National Hockey League
Current season or competition: 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1917
Commissioner	Gary Bettman
No. The 2008 Stanley Cup Final determined the winner of the Stanley Cup and the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL for the 2007–08 season. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Baseball World Series - Chicago White Sox defeat New York Giants, 4 games to 2 Football ( Gary Bruce Bettman (born June 2 1952 in Queens, New York) is the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL a post he has held since of teams	30
Country(ies)	Canada  United States
Most recent champion(s)	Detroit Red Wings
TV partner(s)	CAN: CBC, TSN, RDS, RIS, NHL Network Canada USA: NBC, Versus, HDNet, NHL Network US
Official website	NHL.com

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions NHL on TSN is TSN 's broadcast of National Hockey League games Réseau des sports (commonly known as RDS) is a Canadian French language Cable television Specialty channel showing Sports Réseau Info-Sports (often referred to as RIS or RIS Info Sports) is a Canadian French language category 1 Digital cable NHL Network is a Canadian English language category 2 Digital cable Specialty channel devoted to hockey from the past NHL on NBC is a TV show that televises National Hockey League games on NBC and is produced by NBC Sports. The NHL on Versus (formerly known as The NHL on OLN) is the National Hockey League 's cable programming in the United States HDNet is a general interest Television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable NHL Network is a television Specialty channel devoted to the National Hockey League (NHL and the sport of Ice hockey that launched in the United States Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. It is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world,^[1] and one of the North American major professional sports leagues. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America,^[2] is awarded annually to the league champion at the end of each season. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session

The league was founded in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada with four teams, and through a series of expansions, contractions and relocations, the league is now composed of 30 teams, 24 of which are based in the United States and six in Canada. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the After a labour dispute that led to the cancellation of the entire 2004–05 season, the league has staged a successful comeback, including revenue and profit growth. The 2004–05 NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of the National Hockey League (NHL ^[3]

The NHL draws many highly skilled players from all over the world. Currently, the league has players from about 20 different countries. ^[4][5] Canadians have historically constituted a large majority of the players in the NHL because both the sport and the league originated in Canada. In the past 25 years, the percentages of American and European players have increased because of the NHL's continued expansion into the United States, its high standard of play compared to other leagues, and the availability of highly skilled European players. ^[6]

History

Main article: History of the National Hockey League

After a series of disputes in the Canadian National Hockey Association (NHA) between Eddie Livingstone, who was the owner of the Toronto Blueshirts, and other owners, the owners of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Quebec Bulldogs met at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal to talk about the NHA's future. The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. The Edmonton Oilers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The New York Islanders are a professional Ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. The New York Rangers are a professional Ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. The New Jersey Devils are a professional Ice hockey team based in Newark New Jersey. The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Anaheim Ducks are a professional Ice hockey team based in Anaheim California, USA. The Calgary Flames are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Dallas Stars are a National Hockey League team based in Dallas Texas. The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa Florida. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The National Hockey League was created with the demise of its predecessor league the National Hockey Association (NHA in 1917 The National Hockey Association (NHA(officially the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited) was a professional Ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario Edward James Livingstone ( September 12 1884 – September 11, 1945) was a Canadian sports team owner and manager This article is about a predecessor club of the Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blueshirts The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Wanderers were a professional men's Ice hockey team that played in Montreal, Quebec at the Montreal Arena, and were one of the founding The Ottawa Senators (officially the Ottawa Hockey Club) were an amateur later professional senior men's Ice hockey team based in Ottawa from 1883 For the former minor league baseball team known as the Quebec Athletics, see Quebec Athletics (baseball The Quebec Bulldogs were For other uses of Windsor Hotel see Windsor Hotel (disambiguation. ^[7] Their discussions eventually led to the creation of the National Hockey League on November 22, 1917; the founding teams were the Canadiens, Wanderers and Senators. A Toronto franchise, because of the dispute, was given temporarily to the Toronto Arena Corp to operate, and is often referred to as the Arenas, though they operated without a nickname. ^[8][7]

Montreal Canadiens in 1942

Even though the league struggled to stay in business during its first decade, the NHL's teams were very successful on the ice; only once, in 1925, did a team from any other league win the Stanley Cup, and by 1926 the NHL was the only league competing for the Cup. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion ^[9] The NHL then started a process of expansion: the Boston Bruins (the first U. The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. S. -based NHL franchise) and Montreal Maroons entered the league in 1924–25; the New York Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates entered in the 1925–26 season; and the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks (now spelled Blackhawks), and Detroit Cougars (now known as the Red Wings) entered in the 1926–27 season, raising the number of teams in the NHL to ten. The Montreal Maroons were a professional men's Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL For the 1941 American football team see New York Americans (AFL. The Pittsburgh Pirates were a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from The New York Rangers are a professional Ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Great Depression and the onset of World War II, took a toll on the league, and by 1942 the NHL was reduced to six teams. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including These six teams (the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers) are collectively known as the Original Six, and for the next quarter-century were the only teams in the National Hockey League. For the first ships of the United States Navy, see Six original United States frigates. During this time the Norris family had influence over four of the teams as Detroit and Chicago were operated by members of the family, and Boston and New York had mortgages to the family. The media would nickname the league the "Norris House League. "^[10]

By the mid 1960s, the desire for a network television contract in the U. S. , and concerns that the Western Hockey League was planning to declare itself a major league and challenge for the Stanley Cup, spurred the NHL to undertake its first expansion since the 1920s. This article refers to the minor pro Western Hockey League operating from 1952 to 1974 The National Hockey League (NHL undertook a major expansion for the 1967-68 season, adding six new franchises and doubling the size of the league Six new teams were added to the NHL roster in 1967, and were placed in their own newly-created division. The 1967–68 NHL season was the 51st season of the National Hockey League. Two teams each were added in California, Pennsylvania, and the Mississppi River valley. The teams were the Los Angeles Kings, Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars, and St. Louis Blues. The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles California. The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League (NHL from 1967-76 The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Minnesota North Stars were a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL for 26 seasons from 1967 to 1993. The St Louis Blues are a professional Ice hockey team based in St Three years later, the NHL added the Vancouver Canucks and Buffalo Sabres. The Vancouver Canucks are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Buffalo Sabres are a professional Ice hockey team based in Buffalo New York.

