There are 32 teams in the National Hockey League.
The league has been around since 1917, and it’s grown into one of the biggest sports leagues in the world, with new teams being introduced more and more frequently.
Here’s an up-to-date overview list of every team in the NHL, in alphabetical order.
(If you need a version you can copy and paste, scroll down near the end of the post)
Table of Contents
NHL Teams in Alphabetical Order
1. Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks, formerly known as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim were founded in 1993, and they were actually founded by none other than Disney!
They were the 24th (or 25th) team added to the National hockey league, the reason they can be considered the 24th or 24th team is because they were introduced to the league at the same time as the Florida Panthers.
In their first season, the Mighty Ducks finished 20th in the league.
The Anaheim Ducks would eventually win their first Stanley Cup during the 2006-2007 playoffs.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 2 |
| Division championships | 6 |
2. Arizona Coyotes
Formerly known as the Phoenix Coyotes, the Arizona Coyotes were once actually the Winnipeg Jets.
In 1996 the Winnipeg Jets were moved to Phoenix and the Phoenix coyotes were born.
During their first official season under their new name and in their new town, the Coyotes managed to finish 5th in the western conference and 11th in the league, good enough to make the playoffs.
Funny enough, their first round opponent was none other than the Might Ducks of Anaheim, who went on to win the series 4-3.
To this day, the Arizona Coyotes have only made it to the conference finals once and with recent rumblings of the franchise’s potential collapse, it seems they never will.
| Division championships | 1 |
3. Boston Bruins
The big bad Boston Bruins were founded in 1924, and alongside the Montreal Maroons were added to the league which at the time was only made up of four teams; Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto St. Patricks, Hamilton Tigers.
They are considered an original six team.
In their nearly 100 years of existence, the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup six times, most recently in 2010.
| Stanley Cup wins | 6 |
| Conference championships | 5 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 3 |
| Division championships | 26 |
4. Buffalo Sabres
In 1970, alongside the Vancouver Canucks, the Buffalo Sabres were brought into the league. This was done as the league expanded to 14 teams, up from 12 the previous year.
Much like the Buffalo Sabres of today, they weren’t very good, finishing 10th in the league with a 24-39-15 record.
Although reaching the conference championships three times (74–75, 79–80, 98–99) the Buffalo Sabres have yet to win a Stanley Cup.
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 6 |
5. Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames, previously known as the Atlanta Flames, are based out of Alberta, Canada.
They have been a part of the NHL since 1972 when they were added alongside the New York Islanders to bring the NHL’s team total to 16.
In their first season, the 1972-1973 season, the Atlanta Flames finished 12th in the 16 team league.
Just 8 years after the Atlanta Flames inception, the team was sold and moved to Calgary due to low attendance numbers.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 2 |
| Division championships | 7 |
6. Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have quite the origin story. In 1971 the New England Whalers were formed, competing in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
The franchise then rebranded to be known as the Hartford Whalers during the merger of the NHL and the WHA in 1979.
It was not until 1997 when the Hartford Whalers were relocated to North Carolina, that they became the team that is known today as the Carolina Hurricanes.
During their first season (97-98) as the Carolina Hurricanes, they finished 17th in the league with an uninspiring 33-41-8 record.
However, they would later go on to win the Stanley Cup in 2005.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 2 |
| Division championships | 4 |
7. Chicago Blackhawks
Another member of the original six NHL teams, the Chicago Blackhawks sprung into existence in 1926 when the NHL expanded from just 7 teams, to 10 teams.
During their first season in the NHL, they finished 6th in the league! Which is really good until you consider that there were only 10 teams in the league during that time.
Despite a lackluster inaugural season, the Blackhawks would later go on to win 6 Stanley Cups. Three of those have been more recently in the 09–10, 12–13 and 14–15) seasons. Their 6 cups ties them with fellow original six team, the Boston Bruins.
| Stanley Cup wins | 6 |
| Conference championships | 4 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 2 |
| Division championships | 16 |
8. Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche were originally known as the Quebec Nordiques, who were a WHA team.
