulted in the Montreal Canadiens, which was owned by Molson, reversing its position, along with the Vancouver Canucks. In a second vote, the plan was approved.<ref>{{Harvnb|Willes|2004|p=251}}</ref>

[[Wayne Gretzky]] played one season in the WHA for the [[Indianapolis Racers]] (eight games) and the [[Edmonton Oilers]] (72 games) before the Oilers joined the NHL for the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]].<ref name="LOHGretzky">{{Cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199901&page=bio&list=#photo|title=The Legends—Wayne Gretzky|access-date=January 18, 2010|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123203450/http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p199901&page=bio&list=#photo|archive-date=November 23, 2005|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Gretzky went on to lead the Oilers to win four Stanley Cup championships in [[1984 Stanley Cup Finals|1984]], [[1985 Stanley Cup Finals|1985]], [[1987 Stanley Cup Finals|1987]] and [[1988 Stanley Cup Finals|1988]], and set single-season records for goals (92 in [[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82]]), assists (163 in [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]]) and points (215 in 1985–86), as well as career records for goals (894), assists (1,963) and points (2,857).<ref name="LOHGretzky" /> In 1988, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in a deal that dramatically improved the league's popularity in the United States. By the turn of the century, nine more teams were added to the NHL: the [[San Jose Sharks]], the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]], the [[Ottawa Senators]], the [[Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]], the [[Florida Panthers]], the [[Nashville Predators]], the [[Atlanta Thrashers]], and, in 2000, the [[Minnesota Wild]] and the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]].<ref name="EOHGretzky">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/dynasty_highlights_gretzkytrade.html|title=Edmonton's Saddest Hockey Day—The Gretzky Trade|access-date=January 18, 2010|publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201052918/https://www.oilersheritage.com/history/dynasty_highlights_gretzkytrade.html|archive-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref> Also, in the mid to late 1990s, the Quebec Nordiques, original Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers relocated to Denver, Phoenix, and Raleigh. In 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, and the [[Winnipeg Jets]] were revived. On July 21, 2015, the NHL confirmed that it had received applications from prospective ownership groups in [[Quebec City]] and [[Las Vegas]] for possible expansion teams,<ref name="NHL update">{{cite press release|title=Update on NHL expansion application process|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/update-on-nhl-expansion-application-process/c-775295|website=NHL.com|date=July 21, 2015|access-date=July 2, 2022|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702052940/https://www.nhl.com/news/update-on-nhl-expansion-application-process/c-775295|url-status=live}}</ref> and on June 22, 2016, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the addition of a 31st franchise, based in Las Vegas and later named the [[Vegas Golden Knights]], into the NHL for the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]].<ref name="Vegas expansion">{{cite news|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to-las-vegas/c-281010682?tid=281011650|website=NHL.com|date=June 22, 2016|access-date=December 5, 2018|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202065746/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to-las-vegas/c-281010682?tid=281011650|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 4, 2018, the league announced a 32nd franchise in [[Seattle]], later named the [[Seattle Kraken]], which joined in the [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22 season]].<ref name="Seattle expansion">{{cite news|last=Rosen|first=Dan|title=Seattle NHL expansion approved by Board of Governors|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/seattle-nhl-expansion-approved-to-be-32nd-team-play-in-2021-22/c-302581450|website=NHL.com|date=December 4, 2018|access-date=December 5, 2018|archive-date=December 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205060729/https://www.nhl.com/news/seattle-nhl-expansion-approved-to-be-32nd-team-play-in-2021-22/c-302581450|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 18, 2024, the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations and sold their hockey assets, including players and other personnel, to a [[Utah Hockey Club|new team]] in [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]].<ref name="BOG announcement">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-bog-approves-establishment-of-new-franchise-in-utah |title=NHL BOG approves establishment of new franchise in Utah |website=NHL.com |date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=April 23, 2024 |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419170756/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-bog-approves-establishment-of-new-franchise-in-utah |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="THN-Utah-sale">{{cite web| url = https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-board-approves-new-franchise-in-utah-how-an-arizona-franchise-could-return-in-five-years| title = NHL Board Approves Sale of Coyotes' Hockey Assets to New Franchise in Utah: How an Arizona Franchise Could Return| last1 = Tovell| first1 = Jonathan| last2 = DeRosa| first2 = Michael| last3 = Stoller| first3 = Jacob| date = April 18, 2024| publisher = The Hockey News| access-date = April 23, 2024| archive-date = April 23, 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240423164939/https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-board-approves-new-franchise-in-utah-how-an-arizona-franchise-could-return-in-five-years| url-status = live}}</ref>

