National Hockey League
21809
226019099
2008-07-16T13:45:35Z
Alaney2k
209266
added NHA to lead
{{redirect|NHL}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season =
| logo = 05 NHL Shield.png
| caption = The modernized NHL shield logo debuted in 2005, replacing the orange and black shield.
| sport = [[Ice hockey]]
| founded = 1917
| ceo = [[Gary Bettman]]
| teams = 30
| country = {{CAN}}<br>{{USA}}
| champion = [[Detroit Red Wings]]
| TV = '''CAN:''' [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]], [[NHL on TSN|TSN]], [[Réseau des sports|RDS]], [[Réseau Info-Sports|RIS]], [[NHL Network (Canada)|NHL Network Canada]]<br>'''USA:''' [[NHL on NBC|NBC]], [[The NHL on Versus|Versus]], [[HDNet]], [[NHL Network (United States)|NHL Network US]]
| website = [http://www.nhl.com NHL.com]
}}
The '''National Hockey League''' ('''NHL''') is a professional [[ice hockey]] league composed of 30 teams in [[North America]]. It is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world,<ref name ="premier">{{cite web |title=National Hockey League |first=James |last=Marsh |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005623 |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=2006 |accessdate=2006-06-11}}</ref> and one of the North American [[major professional sports league]]s. The [[Stanley Cup]], the oldest professional sports trophy in North America,<ref name="NHL.comFunFacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/cup/fun_facts.html |title=NHL.com - Stanley Cup Fun Facts |publisher=[[NHL]] |accessdate=2006-07-15}}</ref> is awarded annually to the league champion at the end of each [[Season (sports)|season]].
The league was formed in 1917 in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] from a predecessor organization, the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA), founded in 1909. It started 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. After a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|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.<ref>citation needed</ref>
The NHL draws many highly skilled players from all over the world. Currently, the league has players from about 20 different countries.<ref name="europe_players">{{cite web |url=http://live82.ihwc.net/english/article/recaps/index.ihwc?artId=2398 |title=NHL still likes Czechs best |author=IWHC.net |publisher=IWHC.net |date=2006–05–16 |accessdate=2006-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/community/nhlgreen/ |title=NHL aims to put global warming on ice |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref> 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 [[Europe]]an 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.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2006-10-10-european-captains_x.htm European players taking more and more leadership roles, captaincies in NHL]</ref>
== History ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Total Stanley Cup Championships'''<br><small>[[List of defunct NHL teams|Defunct teams]] not included.</small>
! Team
! Titles
|-
| align=center | [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| 24
|-
| align=center | [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| 13
|-
| align=center | [[Detroit Red Wings]]
| 11
|-
| align=center | [[Boston Bruins]]
| 5
|-
| align=center | [[Edmonton Oilers]]
| 5
|-
| align=center | [[New York Islanders]]
| 4
|-
| align=center | [[New York Rangers]]
| 4
|-
| align=center | [[Chicago Blackhawks]]
| 3
|-
| align=center | [[New Jersey Devils]]
| 3
|-
| align=center | [[Colorado Avalanche]]
| 2
|-
| align=center | [[Philadelphia Flyers]]
| 2
|-
| align=center | [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
| 2
|-
| align=center | [[Anaheim Ducks]]
| 1
|-
| align=center | [[Calgary Flames]]
| 1
|-
| align=center | [[Carolina Hurricanes]]
| 1
|-
| align=center | [[Dallas Stars]]
| 1
|-
| align=center | [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]
| 1
|-
| align=center colspan=6 | {{further|<br>[[Stanley Cup]]}}
|}
{{main|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 (original)|Ottawa Senators]], and [[Quebec Bulldogs]] met at the [[Windsor Hotel]] in Montreal to talk about the NHA's future.<ref name="mcfarlane_15_16"><nowiki>[McFarlane]</nowiki>, pp.15–16</ref> 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.<ref>Toronto Arena Hockey Club was founded in October 1918. <nowiki>see [Holzman]</nowiki></ref><ref name="mcfarlane_15_16" />
[[Image:Montreal Canadiens hockey team, October 1942.jpg|thumb|240px|left||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.<ref name="mcfarlane_5"><nowiki>[McFarlane]</nowiki>, pp.5</ref> The NHL then started a process of expansion: the [[Boston Bruins]] (the first U.S.-based NHL franchise) and [[Montreal Maroons]] entered the league in 1924–25; the [[New York Americans]] and the [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]] entered in the 1925–26 season; and the [[New York Rangers]], [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] (now spelled Blackhawks), and [[Detroit Red Wings|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 [[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. 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. 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1070137/index.htm |date=1959-02-02 |title=Black Hawks On The Wing |first=Robert H. |last=Boyle |accessdate=2008-04-25}}</ref>
