• The National Hockey League is comprised of 30 professional teams playing hockey in the United States and Canada.

• Fast Facts

  1. Inaugural season: 1917
  2. League offices: New York City
  3. Commissioner: Gary Bettman
  4. Teams: 30
  5. Games per team: 82
  6. 2009 Stanley Cup champion: Pittsburgh Penguins
  7. TV Partners: TSN, CBC Sports, Rogers Sportsnet, NBC

• Regular Season Format

  Each team plays a six month, 82-game regular season within two conferences, each of which have three geographical divisions. The NHL All-Star Game is held each January. Every four seasons, the league suspends play for three weeks so that the elite players can represent their country in the Winter Olympics. During Olympic years, the NHL does not hold an All-Star Game.

• Playoff Format

  Following the regular season, 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After three rounds are played to determine each conference champion, the two remaining teams participate in the Stanley Cup Finals.

• NHL Draft

  Each summer the NHL holds a Draft to allow teams to sign young players to their squads. The draft order is determined by a combination of playoff standings and a lottery.

• NHL Awards

  Each June, 18 separate awards are handed out to the players in the NHL for a variety of accomplishments. Additionally there are four team trophies going to the team with the best regular season record, the winners of each conference in the playoffs and the winner of the Stanley Cup Championship.

• Divisions and Teams

• Atlantic Division

  • New Jersey Devils
  • New York Islanders
  • New York Rangers
  • Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Philadelphia Flyers

• Northeast Division

  • Boston Bruins
  • Buffalo Sabres
  • Montreal Canadiens
  • Ottawa Senators
  • Toronto Maple Leafs

• Southeast Division

  • Atlanta Thrashers
  • Carolina Hurricanes
  • Florida Panthers
  • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Washington Capitals

• Central Division

  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Detroit Red Wings
  • Nashville Predators
  • St. Louis Blues

• Northwest Division

  • Calgary Flames
  • Colorado Avalanche
  • Edmonton Oilers
  • Minnesota Wild
  • Vancouver Canucks

• Pacific Division

  • Anaheim Ducks
  • Dallas Stars
  • Los Angeles Kings
  • Phoenix Coyotes
  • San Jose Sharks

  
  

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Stanley Cup Playoffs | NHL Draft | NHL Awards | NHL Europe | NHL Winter Classic | NHL Trade Rumors | Vintage NHL Jerseys | NBA Trade Rumors | How to Ice Skate | NCAA Hockey Tournament | Stanley Cup Playoffs 2009

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