TheNational Hockey League'sAdams Division was formed in 1974 as part of thePrince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour ofCharles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins. It is the forerunner of theNHL's Northeast Division, which later became theAtlantic Division.

Bruins

Sabres

Golden Seals

Maple Leafs

1974–76 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• California Golden Seals
• Toronto Maple Leafs

• The Adams Division is formed as a result of NHL realignment
• The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs come from theEast Division
• The California Golden Seals come from theWest Division

Bruins

Sabres

Barons

Maple Leafs

1976–78 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Cleveland Barons
• Toronto Maple Leafs

• The California Golden Seals moved to Richfield, Ohio, to become the Cleveland Barons

Bruins

Sabres

North Stars

Maple Leafs

1978–79 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Minnesota North Stars
• Toronto Maple Leafs

• The Cleveland Barons merge with the Minnesota North Stars. The merged franchise continues as the Minnesota North Stars, but leaves theSmythe Division to assume the Barons' place in the Adams Division to prevent the Adams from dropping to only three teams.

Bruins

Sabres

North Stars

Nordiques

Maple Leafs

1979–81 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Minnesota North Stars
• Quebec Nordiques
• Toronto Maple Leafs

• The Quebec Nordiques are granted entry into the NHL from theWorld Hockey Association (WHA)

Bruins

Sabres

Whalers

Canadiens

Nordiques

1981–92 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Hartford Whalers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Quebec Nordiques

• The Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs move to theNorris Division
• The Hartford Whalers and Montreal Canadiens come from the Norris Division

Bruins

Sabres

Whalers

Canadiens

Senators

Nordiques

1992–93 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Hartford Whalers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Ottawa Senators
• Quebec Nordiques

• The Ottawa Senators are added as an expansion team

The league was reformatted into two conferences with two divisions each:

• Eastern Conference
  • Atlantic Division
  • Northeast Division
• Western Conference
  • Central Division
  • Pacific Division

• 1975 –Buffalo Sabres (49–16–15, 113 pts)
• 1976 –Boston Bruins (48–15–17, 113 pts)
• 1977 –Boston Bruins (49–23–8, 106 pts)
• 1978 –Boston Bruins (51–18–11, 113 pts)
• 1979 –Boston Bruins (43–23–14, 100 pts)
• 1980 –Buffalo Sabres (47–17–16, 110 pts)
• 1981 –Buffalo Sabres (39–20–21, 99 pts)
• 1982 –Montreal Canadiens (46–17–17, 109 pts)
• 1983 –Boston Bruins (50–20–10, 110 pts)
• 1984 –Boston Bruins (49–25–6, 104 pts)
• 1985 –Montreal Canadiens (41–27–12, 94 pts)
• 1986 –Quebec Nordiques (43–31–6, 92 pts)
• 1987 –Hartford Whalers (43–30–7, 93 pts)
• 1988 –Montreal Canadiens (45–22–13, 103 pts)
• 1989 –Montreal Canadiens (53–18–9, 115 pts)
• 1990 –Boston Bruins (46–25–9, 101 pts)
• 1991 –Boston Bruins (44–24–12, 100 pts)
• 1992 –Montreal Canadiens (41–28–11, 93 pts)
• 1993 –Boston Bruins (51–26–7, 109 pts)

• 1982 –Quebec Nordiques
• 1983 –Boston Bruins
• 1984 –Montreal Canadiens
• 1985 –Quebec Nordiques
• 1986 –Montreal Canadiens
• 1987 –Montreal Canadiens
• 1988 –Boston Bruins
• 1989 –Montreal Canadiens
• 1990 –Boston Bruins
• 1991 –Boston Bruins
• 1992 –Boston Bruins
• 1993 –Montreal Canadiens

• 1986 –Montreal Canadiens
• 1993 –Montreal Canadiens

• 1990 –Boston Bruins

• NHL History

• National Hockey League divisions
• Northeast Division (NHL)