In 1972, the World Hockey Association was formed, and though it never challenged for the Stanley Cup, the WHA's status as a potential rival to the NHL did not go unnoticed. The 1972-73 WHA season was the first Regular season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA The World Hockey Association (French Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional Ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion In response, the NHL decided to rush its own expansion plans in 1972 by adding the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames (which became the Calgary Flames in 1980) to forestall WHA franchises in newly constructed arenas in those markets, followed by the addition of the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals two years later. The New York Islanders are a professional Ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. The Atlanta Flames were a professional Ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The Calgary Flames are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Kansas City Scouts was a professional Ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL from 1974–76 For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. ^[11] The two leagues fought for the rights of players and fans until the WHA folded in 1979 as part of an agreement whereby four of the remaining six WHA teams would enter the NHL as expansion teams: the Hartford Whalers (the Carolina Hurricanes since 1997), Québec Nordiques (the Colorado Avalanche since 1995), Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets (the Phoenix Coyotes since 1996). The 1978-79 WHA season was the seventh and final Regular season of the World Hockey Association (WHA The Hartford Whalers were an American professional Ice hockey team based in Hartford Connecticut. The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Quebec Nordiques (Nordiques de Québec pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated into English as "Northerners" were The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The Edmonton Oilers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Winnipeg Jets were a professional Hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. ^[12]

With the expansion in 1974, the NHL was aligned into 2 conferences. These conferences, Campbell (representing the west) and Wales (representing the east) each had 2 divisions. The Campbell's divisions were the Smythe and Norris; while the Wales' divisions were the Adams and Patrick. This changed in 1993 when the NHL was realigned into geographical conferences (East & West), divided into 3 divisions. The Eastern Conference currently consists of the Atlantic, Southeast, and Northeast while the Western is made up of the Central, Northwest, and Pacific. Reasons for realignment include further expansion into the U. S. and efforts to expand the NHL's breadth of audience.

After a period of stability in the 1980s, the NHL further expanded with nine new franchises in ten years. The San Jose Sharks entered in 1991; a season later the Ottawa Senators would return to the NHL along with the addition of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The San Jose Sharks are a professional Ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. The Ottawa Senators (Les Sénateurs d'Ottawa are a professional Ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa Florida. In 1993, the league added two additional teams, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Florida Panthers. The Anaheim Ducks are a professional Ice hockey team based in Anaheim California, USA. The Florida Panthers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Sunrise Florida, a suburb of Ft Next came the Nashville Predators in 1998, the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999, and then the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2000, bringing the total to 30 teams. The Nashville Predators are a professional Ice hockey team based in Nashville Tennessee. The Atlanta Thrashers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Atlanta Georgia. The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional Ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States.

Labour issues

History of the NHL

National Hockey League

Founding (1917–1942) Original Six (1942–1967) 1967 NHL Expansion (1967) Expansion era (1967–1991) Modern era (1991–present)

Ice hockey portal · v • d • e

There have been three league-wide work stoppages in NHL history, all happening between 1992 and 2005. The National Hockey League was created with the demise of its predecessor league the National Hockey Association For the first ships of the United States Navy, see Six original United States frigates. The National Hockey League (NHL undertook a major expansion for the 1967-68 season, adding six new franchises and doubling the size of the league The National Hockey League was created with the demise of its predecessor league the National Hockey Association (NHA in 1917 The National Hockey League was created with the demise of its predecessor league the National Hockey Association (NHA in 1917

The first was a strike by the National Hockey League Players Association in April 1992 which lasted for 10 days, but the strike was settled quickly and all affected games were rescheduled. Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work. The 1991–92 NHL season was the 75th regular season of the National Hockey League. ^[13] A lockout at the start of the 1994–95 season forced the league to reduce the schedule from 84 games to just 48, with the teams playing only intra-conference games during the reduced season. The 1994–95 NHL lockout came after a year of NHL hockey that was played without a Collective bargaining agreement. The 1994–95 NHL season was the 78th Regular season of the National Hockey League. ^[13] The resulting collective bargaining agreement was set for renegotiation in 1998 and extended to September 15, 2004. The NHL collective bargaining agreement is the basic contract between the National Hockey League (NHL team owners and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA designed Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ^[14]

