History of NHL Conferences and Divisions

From the Original Six to the 31-Team League.

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 07: New logos are etched into the ice prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Consol Energy Center on October 7, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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By
Jamie Fitzpatrick
Jamie Fitzpatrick
Jamie Fitzpatrick is a freelance sports journalist who has contributed to the CBC and other news outlets since 1992. He also produced the hockey documentary A Solitary Fire.
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Updated on 10/14/18

As of 2018-19 season, the 31 NHL teams are arranged into two conferences with two divisions each. The Eastern Conference includes the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, and the Western Conference is divided into the Central and Pacific divisions.

Although there has been much shifting of teams over the years, the NHL has arranged itself as two conferences containing multiple divisions since 1974.

In the current configuration, the Atlantic Division consists of the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadians, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, and Florida Panthers. The Metropolitan Division includes the Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers.

The Central Division is composed of the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. The Pacific Division is made up of the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, and Arizona Coyotes.

Here's a look at the divisional and conference setups employed since the NHL was founded in 1917:

1917-1926:

  • No divisions. Number of league teams ranges from three in 1918-19 to seven in 1925-26.
  • Montreal Canadiens
    Toronto Arenas/Toronto St. Pats
    Ottawa Senators
    Montreal Maroons (starting in 1924)
    Boston Bruins (starting in 1924)
    New York Americans (starting in 1925)
    Hamilton Tigers (1920-25)
    Pittsburgh Pirates (starting in 1925)
    Montreal Wanderers (played six games in 1917-18 before withdrawing after their rink burned down)

1926-1938:

  • Canadian Division, with four or five teams.
  • Montreal Canadiens
    Toronto St. Pats/Toronto Maple Leafs
    Montreal Maroons
    New York Americans
    Ottawa Senators (missed 1931-32 season; returned from 1932-1934 before withdrawing for good)
    St. Louis Eagles (1934-35)
  • American Division, with four or five teams.
  • New York Rangers (starting in 1926)
    Boston Bruins
    Chicago Blackhawks (starting in 1926)
    Pittsburgh Pirates (until 1930)
    Detroit Cougars/Detroit Falcons/Detroit Red Wings (starting in 1926)
    Philadelphia Quakers (1930-31)

1938-1942:

  • Seven teams, no divisions.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    New York Americans/Brooklyn Americans
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks

1942-1967:

  • Six teams, no divisions.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks

1967-1974:

  • East Division and West Division. Each division begins with six teams in 1967-68, expanding to eight teams each by 1973-74.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks
    Philadelphia Flyers
    Los Angeles Kings
    St. Louis Blues
    Minnesota North Stars
    Pittsburgh Penguins
    Oakland Seals/California Seals
    Buffalo Sabres (starting in 1970)
    Vancouver Canucks (starting in 1970)
    New York Islanders (starting in 1972)
    Atlanta Flames (starting in 1972)

1974-1993:

  • Prince of Wales Conference, with Adams and Patrick Divisions.
  • Clarence Campbell Conference, with Norris and Smythe Divisions.
  • League expands from 18 teams in 1974-75 to 24 teams in 1992-93.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks
    Philadelphia Flyers
    Los Angeles Kings
    St. Louis Blues
    Minnesota North Stars
    Pittsburgh Penguins
    California Golden Seals (until 1976)
    Buffalo Sabres (starting in 1970)
    Vancouver Canucks (starting in 1970)
    New York Islanders (starting in 1972)
    Atlanta Flames (until 1980)
    Washington Capitals (starting in 1974)
    Kansas City Scouts (1974-1976)
    Colorado Rockies (1976-1982)
    Cleveland Barons (1976-1978)
    New Jersey Devils (starting in 1982)
    Calgary Flames (starting in 1980)
    Quebec Nordiques (starting in 1979)
    Hartford Whalers (starting in 1979)
    Winnipeg Jets (starting in 1979)
    Edmonton Oilers (starting in 1979)
    San Jose Sharks (starting in 1991)
    Tampa Bay Lightning (starting in 1992)
    Ottawa Senators (starting in 1992)

1993-2013:

  • Eastern Conference, with Atlantic, Northeast, and Southeast Divisions.
  • Western Conference, with Central, Western, and Pacific Divisions.
  • League expands to 30 teams.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks
    Philadelphia Flyers
    Los Angeles Kings
    St. Louis Blues
    Pittsburgh Penguins
    Buffalo Sabres
    Vancouver Canucks
    New York Islanders
    Washington Capitals
    New Jersey Devils
    Calgary Flames
    Quebec Nordiques (until 1995)
    Hartford Whalers (until 1997)
    Winnipeg Jets (until 1996)
    Winnipeg Jets (starting in 2011)
    Edmonton Oilers
    San Jose Sharks
    Tampa Bay Lightning
    Ottawa Senators
    Dallas Stars (starting in 1993)
    Florida Panthers (starting in 1993)
    Anaheim Mighty Ducks/Anaheim Ducks (starting in 1993)
    Colorado Avalanche (starting in 1995)
    Phoenix Coyotes (starting in 1996)
    Carolina Hurricanes (starting in 1997)
    Nashville Predators (starting in 1998)
    Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011)
    Columbus Blue Jackets (starting in 2000)
    Minnesota Wild (starting in 2000)

2012-2019:

  • Eastern Conference, with Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions.
  • Western Conference, with Central and Pacific Divisions.
  • League expands to 31 teams.
  • Boston Bruins
    New York Rangers
    Toronto Maple Leafs
    Detroit Red Wings
    Montreal Canadiens
    Chicago Blackhawks
    Philadelphia Flyers
    Los Angeles Kings
    St. Louis Blues
    Pittsburgh Penguins
    Buffalo Sabres
    Vancouver Canucks
    New York Islanders
    Washington Capitals
    New Jersey Devils
    Calgary Flames
    Winnipeg Jets
    Edmonton Oilers
    San Jose Sharks
    Tampa Bay Lightning
    Ottawa Senators
    Dallas Stars
    Florida Panthers
    Anaheim Ducks
    Colorado Avalanche
    Phoenix Coyotes
    Carolina Hurricanes
    Nashville Predators
    Columbus Blue Jackets
    Minnesota Wild Vegas Golden Knights (starting in 2016)