Early Years
Further information: History of the National Hockey League (1917–1942)The NHL started with three of the six NHA clubs (Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators) and a Toronto franchise run by the Toronto Arena Co., which leased the players of the Toronto Blueshirts. Almost immediately after starting the season, the Wanderers folded, leaving three teams to complete the season. The same three teams returned for 1918–19 before Quebec 'returned' for 1919–20, moving to Hamilton the following year. The same four-team configuration lasted until 1924–25 when the Montreal Maroons and the Boston Bruins joined the league. Expansion into other cities followed, lasting until the 1930s, when several teams folded.
The new NHL did not have a championship trophy at first. The O'Brien Cup was revived in November 1921, and served as the league championship trophy until 1927. The new Prince of Wales Trophy, donated in 1925, was also given to the league champion until 1927. Henceforth, the trophies were designated for divisional championships, and the Stanley Cup became the de facto league championship trophy.
| No. | Season | Playoffs | Stanley Cup Finals |
No. of teams |
Reg. season games |
Start |
Finish |
Top record | Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1917–18 | 1918 | 1918 | 4/3 | 22 | December 19 | March 13 | Montreal Canadiens Toronto Hockey Club |
Toronto Hockey Club |
| 2 | 1918–19 | 1919 | 1919 | 3 | 18 | December 19 | March 6 | Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators |
Montreal Canadiens |
| 3 | 1919–20 | 1920 | 1920 | 4 | 24 | December 23 | March 10 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators |
Ottawa Senators |
| 4 | 1920–21 | 1921 | 1921 | 4 | 24 | December 22 | March 15 | Ottawa Senators Toronto St. Pats |
Ottawa Senators |
| 5 | 1921–22 | 1922 | 1922 | 4 | 24 | December 17 | March 13 | Ottawa Senators | Toronto St. Pats |
| 6 | 1922–23 | 1923 | 1923 | 4 | 24 | December 16 | March 9 | Ottawa Senators | Ottawa Senators |
| 7 | 1923–24 | 1924 | 1924 | 4 | 24 | December 15 | March 11 | Ottawa Senators | Montreal Canadiens |
| 8 | 1924–25 | 1925 | 1925 | 6 | 30 | November 29 | March 13 | Hamilton Tigers | Montreal Canadiens |
| 9 | 1925–26 | 1926 | 1926 | 7 | 36 | November 28 | March 27 | Ottawa Senators | Montreal Maroons |
| 10 | 1926–27 | 1927 | 1927 | 10 | 44 | November 18 | April 13 | Ottawa Senators | Ottawa Senators |
| 11 | 1927–28 | 1928 | 1928 | 10 | 44 | November 15 | April 14 | Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers |
| 12 | 1928–29 | 1929 | 1929 | 10 | 44 | November 15 | March 29 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins |
| 13 | 1929–30 | 1930 | 1930 | 10 | 44 | November 14 | April 3 | Boston Bruins | Montreal Canadiens |
| 14 | 1930–31 | 1931 | 1931 | 10 | 44 | November 11 | April 14 | Boston Bruins | Montreal Canadiens |
| 15 | 1931–32 | 1932 | 1932 | 8 | 48 | November 12 | April 9 | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 16 | 1932–33 | 1933 | 1933 | 9 | 48 | November 10 | April 13 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers |
| 17 | 1933–34 | 1934 | 1934 | 9 | 48 | November 9 | April 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 18 | 1934–35 | 1935 | 1935 | 9 | 48 | November 8 | April 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Montreal Maroons |
| 19 | 1935–36 | 1936 | 1936 | 8 | 48 | November 7 | April 11 | Detroit Red Wings | Detroit Red Wings |
| 20 | 1936–37 | 1937 | 1937 | 8 | 48 | November 5 | April 15 | Detroit Red Wings | Detroit Red Wings |
| 21 | 1937–38 | 1938 | 1938 | 8 | 48 | November 4 | April 12 | Boston Bruins | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 22 | 1938–39 | 1939 | 1939 | 7 | 48 | November 3 | April 16 | Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins |
| 23 | 1939–40 | 1940 | 1940 | 7 | 48 | November 2 | April 13 | Boston Bruins | New York Rangers |
| 24 | 1940–41 | 1941 | 1941 | 7 | 48 | November 3 | April 12 | Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins |
| 25 | 1941–42 | 1942 | 1942 | 7 | 48 | November 1 | April 18 | New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs |
- Notes
| ^ 1. | All champion teams are also Stanley Cup champions unless marked. |
| ^ 4c. | Finals from 1917 through 1921 contested between qualifier from first half-season and qualifier from second half-season. |
| ^ 5. | Wanderers withdrew after six games (four completed, two forfeited). |
| ^ 6. | The Quebec Bulldogs started play. |
| ^ 7. | No playoffs. |
| ^ 8. | The Montreal Maroons and Boston Bruins started play. |
| ^ 9. | The New York Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates started play. Hamilton Tigers dissolved. |
| ^ 10. | The Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars and New York Rangers started play. |
| ^ 11. | The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Quakers suspended operations for the season. |
| ^ 12. | The Ottawa Senators resumed play. |
| ^ 13. | The St. Louis Eagles were dissolved. |
| ^ 14. | The Montreal Maroons were dissolved. |
Read more about this topic: List Of NHL Seasons
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