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NHL Teams Odds

The National Hockey League sports a rich history dating back over a century ago and features some of the most iconic teams in all of sports. Starting with just six franchises, the NHL has grown to become a 32-team league, divided into two conferences with four divisions in total. With some of these teams holding a big place in the core of Canadian sports culture, we’ve provided a breakdown of each

Check out our 2024-25 NHL teams list below, learn about the best NHL teams in league history, as well as some of the franchises that have relocated over the years or no longer exist. Or, skate over to our NHL betting odds page to check out the latest lines on your favourite players.

NHL Teams List in Alphabetical Order

NHL TeamLocationConferenceDivisionYear Founded
Anaheim DucksHonda CenterWestern ConferencePacific1993
Boston BruinsTD GardenEastern ConferenceAtlantic1924
Buffalo SabresKeyBank CenterEastern ConferenceAtlantic1970
Calgary FlamesScotiabank SaddledomeWestern ConferencePacific1972
Carolina HurricanesLenovo CenterEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1972 (1)
Chicago BlackhawksUnited CenterWestern ConferenceCentral1926
Colorado AvalancheBall ArenaWestern ConferenceCentral1972 (2)
Columbus Blue JackersNationwide ArenaEastern ConferenceMetropolitan2000
Dallas StarsAmerican Airlines CenterWestern ConferenceCentral1967 (3)
Detroit Red WingsLittle Caesars ArenaEastern ConferenceAtlantic1926
Edmonton OilersRogers PlaceWestern ConferencePacific1972 (4)
Florida PanthersAmerant Bank ArenaEastern ConferenceAtlantic1993
Los Angeles KingsCrypto.com ArenaWestern ConferencePacific1967
Minnesota WildXcel Energy CenterWestern ConferenceCentral2000
Montreal CanadiensBell CentreEastern ConferenceAtlantic1909 (5)
Nashville PredatorsBridgestone ArenaWestern ConferenceCentral1998
New Jersey DevilsPrudential CenterEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1974 (6)
New York IslandersUBS ArenaEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1972
New York RangersMadison Square GardenEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1926
Ottawa SenatorsCanadian Tire CentreEastern ConferenceAtlantic1992
Philadelphia FlyersWells Fargo CenterEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1967
Pittsburgh PenguinsPPG Paints ArenaEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1967
San Jose SharksSAP CenterWestern ConferencePacific1991
Seattle KrakenClimate Pledge ArenaWestern ConferencePacific2021
St. Louis BluesEnterprise ArenaWestern ConferenceCentral1967
Tampa Bay LightningAmalie ArenaEastern ConferenceAtlantic1992
Toronto Maple LeafsScotiabank ArenaEastern ConferenceAtlantic1917
Utah Hockey ClubDelta CenterWestern ConferenceCentral1972 (7)
Vancouver CanucksRogers ArenaWestern ConferencePacific1945 (8)
Vegas Golden KnightsT-Mobile ArenaWestern ConferencePacific2017
Washington CapitalsCapital One ArenaEastern ConferenceMetropolitan1974
Winnipeg JetsCanada Life CentreWestern ConferenceCentral1999 (9)
1. 1972 (WHA) 1979 (NHL Hartford Whalers) 1997 (Inaugural season as the Hurricanes)
2. 1972 (WHA) 1979 (NHL Quebec Nordiques) 1995 (Inaugural season as the Avalanche)
3. 1967 (Minnesota North Stars) 1993 (Inaugural season as the Stars)
4. 1972 (WHA) 1979 (NHL)
5. 1909 (NHA) 1917 (NHL)
6. 1974 (Kansas City Scouts) 1976 (Colorado Rockies) 1982 (Inaugural season as the Devils)
7. 1972 (WHA) 1979 (NHL Original Winnipeg Jets) 1996 (Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes) 2024 (inaugural season as the Utah Hockey Club)
8. 1945 (PCHL) 1970 (NHL)
9. 1999 (Atlanta Thrashers) 2011 (Inaugural season as the Jets)

List of Canadian NHL Teams 2024

Hockey is certainly Canada’s game, but currently there are only seven Canadian NHL franchises. With a major discrepancy in the Canadian to American team ratio, the few Canadian squads hold immense popularity and plenty of winning history within them.

Learn how many Canadian teams are in the NHL below, how long each of the Canadian NHL teams have been around for, the top players who donned their jersey, as well as the success experienced in their time as a franchise.

Current Canadian NHL Teams:

  • Montreal Canadiens
  • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Vancouver Canucks
  • Edmonton Oilers
  • Calgary Flames
  • Ottawa Senators
  • Winnipeg Jets

Montreal Canadiens

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Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of the NHL pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Sept 28, 2024, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC.

Older than the National Hockey League itself, no Canadian hockey team is more notable than the Montreal Canadiens. After being founded in 1909, the Canadiens have experienced more success than any other NHL franchise all-time.