By the mid 1960s, the desire for a network television contract in the U.S., and concerns that the [[Western Hockey League (minor pro)|Western Hockey League]] was planning to declare itself a major league and challenge for the Stanley Cup, spurred the NHL to undertake its first [[1967 NHL Expansion|expansion]] since the 1920s. Six new teams were added to the NHL roster in [[1967–68 NHL season|1967]], and were placed in their own newly-created division. Two teams each were added in California, Pennsylvania, and the Mississippi River valley. The teams were the [[Los Angeles Kings]], [[California Golden Seals|Oakland Seals]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], [[Philadelphia Flyers]], [[Minnesota North Stars]], and [[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]]. Three years later, the NHL added the [[Vancouver Canucks]] and [[Buffalo Sabres]].
In [[1972–73 WHA season|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. 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]] (which became the [[Colorado Rockies]] in 1976 before becoming the [[New Jersey Devils]] in 1982) and [[Washington Capitals]] two years later.<ref name="mcfarlane_116_117_119"><nowiki>[McFarlane]</nowiki>, pp.116–117,119</ref> The two leagues fought for the rights of players and fans until the WHA folded in [[1978–79 WHA season|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).<ref name="mcfarlane_166_167"><nowiki>[McFarlane]</nowiki>, pp.166–167</ref>
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]]. In 1993, the league added two additional teams, the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] and the [[Florida Panthers]]. 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.
<br clear="all">
=== Labour issues ===
{{NHLHistory}}
There have been three league-wide work stoppages in NHL history, all happening between 1992 and 2005.
The first was a [[strike action|strike]] by the [[National Hockey League Players Association]] in April [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]] which lasted for 10 days, but the strike was settled quickly and all affected games were rescheduled.<ref name="labour_history">{{cite web |title=We've been here before |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/flashback.html |author=CBC Sports |publisher=cbc.ca |date=2004–01–29 |accessdate =2006-06-09}}</ref> A [[1994–95 NHL lockout|lockout]] at the start of the [[1994–95 NHL season|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.<ref name="labour_history" /> The resulting [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|collective bargaining agreement]] was set for renegotiation in 1998 and extended to [[September 15]], [[2004]].<ref name="2004_lockout">{{cite journal |title=The hockey lockout of 2004–05 |last=audohar |first=Paul D. |journal=Monthly Labor Review |url=http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2005/12/art3full.pdf |date=December 2005}}</ref>
With no new agreement in hand when the existing contract expired on [[September 15]], 2004, league commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] announced a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]] of the players union and cessation of operations by the NHL head office.<ref name="2004_lockout" /> 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.<ref name="2004_lockout" /> 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 new collective bargaining agreement was ratified in July 2005 with a term of six years with an option of extending the [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|collective bargaining agreement]] for an additional year at the end of the term, allowing the NHL to resume as of the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]].<ref name="2004_lockout" />
On [[October 5]], [[2005]], the first post-lockout NHL season took to the ice with 15 games, and consequently all 30 teams. Of those 15 games, 11 were in front of sell-out crowds.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL returns with packed arenas, single-date attendance record |url=http://www.nhl.com/news/2005/10/237032.html |publisher=NHL.com |author=NHL.com |date=2005–10–06 |accessdate=2006-06-09}}</ref> 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.<ref name="season_review">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/hockey_features/season_review.html |title=A season to remember |publisher=CBC.ca |first=John |last=Molinaro |date=2006–04–20 |accessdate=2006-06-09}}</ref> Also, the [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Colorado Avalanche]], [[Minnesota Wild]], and the [[Vancouver Canucks]] sold out all of their home games;<ref name="season_review" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Canucks abuse fan trust |first=Bob |last=Mackin |date=2006–04–18 |accessdate=2006-07-03 |publisher=Slam Sports |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Vancouver/2006/04/18/1538866-sun.html}}</ref> all six Canadian teams played to 98% capacity or better at every home game.<ref name="season_review" /> 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]].<ref name="season_review" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Penguins ticket sales hit the roof |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05231/556523.stm |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |author=Finder, Chuck |date=2005–8–19 |accessdate=2006-12-11}}</ref> 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<ref>http://www1.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=107 Super Bowl XLII versus the Economy </ref>.
