This is alist ofseasons of theNational Hockey League (NHL), a professionalice hockey league, since its inception in 1917. The list also includes the seasons of theNational Hockey Association (NHA), the predecessor organization of the NHL, which had several teams that would continue play in the NHL. Only two franchises, theMontreal Canadiens andToronto Maple Leafs (formerly theArenas andSt. Patricks), still exist from the founding of the league. TheQuebec Bulldogs, which suspended after the last NHA season, returned to play in the third NHL season, although they were considered founding members of the NHL. The league would move the team to Hamilton in 1920 and dissolve the team in 1925. The originalOttawa Senators would continue in the league until 1935, where, after one season inSt. Louis as theSt. Louis Eagles, the franchise was dissolved by the league. The currentOttawa Senators franchise does recognize the history of the original Senators (through retired numbers and a heritage jersey). The list is sub-divided using the same eras as the series of articles on thehistory of the National Hockey League.
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 theO'Brien Cup. This was continued by the NHL. Until 1927, the NHL champion was awarded the O'Brien Cup, supplemented by thePrince of Wales Trophy, starting in 1925. To win theStanley Cup, the NHL champion had to play and win a "world's series" with the champion of thePacific Coast orWestern Canada leagues. After 1927, the NHL playoff champion was awarded the Stanley Cup, while the O'Brien Cup and Prince of Wales Trophy were reused as division championship and playoff runner-up awards.
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 therover 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 ownerEddie Livingstone. To symbolize the league championship, the NHA champion was awarded theO'Brien Cup, donated by the O'Brien family, owners ofsilver mines (being the source of the silver in the trophy), owners of several of the NHA franchises, and original owner of theMontreal Canadiens.
| 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] |
^ 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 achallenge 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.
The NHL started with three of the six NHA clubs (Montreal Canadiens,Montreal Wanderers andOttawa Senators) and aToronto franchise run by the Toronto Arena Co., which leased the players of theToronto 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 toHamilton the following year. The same four-team configuration lasted until 1924–25 when theMontreal Maroons and theBoston 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. TheO'Brien Cup was revived in November 1921, and served as the league championship trophy until 1927. The newPrince of Wales Trophy, donated in 1925, was also given to the league champion until 1927. Henceforth, the trophies were designated for divisional championships, and the Stanley Cup became thede facto league championship trophy.
^ 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. TheQuebec Bulldogs started play.
^ 7. No playoffs.
^ 8. TheMontreal Maroons andBoston Bruins started play.
^ 9. TheNew York Americans andPittsburgh Pirates started play.Hamilton Tigers dissolved.
^ 10. TheChicago Black Hawks,Detroit Cougars andNew York Rangers started play.
^ 11. TheOttawa Senators andPhiladelphia Quakers suspended operations for the season.
^ 12. TheOttawa Senators resumed play.
^ 13. TheSt. Louis Eagles were dissolved.
^ 14. TheMontreal Maroons were dissolved.
Prior to the 1942–43 season, theNew 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.
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, thePresidents' Trophy was inaugurated to reward the team with the top regular season record, irrespective of division or conference.
^ 15. TheCalifornia Seals,Los Angeles Kings,Philadelphia Flyers,Pittsburgh Penguins,Minnesota North Stars andSt. Louis Blues started play.
^ 16. TheBuffalo Sabres andVancouver Canucks started play.
^ 17. TheAtlanta Flames andNew York Islanders started play.
^ 18. TheKansas City Scouts andWashington Capitals started play.
^ 19. TheCalifornia Golden Seals relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, renamedCleveland Barons.Kansas City Scouts relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamedColorado Rockies.
^ 20. TheCleveland Barons merged with theMinnesota North Stars.
^ 21. TheEdmonton Oilers,Hartford Whalers,Quebec Nordiques andWinnipeg Jets (1972–96) joined the NHL.
^ 22. TheAtlanta Flames relocated to Calgary, Alberta, renamedCalgary Flames.
^ 23. TheColorado Rockies relocated to East Rutherford, New Jersey, renamedNew Jersey Devils.
^ 24. TheSan Jose Sharks started play.
