April 17, 2025, 11:34am
The NHL was founded in Montreal on November 26, 1917. The pack fell the following month in the league’s first game. NHL member teams were constantly changing for most of the league’s first 20 years of existence.
However, the revolving door stopped in the 1940s.
The same six teams formed the NHL from 1942 until 1967 when the league expanded to 12 clubs. The original six franchises are the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers.
Of the six originals, four based in the US collectively won 27 Stanley Cup titles. But none of them will be added to that total in 2025.
The Bruins, Red Wings, Blackhawks and Rangers were all not able to score playoff spots that same year for the first time in NHL history.
New York and Boston were expected to become playoff teams, but Chicago and Detroit continued their own runs that missed the postseason.
The Blackhawks finished last in the central division of the Western Conference in their third season, second in the NHL to finish in the Western record, finishing ahead of San Jose’s sharks alone. Detroit has failed to make the playoffs for the nine consecutive seasons.
Two original six teams based in Canada, Montreal and Toronto both won playoff spots.
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This takes a closer look at the NHL’s original 6.
Montreal Canadian
Founded in 1909, the Canadian is the oldest team in the NHL. They won 23 Stanley Cup titles. This is the most in league history. Their 33 Stanley Cup final appearances are more than any other club.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto ranks second in NHL history, with 21 Stanley Cup titles appearing 21 times. Maple Leaf was founded in 1917 as the Toronto Arena. They were later called St. Patrick and eventually became Maple Leafs in 1927. They last won the Stanley Cup in 1967.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins were the first US-based team to participate in the NHL, making their debut in 1924. Boston won its latest title in 1929, the first of six Stanley Cup titles and in 2011.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks were founded in 1926 and joined the NHL in the same year. The team name was officially the Blackhawks (two words) until 1986. They also won the Stanley Cup six times.
Detroit Red Wings
Founded in 1926, the Red Wings was first known as the Cougars until 1930. After a brief stint as the Detroit Falcons, the Red Wings were born in 1932. 11 Stanley Cup titles in Detroit’s 24 final appearances were the most recent US-based NHL franchises in 2008.
New York Rangers
Also, the distinction is that Rangers, founded in 1926, were the first US franchise to win the Stanley Cup. New York kicked out the now-deprecated Montreal Maroon in five matches in the 1928 final. It was the first of the Rangers’ four Stanley Cup victory, and the latest one came in 1994.
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