== Game ==
[[Image:NationalHockeyLeague.png|left|100px|frame|Original NHL logo, used before 2005. A version of the logo features it in the likeness of a [[hockey puck]].]]
[[Image:WeaverLankow.jpg|thumb|right|260px|[[Los Angeles Kings]]' [[Mike Weaver (hockey)|Mike Weaver]] battling for the puck against [[Calgary Flames]]' [[Daymond Langkow]], [[December 21]], [[2005]].]]
{{main|Ice hockey}}
Each National Hockey League regulation game is an ice hockey game played between two teams and is 60 minutes long. The game is composed of three 20-minute periods with an intermission of either 15½ or 17 minutes (if nationally televised) between periods.<ref name="intermission">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule90.html |title=Time of match |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-12-02 |date=2006}}</ref> 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 (ice hockey)|overtime]] ensues. During the regular season, overtime is a five-minute, four-player on four-player [[Sudden death (sport)|sudden-death]] period, in which the first team to score a goal wins the game. Until the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 season]], if no team was able to score in the five-minute overtime, the game ended in a tie.
Beginning in the 2005–06 season, if the game is still tied at the end of overtime, the game enters a [[Overtime (ice hockey)#North American shootout|shootout]]. Three players for each team in turn take a [[Penalty shot (ice hockey)|penalty shot]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oh, what a night ... and morning. Stars-Canucks ranks sixth among longest OT games. |publisher=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/specials/playoffs/2007/04/12/OT.games/ |date=2007 |accessdate=2007-04-26}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/18470542/ |title=Playoff overtime format needs change |publisher=[[NBC Sports|NBCSports.com]] |last=Clement |first=Bill |authorlink=Bill Clement |date=2008 |accessdate=2008-05-09}}</ref>
<br clear="all">
== Hockey rink ==
[[Image:NHLHockeyRink.gif|thumb|right|200px|Diagram of an NHL hockey rink:<br>1. penalty boxes<br>2. team benches<br>3. scorekeepers' area.]]
{{main|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,<ref name="rink">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule02.html |title=Dimensions of Rink |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref> 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 [[Hockey rink#Lines|center line]] divides the ice in half,<ref name="lines">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule05.html |title=Division of ice surface |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref> and is used to judge icing violations. There are two [[Hockey rink#Lines|blue lines]] that divide the rink roughly into thirds, which divide the ice into two attacking and one neutral [[Hockey rink#Zones|zone]].<ref name="lines" /> 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 [[Goal (hockey)|goal]]s and icing calls.
Starting in the 2005–2006 season, after testing in the [[American Hockey League]], a trapezoidal area behind each goal net has been introduced.<ref name="crease">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule04.html |title=Goal crease |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref> 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.<ref name="crease_penalty">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule31.html |title=Goalkeeper's Penalties |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-26 |date=2005}}</ref>
== 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 [[Ice hockey at the Olympic Games|Olympics]]. Infractions of the rules can lead to either the stoppage of play in the case of [[Offside (ice hockey)|offside]] and [[Icing (ice hockey)|icing]] calls, or a penalty call for more serious infractions.