In 1993, coinciding with the naming ofGary Bettman as commissioner, the league re-organized into the Eastern and Western Conferences, with two divisions each, organized along geographical lines. The playoff format was changed to provide conference champions without divisional playoff champions. A new round of expansion began. By 2000–01, the number of teams increased to 30 and the number of divisions increased to six. This era has seen three seasons changed due to labour disputes between the NHL and the players' union. The 1994–95 and 2012–13 seasons were shortened to 48 intraconference games, and the 2004–05 season's games were cancelled entirely. According to the 2011 NHL Guide and Record Book, the NHL includes the 2004–05 season in its count of seasons. For example, the 2011 NHL Guide lists the Tampa Bay Lightning as entering their 19th 'NHL Season', although a count of the Lightning's seasons of play would determine the 2010–11 season to be their 18thseason of play.[1]
^ 25. TheOttawa Senators andTampa Bay Lightning started play.
^ 26. TheMighty Ducks of Anaheim andFlorida Panthers started play.Minnesota North Stars relocated to Dallas, Texas, renamedDallas Stars.
^ 27. Season shortened due tolockout.
^ 28. TheQuebec Nordiques relocated to Denver, Colorado, renamedColorado Avalanche.
^ 29. TheWinnipeg Jets (1972–96) relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, July 1996, renamedPhoenix Coyotes.
^ 30. TheHartford Whalers relocated to Greensboro, North Carolina, renamedCarolina Hurricanes.
^ 31. TheNashville Predators started play. The league realigned into 3 divisions per conference, ultimately with 5 teams per division.
^ 32. TheAtlanta Thrashers started play. TheCarolina Hurricanes moved to their intended home of Raleigh, North Carolina.
^ 33. TheColumbus Blue Jackets andMinnesota Wild started play.
^ 34. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim rebranded as theAnaheim Ducks.
^ 35. TheAtlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, renamedWinnipeg Jets.
^ 36. Season shortened due tolockout. Last season to have 5 teams per division.
^ 37. League realigned 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 rebranded as theArizona Coyotes.
The league began its second century in 2017 and has continued to grow by adding two new expansion franchises. It has also seen one of its teams indefinitely suspend operations, with the team's hockey assets, including its roster and coaches, being transferred to a third expansion franchise.
This era has seen two seasons changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019–20 season was stopped at 68–71 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulted in a one-time playoff format change involving 24 teams; the subsequent 2020–21 season was shortened to 56 intradivisional games, with teams temporarily realigned and the playoff format modified.
| No. | Season | Playoffs | Finals | No. of teams | Reg. season games | Start (reg. season) | Finish (incl. playoffs) | Top record | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 2017–18 | 2018 | 2018 | 31[39] | 82 | October 4 | June 7 | Nashville Predators(53–18–11) | Washington Capitals |
| 102 | 2018–19 | 2019 | 2019 | 31 | 82 | October 3 | June 12 | Tampa Bay Lightning(62–16–4) | St. Louis Blues |
| 103 | 2019–20 | 2020 | 2020 | 31 | 68–71[40] | October 2 | September 28 | Boston Bruins(44–14–12)[40] | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 104 | 2020–21 | 2021 | 2021 | 31 | 56[41] | January 13 | July 7 | Colorado Avalanche(39–13–4) | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 105 | 2021–22 | 2022 | 2022 | 32[42] | 82 | October 12 | June 26 | Florida Panthers(58–18–6) | Colorado Avalanche |
| 106 | 2022–23 | 2023 | 2023 | 32 | 82 | October 7 | June 13 | Boston Bruins(65–12–5) | Vegas Golden Knights |
| 107 | 2023–24 | 2024 | 2024 | 32 | 82 | October 10 | June 24 | New York Rangers(55–23–4) | Florida Panthers |
| 108 | 2024–25 | 2025 | 2025 | 32[43] | 82 | October 4 | June 17 | Winnipeg Jets(56–22–4) | Florida Panthers |
| 109 | 2025–26 | 2026 | 2026 | 32 | 82 | October 7 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
^ 39. TheVegas Golden Knights started play.
^ 40. Season shortened due to theCOVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020. Due to the uneven schedule, theBoston Bruins were awarded the top record in the regular season by points percentage.
^ 41. Season shortened due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. Due to cross border travel restrictions, the league temporarily realigned 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. TheSeattle Kraken started play.
^ 43. The Arizona Coyotes cease operations, while their assets including their roster continue as theUtah Mammoth.
This table lists the number of times that NHL/NHA teams had the top record in theregular season (this list does not count Stanley Cup/League Champion wins). ThePresidents' Trophy is the current award for the team with the best regular season record, which began being awarded starting with the1985–86 NHL season. From 1938 to 1967 thePrince of Wales Trophy was the award for the team with the best record in the regular season. Following the expansion of1967–68 no award was given until the inception of the Presidents' Trophy.
Media related toNational Hockey League seasons at Wikimedia Commons