Playing out of the Bell Centre, the Habs have had a plethora of Hall of Fame talent sporting the red, white, and blue including Guy LaFleur, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Jacques Plante, Howie Morenz, and Patrick Roy.

While the Canadiens have found no shortage of success in their illustrious history, in recent years they have begun a rebuild. With promising young talent such as Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield set to “hold the torch high” into the future, it’s only a matter of time before the French-Canadian team returns to the playoffs.

There’s a long list of all NHL teams who have made a lasting impact on the hockey world, but none has done so to the extent of the Montreal Canadiens.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews celebrates his 69th goal of the season with his team mates during the second period of the NHL regular season game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 13, 2024, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada.

Sporting a diehard fanbase that never waivers through thick and thin, the Toronto Maple Leafs are another iconic team in Canadian sports culture. One of the original six NHL teams, the Leafs have won the second-most Stanley Cups behind only the Montreal Canadiens.

Since being founded in 1917, the Maple Leafs have been apart of several monumental moments in league history. While they have infamously failed to reclaim the Stanley Cup since 1967, they have been one of the most consistently featured Canadian teams in the NHL Playoffs in recent seasons.

In their rich history, the Maple Leafs have had multiple Hall of Famers don the Blue & White, including Dave Keon, Mats Sundin, Daryl Sittler, and Borje Salming.

Currently, the Maple Leafs have several star players currently on their roster such as Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, all hoping to finally break the curse, and take the Leafs all the way to the Stanley Cup final.

Vancouver Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks center Elias Lindholm celebrates his goal with center Dakota Joshua and right wing Conor Garland during the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks on April 21, 2024, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C.

The lone British Columbia-based squad of the Canadian Hockey teams in the NHL, the Vancouver Canucks have consistently been one of the top NHL teams in the Western Conference.

Since their inception into the NHL in 1970, The Canucks have come incredibly close to claiming the Stanley Cup in their franchise history. Playing out of Rogers Arena, the Canucks have gone deep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs several times, having lost in the Finals three-times, most recently in 2011 to the Boston bruins.

Some of the legendary players that have played for the Canucks include Henrik & Daniel Sedin, Pavel Bure, and Roberto Luongo.

Rostering several all-star talents such as Elias Petersson and Quinn Hughes, the Canucks are once again positioned for a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers

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Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate Hyman's goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 24, 2024, in Edmonton, Canada.

One of two Alberta-based teams in the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Oilers have been a powerhouse since entering into the NHL in 1979 from the WHA.

While the list of NHL teams that have won the Stanley Cup is short, the Oilers have had no shortage of wins in their franchise history. Thanks to their superb teams from the 1980s that featured Hall of Famers such as Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and the man they call “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, the Oilers have won the most Stanley Cups of any Canadian team since 1980.

After recently coming up short against the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers are primed for yet another deep playoff run thanks to their elite tandem of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Calgary Flames

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Yegor Sharangovich, Rasmus Andersson and teammates of the Calgary Flames celebrate a goal at the Scotiabank Saddledome on April 14, 2024 in Calgary, Alberta.

The other NHL team in Alberta is the Calgary Flames who have cemented their place in league history with several standout seasons to draw from.

Originally founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames, the team was relocated to Calgary in 1980. Upon their arrival to Calgary, the team saw a noticeable uptick in popularity as the rabid hockey fans in Alberta ingratiated the squad right away.

Having reached the Stanley Cup final three times, the Flames etched themselves into NHL history as they join the short NHL team list that can call themselves Stanley Cup Champions after wining it all in 1989.

Some of the top players to ever wear a Flames jersey are Lanny McDonald, Miikka Kiprusoff, Jarome Iginla, and Johnny Gaudreau.

While the Calgary Flames have failed to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs in three of the last four seasons, the upside is still there for the team as they look to get back to postseason contention.

Ottawa Senators

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Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens at Canadian Tire Centre on April 13, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Separate from the Stanley Cup winning team from the early 1900s, this iteration of the Ottawa Senators entered into the NHL in 1992. Alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sens became just the second Ontario-based squad in the modern NHL.

While they’ve never managed to win the Stanley Cup, the Ottawa Senators have been one of the more successful Canadian ice hockey teams of the past two decades. With deep playoff runs in 2007 and 2017, the Senators have come incredibly close to hoisting the greatest prize in hockey.

The Ottawa Senators have played home to several top talents in NHL history such as Daniel Alfredsson, Dion Phaneuf, and Erik Karlsson. Possessing a young and talented squad entering into the 2024-25 season, the Senators will look to finally break into the playoffs for the first time in five seasons behind the play of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Thomas Chabot.