During the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|2004–05 lockout]], the league changed some of the rules regarding being [[Offside (ice hockey)|offside]]. 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 [[Hockey rink#Zones|defending zone]] was completed on the offensive side of the [[Hockey rink#Lines|center line]], unless the puck crossed the line before the player.<ref name="newoffside">{{cite web |title=Relaunching the Game |author=CBC sports |publisher=CBC.com |date=2005–07–22 |accessdate=2006-06-10 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/rule_changes.html}}</ref> 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.<ref name="newoffside" /> The changes to the offside rule were one of several rule changes intended to increase overall scoring,<ref name="newoffside" /> 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 [[Icing (ice hockey)|icings]] are called. In the NHL, a [[Official (ice hockey)#Linesman|linesman]] stops play due to icing if a defending player (other than the goaltender) touches the puck before an attacking player is able to,<ref name="icing" /> in contrast to the IIHF rules where play is stopped the moment the puck crosses the goal line. 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]].<ref name="icing">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule65.html |title=Icing the puck |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref>
The NHL and IIHF differ also in penalty rules. The NHL, in addition to the [[Penalty (ice hockey)#Types of penalties|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.<ref name="major">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule27.html |title=Major penalties |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref> This is in contrast to the IIHF rule, in which players who fight are ejected from the game.<ref name="fighting_iihf">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/icehockey/essentials/intlvsnhl.shtml |title=Ice Hockey Essentials - International vs. NHL |author=CBC.ca |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-26 |date=2006}}</ref> Usually a penalized team cannot replace a player that is penalized on the ice and is thus [[Shorthanded (hockey)|shorthanded]] for the duration of the penalty,<ref name="minor" /> but if the penalties are coincidental, for example when two players fight, both teams remain at full strength. Also, unlike minor penalties, major penalties must be served to their full completion, regardless of number of goals scored during the power play.<ref name="minor">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule26.html |title=Minor penalties |author=National Hockey League |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2006-06-08 |date=2005}}</ref>
The NHL and the [[NHLPA]] created a stringent anti-doping policy in the new [[NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement|CBA]] of September 2005. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050928/NHL_doping_050928?s_name=&no_ads= |title=NHL unveils new drug testing policy |date=2005–09–28 |accessdate=2007-01-02 |first=Scott |last=Laurie |publisher=CTV}}</ref>
== Teams ==
{{NHL Labelled Map|float=right}}
The National Hockey League originated in 1917 with four teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, [[List of defunct NHL teams|reductions, and relocations]] currently consists of 30 teams, 24 of which are based in the [[United States]] and six in [[Canada]]. The [[Montreal Canadiens]] are the most successful franchise with 24 [[List of Stanley Cup champions|Stanley Cup championships]]; in the four major [[Major professional sports league#North American leagues|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 next most successful franchise is the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] with 13 Stanley Cups, but they have not won a championship since 1967. The [[Detroit Red Wings]], with 11 Stanley Cups, is the most successful American franchise. 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.<ref name="list_stanley_cup">{{cite web |title=Stanley Cup Winners |url=http://proicehockey.about.com/od/stanleycupbunker/a/stanley_cuplist.htm |first=Jamie |last=Fitzpatrick |publisher=about.com |accessdate=2006-06-26 |date=2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="greatest team">{{cite web |title=The 10 greatest teams |url=http://espn.go.com/endofcentury/s/other/greatteams.html |author=ESPN |publisher=ESPN.com |date=1999–12–31 |accessdate=2006-06-26}}</ref>
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, DC]]
The current league organization divides the teams into two conferences. Each conference has three divisions, and each division has five teams. The current organization has roots in the [[1998–99 NHL season|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 [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–2001 season]] when the Minnesota Wild and the Columbus Blue Jackets joined the league as expansion teams.