With no new agreement in hand when the existing contract expired on September 15, 2004, league commissioner Gary Bettman announced a lockout of the players union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Gary Bruce Bettman (born June 2 1952 in Queens, New York) is the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL a post he has held since The 2004–05 NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of the National Hockey League (NHL ^[14] The lockout shut down the league for 310 days, the longest in sports history; the NHL was the first professional sports league to lose an entire season. ^[14] The league vowed to install what it dubbed "cost certainty" for its teams, but the NHL Players Association countered that the move was little more than a euphemism for a salary cap, which the union initially said it would not accept. A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener or in the case of doublespeak In Professional Sports, a salary cap (often called a wage cap in the United Kingdom) is a limit on the amount of money a team can spend on player A new collective bargaining agreement was ratified in July 2005 with a term of six years with an option of extending the collective bargaining agreement for an additional year at the end of the term, allowing the NHL to resume as of the 2005–06 season. The NHL collective bargaining agreement is the basic contract between the National Hockey League (NHL team owners and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA designed The 2005–06 NHL season was the 88th season of the National Hockey League. ^[14]

On October 5, 2005, the first post-lockout NHL season took to the ice with 15 games, and consequently all 30 teams. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Of those 15 games, 11 were in front of sell-out crowds. ^[15] The NHL received record attendance in the 2005–06 season. 20,854,169 fans, an average of 16,955 per game, was a 1. 2% increase over the previous mark held in the 2001–02 season. ^[16] Also, the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and the Vancouver Canucks sold out all of their home games;^[16][17] all six Canadian teams played to 98% capacity or better at every home game. The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. The Vancouver Canucks are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ^[16] 24 of the 30 clubs finished even or ahead of their 2003–04 mark. The Pittsburgh Penguins had the highest increase at 33%, mainly because of 18-year-old first overall draft pick Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7 1987 is a Canadian professional Ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins ^[16][18]. After losing a season to a labour dispute in 2005, attendance figures for League teams have returned to solid ground; but the League's TV audience has not because of ESPN's decision to drop the sport from its schedule. The NHL League's current agreement with NBC gives the sport a share of revenue from each game's advertising sales, rather than the usual lump sum paid up front for game rights. The NHL is estimated to earn annual revenue of around $2. 27 billion^[19].

Game

Original NHL logo, used before 2005. A version of the logo features it in the likeness of a hockey puck. A puck is a disk used in various types of games serving the same functions as a ball in ball games

Los Angeles Kings' Mike Weaver battling for the puck against Calgary Flames' Daymond Langkow, December 21, 2005. The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles California. Mike Weaver (born May 2, 1978 in Brampton, Ontario) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey defenceman currently with the The Calgary Flames are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Daymond Langkow (born September 27, 1976 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a professional Ice hockey player Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Main article: Ice hockey

Each National Hockey League regulation game is an ice hockey game played between two teams and is 60 minutes long. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission of either 15½ or 17 minutes (if nationally televised) between periods. ^[20] Television timeouts are taken at the first stoppage of play after 6, 10, and 14 minutes of elapsed time unless there is a power play or the first stoppage is the result of a goal. In these cases, the timeout will occur at the first stoppage after the penalty expires or the next stoppage after the goal, respectively. At the end of the 60-minute regulation time, the team with the most goals wins the game. If a game is tied after regulation time, overtime ensues. Overtime, in Ice hockey, is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation During the regular season, overtime is a five-minute, four-player on four-player sudden-death period, in which the first team to score a goal wins the game. Sudden death (or a sudden death round) is a way of providing a winner for a Contest or Game (typically a Sport) which would otherwise Until the 2005–06 season, if no team was able to score in the five-minute overtime, the game ended in a tie. The 2005–06 NHL season was the 88th season of the National Hockey League.

Beginning in the 2005–06 season, if the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game enters a shootout. Overtime, in Ice hockey, is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation Three players for each team in turn take a penalty shot. In Ice hockey, a penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity on a breakaway because of a foul committed by an The team with the most goals during the three-round shootout wins the game. If the game is still tied after the three shootout rounds, the shootout continues but becomes sudden death. Whichever team ultimately wins the shootout is awarded a goal in the game score and thus awarded two points in the standings. The losing team in overtime or shootout is awarded only one. Shootout goals and saves are not tracked in hockey statistics; shootout statistics are tracked separately.

Shootouts do not occur during the playoffs. In the playoffs, sudden-death 20-minute five-on-five periods are played until one team scores. While a game could theoretically continue forever, only four games have reached five overtime periods, two have reached six, and none have gone beyond six. ^[21] There are no television timeouts during playoff overtime periods; the only break is to clean the loose ice at the first stoppage after the period is halfway finished. ^[22]

Hockey rink

Diagram of an NHL hockey rink:
1. penalty boxes
2. team benches
3. scorekeepers' area.

Main article: Hockey rink

National Hockey League games are played on an oblong hockey rink, similar to a rectangle with rounded corners, and surrounded by a wall. It measures 25. 91 by 60. 92 metres (85 by 200 ft) in the NHL,^[23] while international standards call for a rink measuring 29–30 metres by 60–61 metres (95. 14–98. 43 ft by 196. 85–200. 13 ft). The center line divides the ice in half,^[24] and is used to judge icing violations. There are two blue lines that divide the rink roughly into thirds, which divide the ice into two attacking and one neutral zone. ^[24] Near the end of both ends of the rink, there is a thin red goal line spanning the width of the ice, which is used to judge goals and icing calls. A goal in Ice hockey provides a team with one point A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame Method of scoring

Starting in the 2005–2006 season, after testing in the American Hockey League, a trapezoidal area behind each goal net has been introduced. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary ^[25] The goaltender can only play the puck within that area or in front of the goal line; if the goaltender plays the puck behind the goal line and not in the trapezoidal area, a 2 minute minor penalty for delay of game is assessed by the referees. ^[26]