It wasn’t until 1979 when the team joined the NHL as both leagues merged. The Nordiques were eventually relocated to Denver, Colorado and rebranded as the Colorado Avalanche in 1995.
In what was just their first season in their new home of Denver, the avalanche finished 2nd in the league and would go on to win the Stanley Cup!
Must be nice to become a fan of a new team in your hometown who goes on to win the championship that very same year!
| Stanley Cup wins | 2 |
| Conference championships | 2 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 3 |
| Division championships | 10 |
9. Columbus Blue Jackets
Joining the league in the year 2000 alongside the Minnesota wild as a part of the NHL’s expansion to 30 NHL teams, the Columbus Blue Jackets are a relatively newer franchise.
In their first season as an organization, the Blue Jackets finished 23rd in the league.
It would be nine years since the team joined the NHL before their fans would see the team play in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that resulted in a quick 4-0 elimination at the hand of the Detroit Red Wings.
To this day, the Columbus Blue Jackets have only made it out of the first round of the playoffs one time, during the 2018–19 season.
10. Dallas Stars
The Stars have been around the league since 1967, but they haven’t always been the Dallas Stars.
They were first introduced as the Minnesota North Stars and weren’t relocated to Dallas until the 1993–94 season.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 2 |
| Division championships | 8 |
11. Detroit Red Wings
Another member of the original six, the Detroit Red Wings were first introduced into the league in 1926 as the Detroit Cougars, they would latter go on to change their name to the Detroit Falcons in 1930 until they finally landed on the Detroit Red Wings as their final name in 1932.
When it comes to winning franchises, few are more winning than the Red Wings.
They hold the record for the most Stanley Cup wins for an American team and sit third all time for most Stanley Cup wins with 11 behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
| Stanley Cup wins | 11 |
| Conference championships | 6 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 6 |
| Division championships | 19 |
12. Edmonton Oilers
Before they became know as the Edmonton Oilers, the Alberta Oilers hit the ice for their first season in 1972 as one of the founding organizations of the World Hockey Association (WHA). It wasn’t until 1973 when they became the Edmonton Oilers we know today.
The Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 as part of the NHL’s merger with the WHA.
They would go on to see an embarrassment of riches when it comes to winning between 1983-1989, winning five Stanley cups, four of which the great one Wayne Gretzky was a part of.
The Oilers are a long ways from their winning ways of the past, but with superstar Connor McDavid leading the way, they show promise to make it back to a final.
| Stanley Cup wins | 5 |
| Conference championships | 7 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 2 |
| Division championships | 7 |
13. Florida Panthers
Founded in 1993, the Florida joined the NHL alongside the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to become the 25th and 26th team in the NHL.
The Panthers actually held the record for being the expansion team with the most success in their first year before the Vegas Golden Knights took that crown from them.
In their 28 years of existence, the Florida Panthers have only managed to make it to the Stanley Cup finals one time in 1996 where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Division championships | 2 |
14. Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings were introduced to the NHL during the leagues’ expansion in 1967 when the league grew from six to twelve teams, they joined alongside the:
- Minnesota North Stars
- Oakland Seals
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- St. Louis Blues
In 1993, led by none other than Wayne Gretzky, the Kings would make their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance. This was followed by some turbulent years for the team on and off the ice.
But, they would eventually come out of it many years later, winning two Stanley Cups (2011-12,2013-14).
| Stanley Cup wins | 2 |
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Division championships | 1 |
15. Minnesota Wild
The Wild are the NHLs second team to come out of Minnesota, the first being the North Stars before their move to Dallas in 1993.
Minnesota was granted their second go at an NHL team in 1997 but didn’t actually hit the ice for their first season until the 2000-01 season in which they finished 25th in the league with a 25-39-18 record.
The team would find their first taste of success in 2008 when they won the Northwest Division. However, they went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs four games to two at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.
| Division championships | 1 |
16. Montreal Canadiens
Probably the most historic franchise in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens were founded in 1909 where they played in the National Hockey Association, which would eventually become the National Hockey League in 1917.