The number of NHL teams held constant at 30 teams from the [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01 season]], when the [[Minnesota Wild]] and the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] joined the league as expansion teams, until 2017. That expansion capped a period in the 1990s of rapid expansion and relocation, when the NHL added nine teams to grow from 21 to 30 teams, and relocated four teams mostly from smaller, northern cities to larger, more southern metropolitan areas ([[Minneapolis]] to [[Dallas]], [[Quebec City]] to [[Denver]], [[Winnipeg]] to [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], and [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] to [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]]). The league has not contracted any teams since the [[Cleveland Barons (NHL)|Cleveland Barons]] were merged into the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in 1978. The league expanded for the first time in 17 years<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heitner |first1=Darren |title=The NHL Leads the Way in Bringing Pro Sports to Las Vegas |url=http://www.inc.com/darren-heitner/nhl-leads-the-way-in-bringing-pro-sports-to-las-vegas.html |magazine=[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]] |date=June 22, 2016 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |archive-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115212629/http://www.inc.com/darren-heitner/nhl-leads-the-way-in-bringing-pro-sports-to-las-vegas.html |url-status=live }}</ref> to 31 teams with the addition of the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in 2017,<ref name="Vegas expansion "/> then to 32 with the addition of the [[Seattle Kraken]] in 2021.<ref name="Seattle expansion" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Geoff|title=After years of trying and a cast of characters in between, the NHL will finally put a team in Seattle|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/hockey/after-years-of-trying-and-a-cast-of-characters-in-between-the-nhl-will-finally-put-a-team-in-seattle/|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 5, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204035654/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/hockey/after-years-of-trying-and-a-cast-of-characters-in-between-the-nhl-will-finally-put-a-team-in-seattle/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, a [[Utah NHLHockey teamClub|new expansion team in Utah]] was created, after [[Alex Meruelo]] sold the hockey assets of the [[Arizona Coyotes]] to [[Ryan Smith (businessman)|Ryan Smith]], owner of the [[Utah Jazz]].<ref name="BOG announcement"/><ref name="THN-Utah-sale"/> Meruelo has until 2029 to secure an arena in Arizona in order to reactivate the team. This brings the total number of franchises in the NHL up to 33, with 26 in the U.S. and 7 in Canada, though due to the Coyotes being inactive, only 32 will operate and play in regular season games.

!scope="row"| [[Utah NHLHockey teamClub]]

The NHL [[hockey rink]] is {{convert|200|x|85|ft|m|sigfig=4}},<ref name="rink">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule02.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409150309/http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule02.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2006 |title=Dimensions of Rink |year=2005 |website=National Hockey League |access-date=June 8, 2006 }}</ref> approximately the same length but much narrower than IIHF standards. A [[Ice hockey rink#Goaltender trapezoid ("Martin Brodeur" Rule)|A trapezoidal area]] appears behind each goal net.<ref name="crease">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606090924/http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule04.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 6, 2009 |title=Goal crease |year=2005 |website=National Hockey League |access-date=June 8, 2006 }}</ref> The goaltender can play the puck only within the trapezoid or in front of the goal line; if the goaltender plays the puck behind the goal line and outside the trapezoidal area, a [[Delay of game (ice hockey)|two-minute minor penalty for delay of game]] is assessed.<ref name="crease_penalty">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26355|title=Rule 63 – Delaying the Game|year=2009|website=National Hockey League|access-date=March 14, 2010|archive-date=May 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510004223/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26355|url-status=live}}</ref> The rule is unofficially nicknamed the "[[Martin Brodeur]] rule"; Brodeur at the time was one of the best goaltenders at getting behind the net to handle the puck.<ref name="Diamos2007">{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10616F835550C758DDDA00894DD404482|title=New Rule Will Take a Weapon Away from Brodeur|date=September 16, 2005|work=[[The New York Times]] (subscription required)|author=Diamos, Jason.|access-date=March 2, 2007|archive-date=November 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106033050/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10616F835550C758DDDA00894DD404482|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/18/Sports/Brodeur_not_handling_.shtml |title=Brodeur not handling new rule well |date=September 18, 2005 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |author=Jones, Tom. |access-date=March 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206171542/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/09/18/Sports/Brodeur_not_handling_.shtml |archive-date=February 6, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Brodeur hopes NHL banishes trapezoid">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/brodeur_hopes_nhl_banishes_trapezoid/ |title=Brodeur hopes NHL banishes trapezoid |year=2009 |work=Fire&Ice |access-date=November 10, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113050802/http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/comments/brodeur_hopes_nhl_banishes_trapezoid |archive-date=November 13, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="NHL decides to keep trapezoid">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/nhl_decides_to_keep_trapezoid/|title=NHL decides to keep trapezoid|year=2009|work=Fire&Ice|access-date=November 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714195405/http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/nhl_decides_to_keep_trapezoid/|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since the 2013–14 season, the league trimmed the goal frames by {{convert|4|in|cm}} on each side and reduced the size of the goalies' leg pads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684940|title=Hybrid Icying tops list of rules changes for 2013–2014 season|last=Rosen|first=Dan|website=National Hockey League|access-date=December 2, 2013|archive-date=January 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111061200/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=684940|url-status=live}}</ref>