Rules

Main articles: National Hockey League rules

While the National Hockey League follows the general rules of ice hockey, it differs slightly from those used in international games organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) such as the Olympics. While the National Hockey League (NHL follows the general rules of Ice hockey, it differs slightly from those used in international games organized by the International Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF was founded in 1908 as the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace and is the worldwide governing body for Ice Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since the 1920 Summer Olympics. Infractions of the rules can lead to either the stoppage of play in the case of offside and icing calls, or a penalty call for more serious infractions. In Ice hockey, play is said to be offside if a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck itself enters the zone whether it Icing in Ice hockey occurs when a player shoots the puck across at least two red lines, the opposing team's goal line being the last

During the 2004–05 lockout, the league changed some of the rules regarding being offside. The 2004–05 NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of the National Hockey League (NHL In Ice hockey, play is said to be offside if a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck itself enters the zone whether it First, the league removed the "offside pass" or "two-line pass" rule, which required a stoppage in play if a pass originating from inside a team's defending zone was completed on the offensive side of the center line, unless the puck crossed the line before the player. ^[27] Furthermore, the league reinstated the "tag-up offside" which allows an attacking player a chance to get back onside by returning to the neutral zone. ^[27] The changes to the offside rule were one of several rule changes intended to increase overall scoring,^[27] which had been in decline since the expansion years of the mid-nineties.

Another rule difference between the NHL and the IIHF rules concerns how icings are called. Icing in Ice hockey occurs when a player shoots the puck across at least two red lines, the opposing team's goal line being the last In the NHL, a linesman stops play due to icing if a defending player (other than the goaltender) touches the puck before an attacking player is able to,^[28] in contrast to the IIHF rules where play is stopped the moment the puck crosses the goal line. In Ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game As a result of the rule changes following the 2004–05 lockout, when a team is guilty of icing the puck they are not allowed to make a line change before the following faceoff. A faceoff is the method used to begin play in Ice hockey. The two teams line up in opposition to each other and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the ^[28]

The NHL and IIHF differ also in penalty rules. The NHL, in addition to the minor and double minor penalties called in IIHF games, calls major penalties which are more dangerous infractions of the rules, such as fighting, and have a duration of five minutes. For clarity male pronouns will be used throughout this article A penalty in Ice hockey is a Punishment for inappropriate Behavior ^[29] This is in contrast to the IIHF rule, in which players who fight are ejected from the game. ^[30] Usually a penalized team cannot replace a player that is penalized on the ice and is thus shorthanded for the duration of the penalty,^[31] but if the penalties are coincidental, for example when two players fight, both teams remain at full strength. Shorthanded is a term used in Ice hockey and refers to having fewer skaters on the ice during play as a result of a penalty. Also, unlike minor penalties, major penalties must be served to their full completion, regardless of number of goals scored during the power play. ^[31]

The NHL and the NHLPA created a stringent anti-doping policy in the new CBA of September 2005. The NHL collective bargaining agreement is the basic contract between the National Hockey League (NHL team owners and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA designed The policy provides for a 20-game penalty for a first positive test, 60 games for a second positive test, and a third offence resulting in a permanent ban. ^[32]

Teams

The National Hockey League originated in 1917 with four teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions, and relocations currently consists of 30 teams, 24 of which are based in the United States and six in Canada. The New Jersey Devils are a professional Ice hockey team based in Newark New Jersey. The New York Islanders are a professional Ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. The New York Rangers are a professional Ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. The Buffalo Sabres are a professional Ice hockey team based in Buffalo New York. The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Ottawa Senators (Les Sénateurs d'Ottawa are a professional Ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The Atlanta Thrashers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Atlanta Georgia. The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Florida Panthers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Sunrise Florida, a suburb of Ft The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa Florida. For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional Ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The Nashville Predators are a professional Ice hockey team based in Nashville Tennessee. The St Louis Blues are a professional Ice hockey team based in St The Calgary Flames are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The Edmonton Oilers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. The Vancouver Canucks are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Anaheim Ducks are a professional Ice hockey team based in Anaheim California, USA. The Dallas Stars are a National Hockey League team based in Dallas Texas. The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles California. The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. The San Jose Sharks are a professional Ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. This is a list of teams that once played in the National Hockey League but no longer exist The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Montreal Canadiens are the most successful franchise with 24 Stanley Cup championships; in the four major North American professional sports leagues the Montreal Canadiens are only surpassed in the number of championships by the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, who have two more. The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This is a list of Stanley Cup champions, including finalists and challengers The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The next most successful franchise is the Toronto Maple Leafs with 13 Stanley Cups, but they have not won a championship since 1967. "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St The Detroit Red Wings, with 11 Stanley Cups, is the most successful American franchise. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions The longest streak of winning the Stanley Cup in consecutive years is five, held by the Montreal Canadiens from 1955–56 to 1959–60; the New York Islanders (1980–1983) and the Montreal Canadiens (1976–1979) have four-year championship streaks. The New York Islanders are a professional Ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. ^[33] The 1977 edition of the Montreal Canadiens, the second of four straight Stanley Cup champions, was named by ESPN as the second greatest sports team of all-time. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to ^[34]

Of all the major leagues in North America, the NHL is the only league to field teams that play in two countries' capital cities, Ottawa and Washington, D.C.

The current league organization divides the teams into two conferences. Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Each conference has three divisions, and each division has five teams. The current organization has roots in the 1998–99 season where a league realignment added two divisions to bring the total number of divisions to six; the current team alignment began with the 2000–2001 season when the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets joined the league as expansion teams. The 1998–99 NHL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Hockey League. The 2000–01 NHL season was the 84th Regular season of the National Hockey League.