They have operated longer than any other ice hockey team in the world.
In their over 100 years of existence, the Canadiens hold the record for most Stanley Cup wins with an astounding 24, their last one being in the 1992-1993 season.
| Stanley Cup wins | 24 |
| Conference championships | 8 |
| Division Championships | 24 |
17. Nashville Predators
In 1998 the Nashville Predators joined the National Hockey League as the league’s 27th franchise and their first season was anything but spectacular as they finished 24th in the league with a 28-47-7 record.
Since their inception, the Predators have yet to win a Stanley Cup. They do however hold the following achievements:
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division Championships | 2 |
18. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are one of four NHL teams based out of New York, but the Devils haven’t always been a New York Team.
They started out as the Kansas City Scouts in 1974, only two years later in 1976 the scouts were promptly moved from Kansas to Denver where they would be known as the Colorado Rockies.
Just six years after they became the Colorado Rockies, the franchise would move once more, this time to their final home in New Jersey, where they became the New Jersey Devils in 1982.
| Stanley Cup wins | 3 |
| Conference championships | 5 |
| Division championships | 9 |
19. New York Islanders
In 1972 the New York Islanders were founded out of a need for the NHL to keep the WHA from putting a team in the freshly built Nassau Coliseum.
The Islanders would go on to finish last in the league in their first season with a 12-60-6 record.
However, the franchise eventually found their winning ways, forming a dynasty that would win 4 consecutive Stanley Cups from 1979 to 1983.
| Stanley Cup wins | 4 |
| Conference championships | 6 |
| Division championships | 6 |
20. New York Rangers
Another one of the NHL’s four teams in the New York area, the New York Rangers have been a part of the NHL since 1926 and are considered an original six team.
The New York Rangers were the first American team in the history of the league to win a Stanley Cup, an achievement they earned in 1928, just two years after their inception.
| Stanley Cup wins | 4 |
| Conference championships | 2 |
| Presidents’ Trophy | 3 |
| Division championships | 7 |
21. Ottawa Senators
Believe it or not, the Ottawa Senators have been a franchise in the NHL twice, and neither are correlated.
The first Ottawa Senators were founded in 1883 and won an astounding 11 Stanley Cups playing in the NHL between 1917 and 1934.
But, the Senators we know today were founded in 1992 by Bruce Firestone and have no relation to the Ottawa Senators of the past.
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 4 |
22. Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are the second NHL team to come out of Philadelphia.
In 1930, the Pittsburgh Pirates who had been struggling financially relocated to Philadelphia for exactly one season, they were called the “Philadelphia Quakers” and to this day hold the record for fewest games won in an NHL season, their record was 4–36–4.
Today, the only Philadelphia based NHL people remember is the Flyers, often referred to as the Broad Street Bullies for their rough play style that saw them win two Stanley Cups between 1970 and 1980.
| Stanley Cup wins | 2 |
| Conference championships | 8 |
| Division championships | 16 |
23. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins are another team founded during the NHL’s expansion in 1967.
The franchise is currently tied for the most Stanley Cup wins among teams that are not original six teams.
This legendary franchise has had a slew of hall of fame players throughout the years including; Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy, Mark Recchi, Joe Mullen, Bryan Trottier and many more.
Surely enough, one day, Sidney Crosby will join them.
| Stanley Cup wins | 5 |
| Conference championships | 6 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 9 |
24. San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks joined the NHL in 1991, bringing the league’s team total from 21 to 22. In their inaugural season, the Sharks posted a 17-58-5 record, good for dead last in the league.
Their biggest success in franchise history thus far is making it to the Stanley Cup finals in 2016 which they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 6 |
25. Seattle Kraken
In 2018, the NHL approved a proposal for a Seattle based team to join the league as the 32nd team in league history.
The team which is headed by the Seattle Hockey Partners would eventually settle on the Kraken name.
Seattle will participate in the 2021-2022 NHL season, their inaugural season.
26. St. Louis Blues
The Blues are Yet another franchise that was born during the 1967 expansion of the National Hockey League. Furthermore, the Blues have won one Stanley Cup and made four appearances in the Finals.