Winnipeg Jets

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 Nikolaj Ehlers, Tyler Toffoli, Nate Schmidt and Sean Monahan of the Winnipeg Jets celebrate a third period goal against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Five of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on April 30, 2024 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The newest of the current Canadian NHL teams, the second iteration of the Winnipeg Jets broke into the NHL in 2011. The original Winnipeg Jets franchise was moved to Phoenix, where they later became the Arizona Coyotes which has now become the Utah Hockey Club.

The present-day Winnipeg Jets replaced the Atlanta Thrashers and has been a major upgrade for the league in both quality of play as well as the amount of dedication from local fans. Since making their return to Manitoba, the Jets have been as solid as they come, having made the playoffs in six of the last seven years.

In that time the Jets have had several faces come through their organization such as current stars Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, and Kyle Connor. Once again primed for a postseason appearance, the Jets are hopeful to reach their first Stanley Cup Final in club history.

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The Best NHL Teams in NHL History

It’s often argued amongst hockey fans which NHL teams are the best in the history of the league. Below we’ve provided our analysis on the Top 5 squads in NHL history and what they’ve done in order to earn this notoriety.

1. Montreal Canadiens

Having claimed the most Stanley Cup victories of any team in NHL history, the Montreal Canadiens are easily the best team in NHL history. Holding the record for Stanley Cup wins at 23, the Habs have by far and away been the most dominant team in league history.

The Canadiens are also the last Canadian franchise to have hoisted the Stanley Cup, with their 1993 win marking the last victory from a team North of the border.

The best Montreal Canadiens season came in 1976, in which the Habs won 60 games and racked up 132 points in the season standings, en route to winning the second of four-straight Stanley Cups. This was the best single season in terms of points and wins and each record stood for several decades respectively.

The Canadiens also hold the distinction of having the most overall wins in NHL history for both regular and postseason play, further solidifying their spot at #1 on our top NHL teams list.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs

While the Maple Leafs haven’t claimed a Stanley Cup victory since 1967, it’s undeniable that they are one of the top teams in league history.

Having won the second-most Stanley Cup victories in league history with 13, the Maple Leafs were built on a winning culture. With the spirit of their diehard fans always behind their team, the Leafs have continued to remain competitive and have made several deep playoff runs in the process.

The Maple Leafs currently hold the third-most win in NHL history, as well as

Additionally, in present day the Toronto Maple Leafs are arguably the best team in the NHL right now. Only time will tell if they can break their 58-year dry spell as they continue to solidify their spot as one of the best teams in NHL history.

3. Detroit Red Wings

Another original six team that has made a major impact on the history of the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings certainly need to be included when talking about the best NHL teams of all-time.

Having finished atop the NHL standings several times in their over a century long run in the league, the Red Wings lay claim to 11 Stanley Cup victories. One of three teams to have reached double digit Stanley Cup victories, the Wings have remained competitive through each era of the NHL.

With their last Stanley Cup victory coming in 2008, the Red Wings have stood the test of time and come out the other side still a powerhouse.

The best Red Wings season came in the 1995-96 season as they broke the record for the most wins in a single regular season at 62, a record that would stand until 2023 when it was broken by the Boston Bruins.

Hoping to continue building upon their legacy in the years to come, the Red Wings are undoubtedly one of the best teams in NHL history.

4. Edmonton Oilers

Expanding from the original six teams, the history of The NHL can’t be told without mentioning the success of the Edmonton Oilers.

Since coming into the league in 1979, the Oilers immediately cemented themselves as the team to beat in The NHL, rattling off five Stanley Cup wins from 1980-1990, appearing in the Stanley Cup Final in eight of the 10 matchups of the 1980s.

Since coming into the NHL, only the Pittsburgh Penguins have won as many Stanley Cups with five wins since 1979. Of teams that have played at least 100 playoff games, the Oilers hold the best overall win percentage at 58.2%.

Coming off of a Stanley Cup Final loss the the Florida Panthers, the Oilers led by Connor McDavid appear to be the best NHL team in the league and sit atop most current NHL power rankings. With their continued success into the modern era, it’s only a matter of time before the Oilers return to the mountain top and claim the franchises sixth Stanley Cup victory.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

Still a fairly new squad compared to other teams on this best NHL team’s list, the Tampa Bay Lightning have quickly established themselves as one of the top franchises to ever play in the NHL.

In just 33 years, the Lightning have reached the promised land three times with Stanley Cup victories in 2004, 2020, and 2021. In that brief time period, the Lightning have continued to excel in the playoffs, holding the fourth-best win percentage at 56.6%.

While there have been teams that have won the Stanley Cup more times than the Lightning since their inception, no team has risen to such great heights in such a short timespan than the Lightning.

Honourable Mention: Vegas Golden Knights

It’s still early in their NHL tenure, but the Vegas Golden Knights have come out the gates red hot to begin their franchise history. In their inaugural season, the Golden Knights pulled off one of the biggest underdog stories of all-time, reaching the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Washington Capitals.