Season structure

Stanley Cup, on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame, is awarded to the league champion. The Eastern Conference (Conférence de l'Est is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League (NHL used to divide teams The NHL 's Atlantic Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment the predecessor of which was the Patrick Division The New Jersey Devils are a professional Ice hockey team based in Newark New Jersey. Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, United States and the County seat of Essex County. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. This article is about the sports arena in Newark New Jersey For the Boston Massachusetts complex see Prudential Tower. The New York Islanders are a professional Ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. Uniondale is a hamlet (and Census-designated place) as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous } The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, commonly known as Nassau Coliseum (or simply The Coliseum) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale New York The New York Rangers are a professional Ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Wachovia Center, formerly known as the CoreStates Center and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Mellon Arena (known as Pittsburgh Civic Arena from 1961–1999 and informally known as " The Igloo " is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh The NHL 's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment the predecessor of which was the Adams Division. The Boston Bruins are a professional Ice hockey team based in Boston Massachusetts. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. TD Banknorth Garden is a sports Arena in Boston Massachusetts. The Buffalo Sabres are a professional Ice hockey team based in Buffalo New York. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Montreal Canadiens (Les Canadiens de Montréal are a professional Ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk The Bell Centre (Le Centre Bell) formerly known as the Molson Centre, has been the home of the Montreal Canadiens since March 16, The Ottawa Senators (Les Sénateurs d'Ottawa are a professional Ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Scotiabank Place ( Place Banque Scotia) is a 19153 through a consortium of U "Leafs" and "Maple Leafs" redirect here For the former American Hockey League team see St Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The The NHL 's Southeast Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Eastern Conference due to expansion The Atlanta Thrashers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Atlanta Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Philips Arena is an indoor arena in Atlanta Georgia. Completed in 1999 at a cost of $213 The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Raleigh (pronounced rah-lee) is the Capital of the State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County, USA North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States This article is about the indoor arena in Raleigh NC For the office tower in Toronto Ontario see RBC Centre. The Florida Panthers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Sunrise Florida, a suburb of Ft Sunrise is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. Originally called "Sunrise Golf Village" the name did not sit well with the retirees Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The BankAtlantic Center (previously known as Broward County Civic Arena, National Car Rental Center and Office Depot Center) is an indoor The Tampa Bay Lightning is a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa Florida. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The St Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that is used for hockey games Basketball games Arena football For the BAA team see Washington Capitols. For the ABA team see Washington Caps. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center until March 5, 2006) is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington D The NHL 's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment the predecessor of which was the Norris Division. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in the Near West Side community area of Chicago Illinois. The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional Ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Columbus is the Capital and the largest city of the US state of Ohio. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Nationwide Arena is a Sports and entertainment arena in Columbus Ohio. The Detroit Red Wings are a professional Ice hockey team based in Detroit Michigan, and current Stanley Cup champions Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe, and JLA, is a Hockey Arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit Michigan. The Nashville Predators are a professional Ice hockey team based in Nashville Tennessee. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Sommet Center (formerly Nashville Arena and Gaylord Entertainment Center and pronounced soh-MAY' is an all-purpose venue in downtown Nashville Tennessee The St Louis Blues are a professional Ice hockey team based in St Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Scottrade Center (formerly Kiel Center and Savvis Center) is a 19150 seat Arena located in downtown St The NHL 's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion The Calgary Flames are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Calgary (ˈkælgəriː is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 The Pengrowth Saddledome is the main indoor Arena facility in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is situated on the east end of the Calgary The Colorado Avalanche are a professional Ice hockey team based in Denver Colorado, United States The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Pepsi Center (aka The Can) is an Arena located in Denver Colorado, USA. The Edmonton Oilers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Edmonton (ˈɛdmɨntɨn is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands Park. The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Xcel Energy Center is a sports arena in Saint Paul Minnesota, U The Vancouver Canucks are a Professional Ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C General Motors Place (nicknamed The Garage and GM Place) sponsored by General Motors Canada, is an indoor arena at 800 Griffiths Way in The National Hockey League 's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. The Anaheim Ducks are a professional Ice hockey team based in Anaheim California, USA. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Honda Center, previously known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and colloquially called the The Pond, is an indoor arena in Anaheim California The Dallas Stars are a National Hockey League team based in Dallas Texas. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The American Airlines Center is an Arena located in the Victory Park neighborhood near downtown Dallas, Texas that is used for The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles California. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports Arena in Downtown Los Angeles California adjacent to the L The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Glendale Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. Glendale ( is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Jobingcom Arena is a Sports and entertainment Arena located in Glendale Arizona. The San Jose Sharks are a professional Ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The HP Pavilion at San Jose, formerly known as Compaq Center at San Jose and San Jose Arena is an Indoor arena located at 525 West Santa Clara Street in The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The Hockey Hall of Fame ( Temple de la renommée du hockey in French) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For more details on this topic, see Season structure of the NHL. The National Hockey League (NHL season is divided into the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs

See also: List of NHL seasons

The National Hockey League season is divided into a regular season from the first Wednesday in October through the beginning of April, when teams play each other in a predefined schedule, and a playoffs from April to the beginning of June, which is an elimination tournament where two teams play against each other to win a best-of-seven series in order to advance to the next round. This is a list of National Hockey League seasons since inception of the league and also of its predecessor the National Hockey Association: NHA In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session A playoff or final in Sports is a game or series of games played after the regular season is over with the goal of determining a league champion or a similar accolade There are several different Playoff formats used in various levels of competition in Sports and Games Some of the most common are the single elimination The final remaining team is crowned the Stanley Cup champion. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion

In the regular season, each team plays 82 games; 41 games at home and 41 on the road. Currently, of the 82 games, teams play 32 games within their division (8 games against each team in the division), 40 games against non-divisional intra-conference opponents (4 games against each team in two other divisions of the same conference) and 10 inter-conference games (1 game against each team in two of the three divisions in the opposite conference). A division in Sports consists of a group of Teams which compete against one another for a divisional title ^[35] The two divisions from the opposite conference which each team plays against are rotated every year, much like interleague play in Major League Baseball. Interleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues introduced in. Beginning with the 2008–2009 season the schedule will be altered so that each team plays every team in the other conference at least once (one game each against 12 teams and two games against the remaining 3 teams) with the number of games against each divisional opponent reduced to 6 and the number of games against non-divisional intra-conference opponents remaining unchanged at 4 each. Points are awarded for each game, where two points are awarded for a win, one point for losing in overtime or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation. Overtime, in Ice hockey, is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation ^[36] Among major professional sports leagues, the NHL is the only one to award a team points for losing in overtime.

At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the division champion. The league's overall leader is awarded the Presidents' Trophy. The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular The three division champions along with the five other teams in each conference with the next highest number of points, for a total of 8 teams in each conference, qualify for the playoffs. A playoff or final in Sports is a game or series of games played after the regular season is over with the goal of determining a league champion or a similar accolade The division winners are seeded one through three (even if a non-division winner has a higher point total), and the next five teams with the best records in the conference are seeded four through eight. ^[37] The Stanley Cup Playoffs is an elimination tournament, where two teams battle to win a best-of-seven series in order to advance to the next round. The National Hockey League (NHL season is divided into the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs A tournament (IPA) is a Competition involving a relatively large number of competitors all participating in a Sport or Game. There are several different Playoff formats used in various levels of competition in Sports and Games Some of the most common are the single elimination The first round of the playoffs, or conference quarterfinals, consists of the first seed playing the eighth seed, the second playing the seventh, third playing the sixth, and the fourth playing the fifth. ^[37] In the second round, or conference semifinals, the NHL re-seeds the teams, with the top remaining conference seed playing against the lowest remaining seed, and the other two remaining conference teams pairing off. In the third round, the conference finals, the two remaining teams in each conference play each other, with the conference champions proceeding to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion

In each round the higher-ranked team is said to be the team with the home-ice advantage. In sports home is a term referring to both the City and Stadium, Arena, or Field where an athletic team plays games at their venue whilst Four of the seven games are played at this team's home venue — the first and second, and, when necessary, the fifth and seventh games — with the other games played at the lower-ranked team's home venue.

Trophies and awards

Hart Memorial Trophy on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame

Main article: National Hockey League awards

The National Hockey League presents a number of trophies each year. The National Hockey League presents numerous annual awards and trophies to recognize its teams and players The most prestigious team award is the Stanley Cup, which is awarded to the league champion at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The team that has the most points in the regular season is awarded the Presidents' Trophy. The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular There are also numerous trophies that are awarded to players based on their statistics during the regular season; they include, among others, the Art Ross Trophy for the league scoring champion (goals and assists), the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy for the goal-scoring leader, and the William M. Jennings Trophy for the goalkeeper(s) for the team with the fewest goals against them. The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, also known as the Maurice Richard Trophy is awarded annually to the leading goal scorer in the National Hockey League The William M Jennings Trophy is an annual award given to "to the goalkeeper(s having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it ^[38] For the 2006–07 season these statistics-based trophies were awarded to Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and, dually, Niklas Bäckström and Manny Fernandez of the Minnesota Wild respectively. Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7 1987 is a Canadian professional Ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins Vincent Lecavalier (born April 21, 1980 Ile Bizard, Quebec) is a French Canadian Professional hockey player Niklas Oskar Bäckström (born February 13, 1978 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional Ice hockey Goaltender Emmanuel "Manny" Fernandez-Lemaire (b August 27, 1974 in Etobicoke Ontario, Canada) is a professional hockey goaltender currently ^[38]

The other player trophies are voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association or the team general managers. ^[38] The most prestigious individual award is the Hart Memorial Trophy which is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player; the voting is conducted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association to judge the player who is the most valuable to his team during the regular season. The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey" is awarded annually to the The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the person deemed the best goalkeeper as voted on by the general managers of the teams in the NHL. The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's Goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position" The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top defenceman, the Calder Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top rookie, and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded to the player deemed to combine the highest degree of skill and sportsmanship; all three of these awards are voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League 's top " defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited

The Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto

In addition to the regular season awards, the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the most valuable player during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Hockey Hall of Fame ( Temple de la renommée du hockey in French) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League 's Stanley Cup playoffs Furthermore, the top coach in the league wins the Jack Adams Award as selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association. The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success The National Hockey League publishes the names of the top three vote getters for all awards, and then names the award winner during the NHL Awards Ceremony. ^[38]

One interesting aspect for the trophies in the NHL is that the same trophy is reused every year for each of its awards. The Stanley Cup, much like its CFL counterpart, is unique in this aspect, as opposed to the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Larry O'Brien Trophy, and Commissioner's Trophy, who have new ones made every year for that year's champion. The Stanley Cup (La Coupe Stanley is an Ice hockey club championship Trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL playoffs champion The Canadian Football League (CFL ( Ligue canadienne de football (LCF in The Grey Cup (in Coupe Grey is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League (CFL and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team The Vince Lombardi Trophy is the Trophy awarded each year to the winning team of the National Football League 's annual championship game the Super Bowl The Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy is a trophy awarded to the National Basketball Association (NBA team that wins the NBA Finals at the conclusion of Despite only one trophy being used, the names of the teams winning and the players are engraved every year on the Stanley Cup. The same can also be said for the other trophies reissued every year.