The annual NHL Entry Draft consists of a seven-round off-season [[Draft (sports)|draft]] held in late June on a date of the commissioner's choosing.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wong |first=Glenn M. |author-link= |date=August 18, 2010 |title=Essentials of Sports Law |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Essentials_of_Sports_Law/zOfEEAAAQBAJ?hl=en |location= |publisher= [[ABC-Clio]]/[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|page=626 |chapter=12.6.4. National Hockey League Draft|isbn=9780313356766}}</ref> Early NHL drafts took place at the [[Queen Elizabeth Hotel|Queen Elizabeth (currently Fairmont) Hotel]] in Montreal.<ref>{{cite book |last=St. James |first=Helene |author-link= |date=October 4, 2022 |title= On the Clock: Detroit Red Wings — Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/On_the_Clock_Detroit_Red_Wings/AQDnzgEACAAJ?hl=en |location= |publisher= [[Triumph Books]]|chapter=Chapter 26: Why Not Detroit? |page= |isbn= 9781629379852}}</ref> Amateur players from junior, collegiate, or European leagues are eligible to enter the Entry Draft.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gitlin |first=Martin |author-link= |date= 2023|title=The Hockey Book of Why (and Who, What, When, Where, and How) — The Answers to Questions You've Always Wondered about the Fastest Game on Ice |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Hockey_Book_of_Why_and_Who_What_When/5_DNEAAAQBAJ?hl=en |location= |publisher=[[Lyons Press]] |page= 75|isbn= 9781493070930}}</ref> The selection order is determined by a combination of the standings at the end of the regular season, playoff results, and a draft lottery. The 16 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs are entered in a weighted lottery to determine the initial draft picks in the first round, with the last place team having the best chance of winning the lottery. Once the lottery determines the initial draft picks, the order for the remaining non-playoff teams is determined by the standings at the end of the regular season. For those teams that did qualify for the playoffs, the draft order is then determined by total regular season points for non-division winners that are eliminated in the first two rounds of the playoffs, then any division winners that failed to reach the Conference Finals. Conference finalists receive the 29th and 30th picks depending on total points, with the Stanley Cup runner-up given the 31st pick and the Stanley Cup champions the final pick.

The debut of the [[NHL Winter Classic|Winter Classic]], an outdoor regular season NHL game held on [[New Year's Day]] in [[2008 NHL Winter Classic|2008]], was a significant success for the league. The game has since become an annual staple of the NHL schedule. Coverage of "Hockey Day in America," later rebranded as [[Hockey Weekend Across America]] with TNT, allowed for multiple games to be broadcast in the United States on the national rights holder.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=552854|title=NBC Sports to air nine hours of NHL coverage this Sunday with "Hockey Day in America" on NBC & "Heritage Classic" on Versus|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.|date=February 15, 2011|website=NHL.com|accessdate=June 1, 2024|archive-date=June 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601203412/https://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=552854|url-status=live}}</ref> These improvements led NBC and the cable channel [[Versus (TV channel)|Versus]] to sign a 10-year broadcast deal, paying US$200 million per year for both American cable and broadcast rights; the deal will lead to further increases in television coverage on the NBC channels.