Undeterred, the Golden Knights continued to contend among the top of the league standings, capturing the 2023 Stanley Cup title in the process. The Golden Knights currently hold the highest points earned per game percentage in NHL history at 62.7%, along with the highest win percentage in NHL Playoff history at 60%.

This amount of success in such a short time span is almost unheard of in professional sports, and has the Golden Knights trajectory pointed toward all-time great status in just eight season of play.

A Brief History of NHL Teams

The first NHL season began in 1917, with a variety of teams moving in and out of the leagues ranks. This was settled in 1942 with the original six, the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

A team photo of the 1942 Canadiens.

The first expansion for The NHL occurred 1967 with six teams joining the NHL with present day mainstays, the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues, as well as the now relocated Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars) and California Golden Seals which later became the Cleveland Barons, who then merged with the Minnesota North Stars.

More teams would soon follow in the 1970s as the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks would join the NHL in 1970, as well as the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames (later Calgary Flames) in 1972. in 1974 another pair of teams would be added in the Kansas City Scouts (now New Jersey Devils), and the Washington Capitals.

The next major expansion in the NHL would be in 1979 after the NHL and WHA merged into one league, bringing the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes), Quebec Nordiques (now Colorado Avalanche), and the original Winnipeg Jets (now Utah Hockey Club) with it.

The NHL wouldn’t see expansion for over a decade, but would grow exponentially throughout the 1990s. The San Jose Sharks and the Ottawa Senators would kickoff expansion in 1991, with the Tampa Bay Lightning following them in 1992, Florida Panthers and Anaheim Ducks in 1993, and Nashville Predators in 1998, and Atlanta Thrashers in 1999.

The new millennium would also bring a host of new teams with the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000, as well as the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, and Seattle Kraken in 2021.

With the constant growth of the league, the NHL has seen the league’s formatting change from the way standings are determined, division/conference types, as well as playoff formats.

Defunct NHL Teams

  • Brooklyn Americans (1942)
  • Cleveland Barons (Defunct and merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978)
  • Hamilton Tigers (1925)
  • Montreal Maroons (1938)
  • Montreal Wanderers (1918)
  • Philadelphia Quakers (1931)
  • St. Louis Eagles (1935)

Relocated NHL Teams

  • Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes became the Utah Hockey Club
  • Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames
  • Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets
  • California Golden Seals became the Cleveland Barons
  • Colorado Rockies became the New Jersey Devils
  • Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes
  • Kansas City Scouts became the Colorado Rockies
  • Minnesota North Stars became the Dallas Stars
  • Ottawa Senators became the St. Louis Eagles
  • Pittsburgh Pirates became the Philadelphia Quakers
  • Quebec Bulldogs became the Hamilton Tigers
  • Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche
  • Original Winnipeg Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes

Expansion of NHL Teams: New Additions

The Seattle Kraken was confirmed as the 32nd franchise of the National Hockey League. Its debut occurred in the 2021-22 season.

The newest team in the NHL currently is the Utah Hockey Club who absorbed the assets of the Arizona Coyotes. They will make their NHL debut in the 2024-25 season.

There are rumors of other cities interested in joining the NHL such as Quebec City, Hamilton, and A second Toronto-based team in Canada. In the United States, Houston and Kansas City have been identified as potential expansion candidates. In an official statement, the NHL announced it is happy to have 32 teams in the league and is not looking at further expansion at his current time. 


NHL Teams List FAQs

What is the 32 NHL team?

The Seattle Kraken are the 32nd NHL team. The Kraken made their debut in 2021-22 season.

How many teams are no longer in the NHL?

Several teams are no longer in the NHL or have been relocated to new locations. The most recent defunct NHL franchise was the Cleveland Barons who ceased operations and merged with the then Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars). The last team to be relocated was the Arizona Coyotes who were moved to Utah in the 2024-25 NHL season.

What 6 teams started the NHL?

The six teams that started the NHL were the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs. These teams are known as “the original six” and are credited as the pioneers of the NHL as a league.

How many teams are in the NHL in 2024?

Currently, there are 32 NHL teams. Having started from humble beginnings with just six teams, the league has exploded in popularity over the past century and now features 32 total franchises, including seven Canadian squads and 25 American teams.

What are the 7 Canadian NHL teams?

The seven Canadian NHL teams are the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets. The newest Canadian NHL team are the Jets who made their return to Manitoba in 2011.

What is the oldest NHL team?

The oldest NHL team is the Montreal Canadiens. Dating back to 1909, the Habs actually predate the NHL entirely and are one of the oldest North American team still in existence.

What is the best NHL team?

The Montreal Canadians have won the most Stanley Cup victories of any team in NHL history. They hold the record for Stanley Cup wins at 23 which makes them by far and away been the most dominant team in league history.