Players, coaches, officials, and team builders who have had notable careers are eligible to be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hockey Hall of Fame ( Temple de la renommée du hockey in French) is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Players cannot enter until three years have passed since their last professional game, the shortest such time period of any major sport. One unique consequence has been Hall of Fame members (specifically, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, and Mario Lemieux) coming out of retirement to play once more. Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC (born March 31 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan) is a former professional Ice hockey player from Canada Guy Damien Lafleur, OC, CQ, (born September 20 1951 in Thurso, Quebec) is a former professional ice hockey player and is widely regarded Mario Lemieux (born October 5, 1965 is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey centre who played 17 seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins ^[39] In the past, however, if a player was deemed significant enough, the pending period would be waived; only ten individuals have been honoured in this manner. ^[40] In 1999, Wayne Gretzky became the last player to have the three-year restriction waived,^[40] and after Gretzky's induction, the NHL declared that he would be the last to have the waiting period omitted. Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26 1961 is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey player

Notable active players

Wayne Gretzky in a New York Rangers uniform in 1997. Wayne Douglas Gretzky, OC (born January 26 1961 is a retired Canadian professional Ice hockey player The New York Rangers are a professional Ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States.

The Reigning Hart Trophy winner (Given to the league's most valuable player) is Sidney Crosby. The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey" is awarded annually to the Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7 1987 is a Canadian professional Ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins

The top five point scoring forwards in the 2007–08 season were Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Jarome Iginla (all current Hart Trophy nominees), Pavel Datsyuk and Joe Thornton. The 2007–08 NHL season was the 90th season of the National Hockey League. Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin ( AmE ˈælɪgˌzændɚ oˈvɛtʃ Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin (Евгений Влади́мирович Малкин Jevgenij Vladimirovich Malkin, also popularly known as "Geno", Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla (born July 1, 1977, in Edmonton Alberta) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey Pavel Valerievich Datsyuk (Па́вел Вале́рьевич Дацю́к (born July 20 1978, in Sverdlovsk, USSR) is a Russian Joseph Eric Thornton (born July 2, 1979) is a professional Ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the San Jose Sharks The top goal scorer was Alexander Ovechkin with 65,^[41] followed by Ilya Kovalchuk (52) and Jarome Iginla (50). Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk ( Russian: Илья Валерьевич Ковальчук Il'ja Valer'jevič Kovalčuk born April 15, 1983, in Tver The top four scoring defencemen were Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Gonchar, Mark Streit, and Brian Campbell^[42] and the top goaltenders (by wins) were Evgeni Nabokov (46), Martin Brodeur (44), Miikka Kiprusoff (39), Henrik Lundqvist (37), and Cam Ward (37). Nicklas Erik Lidström (born April 28, 1970 in Västerås) is a Swedish professional Ice hockey defenceman who has Sergei Viktorovich Gonchar (Сергей Викторович Гончар Sergej Gončar; born 13 April 1974 in Chelyabinsk, USSR Mark Streit (born December 11, 1977 in Englisberg, Switzerland) is a Swiss professional Ice hockey defenceman. Brian Wesley Campbell (born on May 23, 1979, Strathroy, Ontario) is a professional Ice hockey defenceman who currently plays Evgeni Viktorovich Nabokov (Евге́ний Ви́кторович Набо́ков (born July 25, 1975 in Ust-Kamenogorsk, U Martin Pierre Brodeur (born May 6 1972 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff (pronounced "MEE-kah KIHP-roo-sawf" (born October 26, 1976 in Turku Finland) is a Finnish professional Henrik Lundqvist ['hɛnrɪk 'lɵndkvɪst] (born March 2, 1982) is a Swedish professional Ice hockey Goaltender for Cameron Ward (born February 29, 1984) is a Canadian professional Ice hockey Goaltender with the Carolina Hurricanes of ^[43]

Origin of players

In addition to Canadian and American players, who have historically composed a large majority of NHL players, the NHL draws players from all over the world. Since the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, restrictions on the movement of hockey players from this region have lessened and there has been a large influx of European players into the NHL such as Alexander Ovechkin. During the Cold War, the term Communist Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it either controlled or that were Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin ( AmE ˈælɪgˌzændɚ oˈvɛtʃ ^[44] European players were drafted and signed by NHL teams in an effort to bring in more "skilled offensive players". ^[45] Although recently there has been a decline in European players as more American players enter the league. ^[46] The addition of European players changed the style of play in the NHL and European style hockey has been integrated in to the NHL game. ^[44] Conversely Canadian coaches and the Canadian style of play have been embraced by many European countries. Because of the continued success of Canadian teams in world tournaments many other countries are trying to model their development programs after Hockey Canada's. Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of Ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International ^[47] In Winter Olympic years, the league voluntarily suspends its season so that NHL players can play in the Winter Olympics, representing their native countries (Though this practice may end after the 2010 Winter Olympics). The Winter Olympic Games are a winter Multi-sport event held every four years The Winter Olympic Games are a winter Multi-sport event held every four years ^[48] Currently the NHL has players from 18 different countries, with the majority (52. 0 percent during the 2007–08 NHL season) coming from Canada. The 2007–08 NHL season was the 90th season of the National Hockey League. ^[4]

