When did the NHL go from 6 to 12 teams?
The year was 1967, a time when bell-bottoms were cool, the moon landing was still a twinkle in NASA’s eye, and the NHL decided it was tired of being a cozy little clique. Known as the “Great Expansion,” the league doubled in size overnight—going from the “Original Six” to the “Thanks, We Needed a Dozen.” It was like watching a shy turtle suddenly sprout six extra legs and attempt breakdancing. The move added teams like the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and St. Louis Blues, because nothing says “hockey town” like palm trees, cheesesteaks, and… blues music?
Wait, Why Did They Even Bother?
Simple: TV money and existential panic. The NHL had been lounging in its six-team velvet robe since 1942, but rival leagues started popping up like aggressive dandelions. To avoid being upstaged (and to fund Commissioner Clarence Campbell’s alleged collection of novelty ice scrapers), the league expanded westward. Suddenly, California had hockey teams, which confused both snowbirds and actual birds. Fun fact: The Oakland Seals (one of the new clubs) lasted shorter than a popsicle in July, rebranding twice before folding in 1978. Rest in peace, you beautifully mismanaged mess.
The Aftermath: Chaos, Confetti, and More Penalty Boxes
- Double the teams, quadruple the chaos: The 1967 draft was like a yard sale where everyone fought over the same rusty lawnmower. Existing teams “protected” their best players, leaving new franchises to scrounge for leftovers. Imagine trying to build a pizza using only crust crumbs and half a pepperoni.
- Rebranding the divisions: The Original Six became the “East Division,” while the newcomers formed the “West Division.” Geography was… fluid. The Chicago Black Hawks were in the East, and the Los Angeles Kings anchored the West. The logic? Let’s call it “creative cartography.”
By 1970, the NHL added two more teams (Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks), because apparently 12 teams wasn’t enough to satisfy humanity’s need for slap shots and Zamboni ballet. The expansion era turned hockey from a niche sport for folks who enjoy frostbite into a continental spectacle. And thus, the NHL learned the timeless lesson: Go big, or go home… preferably on a jet packed with hockey sticks and existential dread.
What is the oldest NHL team?
If hockey history were a retirement home, the Montreal Canadiens would be the spry 106-year-old resident who still sneaks out to party with a Stanley Cup in tow. Founded in 1909 (yes, before sliced bread was invented in 1928), the Canadiens are the NHL’s OG ice wizards, predating the league itself by a full eight years. When the NHL officially dropped the puck in 1917, Montreal was already there, casually sipping maple syrup and sharpening their skates like, “We’ve been expecting you.”
But wait… wasn’t the NHL born in 1917? Explain yourselves!
Glad you asked, eh? The NHL’s founding lineup included four teams:
- Montreal Canadiens (the grand overlord of hockey antiquity)
- Montreal Wanderers (lasted six whole games before their arena burned down – talk about a hot streak)
- Toronto Arenas (later evolved into the Maple Leafs, presumably because “Arenas” sounded too much like a storage unit)
- Ottawa Senators (original flavor, not the 1990s reboot)
The Wanderers and Sens eventually ghosted the league, leaving the Canadiens as the lone survivor who still uses “1917” as their Wi-Fi password.
Let’s be clear: the Canadiens didn’t just win 24 Stanley Cups. They’ve basically colonized hockey’s trophy case. Their early games featured wooden sticks, no forward passes, and a puck allegedly made from a frozen potato. They’ve survived two global pandemics, the invention of the Zamboni, and *that time Wayne Gretzky existed*. So next time someone calls the “Original Six” vintage, remind them the Habs were out here winning championships when cars still had crank starters. Respect your elders, eh?
Who are the original 8 in hockey?
Ah, the “Original 8”—the NHL’s answer to a chaotic dinner party where six guests outlasted the appetizers, and two mysteriously vanished before dessert. Contrary to popular myth, these aren’t eight cloned Wayne Gretzkys (though that would explain the 1980s). They’re the bedrock franchises that formed the NHL’s core from 1942 to 1967, back when hockey sticks were wooden, helmets were “optional,” and mascots were probably just guys named Earl with a spare raccoon.
Survivors, Ghosts, and a Couple of Disappearing Acts
The “Original 8” includes the six iconic teams you know (Bruins, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Canadiens) plus two spectral entities:
- Montreal Maroons: The Habs’ quirky roommate who moved out in 1938 and “went to buy milk.”
- New York Americans: The Rangers’ flashy rivals who folded in 1942, possibly to pursue careers in experimental jazz.
These two teams pulled a Houdini, leaving the remaining six to split the league’s metaphorical check for 25 years.
Why does everyone talk about the “Original Six” then? Blurry memories and selective nostalgia. The “8” became “6” faster than a Zamboni clears spilled beer. The Maroons and Americans became hockey’s “lost socks,” while the others evolved into the grumpy uncles of the sport—complete with dynasties, rivalries, and at least one cursed sweater (looking at you, Toronto).
So next time someone mentions the “Original Six,” gently remind them that history is written by the winners… and also by the teams that didn’t dissolve into a puff of arena nacho smoke. The Original 8 were the league’s founding chaos agents—half legends, half cautionary tales, and 100% why we still argue about offsides at family reunions.
Has anyone played for all original 6 teams?
Let’s cut to the chase: no one has ever pulled off this hockey unicorn feat. Playing for all six Original Six teams—Blackhawks, Bruins, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Rangers, and Red Wings—is like trying to pet a yeti while riding a unicycle. It sounds cool, but reality has other plans. The closest anyone got? A handful of players suited up for five teams. Not six. Five. Because hockey gods love a good plot twist.
The “Almost, But Please Stop Moving the Net” Club
Meet Vic Lynn, the NHL’s answer to a rolling stone. Between 1942 and 1954, this forward played for five Original Six teams: Bruins, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Rangers, and Maple Leafs. The Habs? Nope. They apparently took one look at his nomadic vibes and said, “Non, merci.” Then there’s Gaye Stewart, who also hit five teams (Leafs, Habs, Hawks, Rangers, Wings). Both guys were basically human trade rumors before trade rumors existed.
- Vic Lynn: Bruins → Blackhawks → Red Wings → Rangers → Maple Leafs
- Gaye Stewart: Maple Leafs → Canadiens → Blackhawks → Rangers → Red Wings
Why Six Teams Is Basically a Cosmic Joke
Imagine trying to play for the 1940s-60s Canadiens and the Maple Leafs in the same lifetime. You’d need a time machine, a vendetta against loyalty, and maybe a secret identity. Rivalries were fiercer than a raccoon guarding a trash can. Teams didn’t just swap players—they hoarded talent like dragons with gold. Plus, the idea of free agency back then was as plausible as a Zamboni winning the Stanley Cup. So yeah, completing the Original Six roster is less “career goal” and more “glitch in the matrix.” RIP, dreams.
Could it ever happen? Sure, if someone clones Gordie Howe, merges him with Marty McFly, and invents a cyborg immune to NHL grudges. Until then, we’ll just keep staring at Vic Lynn’s Wikipedia page, muttering, “So close, yet so, so Habs.”