Three of their Stanley Cup Final appearances actually occurred in their first three seasons in the league from 1967 to 1970, they lost all three of those series without winning a single game.
Eventually, the Blues would go on to win a Stanley Cup in the 2018-19 seasons.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 10 |
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
Brought into the league in 1990 and playing their first NHL games in 1992, the Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t always been the powerhouse team they are today. In fact, they only managed to make the playoffs once in their first 10 years of existence.
However, that quickly turned around in the early 2000s and by 2004 the lightning were Stanley Cup champions for the first time.
Today, the Tampa Bay Lightning have won back to back Stanley Cups and are without a doubt the best team in the league.
| Stanley Cup wins | 3 |
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 1 |
| Division championships | 4 |
28. Toronto Maple Leafs
In 1917 the Toronto Maple Leafs were founded, but they weren’t always called the Maple Leafs. The team started out going by the name “Toronto Arenas” until 1919 when they were renamed as the Toronto St. Patricks.
Finally, in 1927 the club was purchased by none other than Conn Smythe who renamed the team to what we all know them as today, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Leafs have a long and storied history of success, they have the second most Stanley Cups out of any NHL franchise.
Unfortunately for their fans, most of that success happened before they were even born. The team has not won a Stanley Cup since 1967.
| Stanley Cup wins | 13 |
| Division championships | 6 |
29. Vancouver Canucks
In 1970 the Vancouver Canucks alongside the Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League to bring its total teams from 12, to 14.
The team has been to the Stanley Cup finals three times since they joined the league but have yet to get the job done, as a result the organization has zero Stanley Cup wins.
| Conference championships | 3 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 2 |
| Division championships | 10 |
30. Vegas Golden Knights
After 16 years since the NHL last expanded and added new teams, it was announced in 2016 that they would be adding a Las Vegas based NHL team, known today as the Vegas Golden Knights. They are the 31st franchise in the NHL.
Vegas started out with a bang, doing far better than anyone could imagine. In just their first season they managed to win the Pacific Division, finishing 5th in the NHL, and would go on to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. They lost 4-1 to the Washington Capitals.
Since then, they have made the playoffs every season, making it back to the conference finals once more.
| Conference championships | 1 |
| Division championships | 2 |
31. Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals were founded in 1974 alongside the Kansas City Scouts as part of the NHL’s expansion and are based out of the nation’s capital city.
They’ve won but one Stanley Cups so far in over 40 years of being in the league. Their first Stanley Cup win was back in the 2017-2018 season.
| Stanley Cup wins | 1 |
| Conference championships | 2 |
| Presidents’ trophy | 3 |
| Division championships | 13 |
32. Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have a complicated history.
They first Winnipeg Jets franchise started out as one of the founding franchises of the World Hockey Association before joining the National Hockey League.
In 1996, the team was moved to Phoenix, where they became the Phonenix Coyotes. That was the end of the original Winnipeg Jets franchise.
However, in 2011 a new Winnipeg Jets franchise was born when the Atlanta Thrasher were relocated to Winnipeg.
| Division championships | 1 |
How many American NHL teams are there?
Out of 32 NHL teams, there are currently 25 American NHL teams:
- Anaheim Ducks
- Arizona Coyotes
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Blue Jackets
- Dallas Stars
- Detroit Red Wings
- Florida Panthers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- St. Louis Blues
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Washington Capitals
How many Canadian NHL teams are there?
In total, there are 7 Canadian NHL teams out of the 32 teams in the National Hockey League.
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Vancouver Canucks
- Winnipeg Jets
Pasteable List of NHL teams in alphabetical order
Anaheim Ducks Arizona Coyotes Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Calgary Flames Carolina Hurricanes Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Columbus Blue Jackets Dallas Stars Detroit Red Wings Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Los Angeles Kings Minnesota Wild Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils New York Islanders New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins San Jose Sharks Seattle Kraken St. Louis Blues Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs Vancouver Canucks Vegas Golden Knights Washington Capitals Winnipeg Jets