For more information about the origins of NHL players, see the list of NHL statistical leaders by country. This is a list of National Hockey League statistical leaders by country of birth, sorted by total points

Television and radio

In Canada, National Hockey League games are aired nationally by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and The Sports Network (TSN). The Sports Network (commonly known as TSN) is a Canadian English language Cable television Specialty channel and is Canada's leading Regional games are broadcast by a number of networks including Rogers Sportsnet (RSN). Rogers Sportsnet (often referred to only as Sportsnet) is a Canadian English language Cable television Sports Specialty channel French language games are broadcast by the Réseau des sports (RDS) and Réseau Info-Sports (RIS), but no longer is on Radio-Canada (the French-language counterpart of the CBC), which created a controversy in French-speaking Canada. Réseau des sports (commonly known as RDS) is a Canadian French language Cable television Specialty channel showing Sports Réseau Info-Sports (often referred to as RIS or RIS Info Sports) is a Canadian French language category 1 Digital cable Télévision de Radio-Canada is a Canadian French language Television network. The program Hockey Night in Canada, usually aired on Saturday nights on CBC, is a long-standing Canadian tradition since first airing on television in 1952,^[49][50] and even prior to that on radio since the 1920s. During the playoffs, the CBC airs all games that involve Canadian teams and the Stanley Cup finals; TSN airs certain other games during the first three rounds.

In the United States NHL games are aired nationally by Versus (previously the "Outdoor Life Network" and "OLN"), and by NBC. Versus is a Cable television sports channel owned by Comcast and shown in the United States. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's ^[51] NBC replaced the previous over-the-air network, ABC, and has a revenue-sharing agreement with the NHL. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Versus replaced ESPN as the cable network; Comcast, which owns Versus, offered a two-year $120 million agreement, while ESPN offered a revenue sharing agreement. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to Comcast Corporation ( is the largest Cable television company the second largest Internet service provider and (according to the company the fourth largest telephone ^[51] In addition, select games are broadcast in high definition on the HDNet cable channel. HDNet is a general interest Television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable

Versus has about 20 million fewer subscribers than ESPN, but Comcast switched Versus from a digital tier to basic cable to make NHL games available to more cable subscribers. ^[51] For Versus the NHL coverage was a good addition as Versus' ratings grew by about 275% when it showed an NHL game,^[51] but television ratings in the United States have seen record lows. Nielsen Ratings are audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the Audience size and composition of television ^[52] Versus posted a 0. 4 rating for the 2006 playoffs while ESPN posted a 0. 7 rating two years ago; NBC posted a rating of 1. 1, compared to ABC's 1. 5 rating two years ago. ^[53]

The 2007 Stanley Cup Finals were the lowest rated in the United States in history. The 2007 Stanley Cup Final was the 2007 edition of the final series of the National Hockey League 's Stanley Cup playoffs. As a whole, the television ratings on NBC were down 20% from last year's series^[54], with Game 3's coverage on NBC garnering a mere 1. 1 rating^[55] (approximately 1,205,600 households), making it the lowest rated prime-time broadcast in the network's history. However, coverage in Canada on CBC pulled in 2,608,000, 2,378,000, and 2,553,000 (for Games 1, 2, and 3 respectively), slightly higher than their numbers for the first three games in 2006. Comparatively, in 1994, when the New York Rangers were involved, game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals posted a rating of 5. 2. ^[56]

XM Satellite Radio is the official satellite radio broadcaster of the NHL, as of July 1, 2007. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[57] Between September 2005 and June 2007, the NHL's broadcasting rights were shared with both XM and Sirius Satellite Radio and were broadcast on just Sirius before the NHL lockout. XM used to broadcast more than 80% of NHL games, including all the play-offs and finals. Starting with the 2007–08 season, XM broadcasts every game.

Outside of North America, NHL games are broadcast across Europe on NASN (North American Sports Network) which takes feeds from Versus, FSN, TSN and CBC (including Hockey Night in Canada), and MSG. NASN, the North American Sports Network, is an European sports network focusing on professional sports of the United States and Canada. Games can also be seen in the UK on Five.

Popularity

The NHL is considered one of the four major professional sports leagues in the USA, along with Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Hockey has the smallest total fan base of the four leagues, the smallest revenue from television, and the least sponsorship. In contrast, hockey is the most popular of these four major sports in Canada. NHL season ticket prices have traditionally been higher (given the number of games per season) than the other sports. ^[58]

See also

• Index of Professional Sports teams in the United States and Canada
• List of TV markets and major sports teams
• Major North American professional sports leagues
• NHL Winter Classic
• Chi-Kit Wong, John (2005). This is a complete listing of professional sports teams in both the United States and Canada. Lords of the Rinks. ISBN 0–8020–8520–2.  
• Coleman, Charles (1966–1969). Trail of the Stanley Cup, vols. 1–3.  
• Holzman, Morey; Joseph Nieforth (2002). Deceptions and Doublecross. ISBN 1–55002–413–2.  

References

Notes

External links

• NHL official website
• NHL Player's Association (NHLPA)
• National Hockey League Fan's Association
• The Internet Hockey Database
• The NHL Officials Association Website
• NHL on YouTube