{| class="wikitable" style=width:63em
! Division
! Team
! City
! Arena
! Founded
! Joined NHL
|-
! colspan=6 | <font size=3>[[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]]</font>
|-
! style="background-color:#FFDDFF" rowspan=5 | [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| '''[[New Jersey Devils]]'''
| [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New Jersey|NJ]]
| [[Prudential Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1974
|-
| '''[[New York Islanders]]'''
| [[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale]], [[New York|NY]]
| [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1972
|-
| '''[[New York Rangers]]'''
| [[New York City|New York]], [[New York|NY]]
| [[Madison Square Garden]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1926
|-
| '''[[Philadelphia Flyers]]'''
| [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania|PA]]
| [[Wachovia Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1967
|-
| '''[[Pittsburgh Penguins]]'''
| [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania|PA]]
| [[Mellon Arena]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1967
|-
! style="background-color:#DDDDFF" rowspan=5 | [[Northeast Division (NHL)|Northeast]]
| '''[[Boston Bruins]]'''
| [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts|MA]]
| [[TD Banknorth Garden]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1924
|-
| '''[[Buffalo Sabres]]'''
| [[Buffalo]], [[New York|NY]]
| [[HSBC Arena]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1970
|-
| '''[[Montreal Canadiens]]'''
| [[Montreal]], [[Quebec|QC]]
| [[Bell Centre]]
| align=center | 1909
| align=center | 1917
|-
| '''[[Ottawa Senators]]'''
| [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario|ON]]
| [[Scotiabank Place]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1992
|-
| '''[[Toronto Maple Leafs]]'''
| [[Toronto]], [[Ontario|ON]]
| [[Air Canada Centre]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1917
|-
! style="background-color:#DDFFDD" rowspan=5 |[[Southeast Division (NHL)|Southeast]]
| '''[[Atlanta Thrashers]]'''
| [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|GA]]
| [[Philips Arena]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1999
|-
| '''[[Carolina Hurricanes]]'''
| [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], [[North Carolina|NC]]
| [[RBC Center]]
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979
|-
| '''[[Florida Panthers]]'''
| [[Sunrise, Florida|Sunrise]], [[Florida|FL]]
| [[BankAtlantic Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1993
|-
| '''[[Tampa Bay Lightning]]'''
| [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Florida|FL]]
| [[St. Pete Times Forum]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1992
|-
| '''[[Washington Capitals]]'''
| [[Washington, DC]]
| [[Verizon Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1974
|-
! colspan=6 | <font size=3>[[Western Conference (NHL)|Western Conference]]</font>
|-
! style="background-color:#FFEECC" rowspan="5" | [[Central Division (NHL)|Central]]
| '''[[Chicago Blackhawks]]'''
| [[Chicago]], [[Illinois|IL]]
| [[United Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1926
|-
| '''[[Columbus Blue Jackets]]'''
| [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Ohio|OH]]
| [[Nationwide Arena]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 2000
|-
| '''[[Detroit Red Wings]]'''
| [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], [[Michigan|MI]]
| [[Joe Louis Arena]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1926
|-
| '''[[Nashville Predators]]'''
| [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], [[Tennessee|TN]]
| [[Sommet Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1998
|-
| '''[[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]]'''
| [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri|MO]]
| [[Scottrade Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1967
|-
! style="background-color:#FFDDDD" rowspan=5 | [[Northwest Division (NHL)|Northwest]]
| '''[[Calgary Flames]]'''
| [[Calgary]], [[Alberta|AB]]
| [[Pengrowth Saddledome]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1972
|-
| '''[[Colorado Avalanche]]'''
| [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado|CO]]
| [[Pepsi Center]]
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979
|-
| '''[[Edmonton Oilers]]'''
| [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta|AB]]
| [[Rexall Place]]
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979
|-
| '''[[Minnesota Wild]]'''
| [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], [[Minnesota|MN]]
| [[Xcel Energy Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 2000
|-
| '''[[Vancouver Canucks]]'''
| [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia|BC]]
| [[General Motors Place]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1970
|-
! style="background-color:#FFFFDD" rowspan=5 | [[Pacific Division (NHL)|Pacific]]
| '''[[Anaheim Ducks]]'''
| [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], [[California|CA]]
| [[Honda Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1993
|-
| '''[[Dallas Stars]]'''
| [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas|TX]]
| [[American Airlines Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1967
|-
| '''[[Los Angeles Kings]]'''
| [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], [[California|CA]]
| [[Staples Center]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1967
|-
| '''[[Phoenix Coyotes]]'''
| [[Glendale, Arizona|Glendale]], [[Arizona|AZ]]
| [[Jobing.com Arena]]
| align=center | 1972
| align=center | 1979
|-
| '''[[San Jose Sharks]]'''
| [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[California|CA]]
| [[HP Pavilion at San Jose]]
| colspan=2 align=center | 1991
|}
== Season structure ==
[[Image:Hhof stanley cup.jpg|thumb|175px|right|[[Stanley Cup]], on display at the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]], is awarded to the league champion.]]
