List of NHL Seasons - Current Era

Current Era

Further information: History of the National Hockey League (1992–present)

In 1993, coinciding with the naming of Gary Bettman as commissioner, the league re-organized into the Eastern and Western Conferences, with two divisions each, organized along geographical lines. The playoff format was changed to provide conference champions without divisional playoff champions. A new round of expansion began. By 2000–01, the number of teams increased to 30 and the number of divisions increased to six. This era has seen two seasons where the seasons were changed due to labour disputes between the NHL and the players' union. The 1994–95 season was shortened to just 48 games, and the 2004–05 season's games were cancelled entirely. According to the 2011 NHL Guide and Record Book, the NHL includes the 2004–05 season in its count of seasons. For example, the 2011 NHL Guide lists the Tampa Bay Lightning as entering their 19th 'NHL Season', although a count of the Lightning's seasons of play would determine the 2010–11 season to be their 18th season of play.

No.	Season	Playoffs	Finals	No. of teams	Reg. season games	Start	Finish	Top record	Champion
76	1992–93	1993	1993	24	84	October 6	June 9	Pittsburgh Penguins	Montreal Canadiens
77	1993–94	1994	1994	26	84	October 5	June 14	New York Rangers	New York Rangers
78	1994–95	1995	1995	26	48	January 20	June 24	Detroit Red Wings	New Jersey Devils
79	1995–96	1996	1996	26	82	October 6	June 10	Detroit Red Wings	Colorado Avalanche
80	1996–97	1997	1997	26	82	October 4	June 7	Colorado Avalanche	Detroit Red Wings
81	1997–98	1998	1998	26	82	October 1	June 16	Dallas Stars	Detroit Red Wings
82	1998–99	1999	1999	27	82	October 9	June 19	Dallas Stars	Dallas Stars
83	1999–2000	2000	2000	28	82	October 1	June 10	St. Louis Blues	New Jersey Devils
84	2000–01	2001	2001	30	82	October 4	June 9	Colorado Avalanche	Colorado Avalanche
85	2001–02	2002	2002	30	82	October 3	June 13	Detroit Red Wings	Detroit Red Wings
86	2002–03	2003	2003	30	82	October 9	June 9	Ottawa Senators	New Jersey Devils
87	2003–04	2004	2004	30	82	October 8	June 7	Detroit Red Wings	Tampa Bay Lightning
88	2004–05	Season's games canceled due to lockout
89	2005–06	2006	2006	30	82	October 5	June 19	Detroit Red Wings	Carolina Hurricanes
90	2006–07	2007	2007	30	82	October 4	June 6	Buffalo Sabres	Anaheim Ducks
91	2007–08	2008	2008	30	82	September 29	June 4	Detroit Red Wings	Detroit Red Wings
92	2008–09	2009	2009	30	82	October 4	June 12	San Jose Sharks	Pittsburgh Penguins
93	2009–10	2010	2010	30	82	October 1	June 9	Washington Capitals	Chicago Blackhawks
94	2010–11	2011	2011	30	82	October 7	June 15	Vancouver Canucks	Boston Bruins
95	2011–12	2012	2012	30	82	October 6	June 11	Vancouver Canucks	Los Angeles Kings
96	2012–13	Contingent upon adoption of new collective bargaining agreement

Notes

^ 22. Ottawa Senators (revived team) and Tampa Bay Lightning started play.

^ 23. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers started play.

^ 24. Season shortened due to lockout.

^ 25. Nashville Predators started play.

^ 26. Atlanta Thrashers started play.

^ 27. Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild started play.