{{details|Season structure of the NHL}}
{{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 [[playoff]]s from April to the beginning of June, which is an elimination tournament where two teams play against each other to win a [[Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven]] series in order to advance to the next round. The final remaining team is crowned the [[Stanley Cup]] 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 (sport)|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).<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL ramps up rivalries |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/schedule_changes.html |author=CBC Sports Online |publisher=CBC.com |date=2005–07–27 |accessdate=2006-06-06}}</ref> The two divisions from the opposite conference which each team plays against are rotated every year, much like [[interleague play]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. 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 (hockey)|overtime]] or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL standings: A simple solution |url=http://www.betus.com/sports-betting/NHL_standings_A_simple_solution-2098.asp |last=Sillinger |first=Shawn |publisher=betus.com |date=2006–05–14 |accessdate=2006-06-06}}</ref> 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 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 [[playoff]]s. 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.<ref name="nhl_playoff_format">{{cite web |publisher=NHL.com |title=Playoff formats |date=2005 |accessdate=2006-06-06 |url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/cup/formats.html}}</ref> The [[Season structure of the NHL|Stanley Cup Playoffs]] is an elimination [[tournament]], where two teams battle to win a [[Playoff format#Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven]] series in order to advance to the next round. 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.<ref name="nhl_playoff_format" /> 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.
In each round the higher-ranked team is said to be the team with the [[Home team|home-ice advantage]]. 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 ==
[[Image:Hhof hart.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Hart Memorial Trophy on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame]]
{{main|National Hockey League awards}}
The National Hockey League presents a number of trophies each year. 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 team that has the most points in the regular season is awarded the [[Presidents' Trophy]]. 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.<ref name="awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=301911 |title=NHL announces 2006–07 trophy finalists |publisher=NHL.com |date=2007–05–01 |accessdate=2007-06-19}}</ref> 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 [[Emmanuel Fernandez|Manny Fernandez]] of the Minnesota Wild respectively.<ref name="awards" />
The other player trophies are voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association or the team general managers.<ref name="awards" /> 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 [[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 [[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.
[[Image:Hockey Hall of Fame.JPG|right|thumb|240px|right|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. 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 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.<ref name="awards" />
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 [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] [[Grey Cup|counterpart]], is unique in this aspect, as opposed to the [[Vince Lombardi Trophy]], [[Larry O'Brien Trophy]], and [[World Series Trophy|Commissioner's Trophy]], who have new ones made every year for that year's champion. 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]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roy on deck for 2006, 'mayhem' in 2007 |publisher=tsn.ca |url=http://www.tsn.ca/classic/news_story.asp?ID=142315&hubName= |author=Canadian Press |date=2005–11–7 |accessdate=2006-06-08}}</ref> 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.<ref name="waiver">{{cite web |title=Wayne Gretzky signs five-year contract as head coach |url=http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com/news/story_details.php?ID=5063 |publisher=phoenixcoyotes.com |author= phoenixcoyotes.com |date=2006–05–31 |accessdate=2006-06-09}}</ref> In 1999, [[Wayne Gretzky]] became the last player to have the three-year restriction waived,<ref name="waiver" /> and after Gretzky's induction, the NHL declared that he would be the last to have the waiting period omitted.
== Notable active players ==
<!-- Please Leave This Message On :: Before adding a player to this list, please consult the talk page to confirm the player meets notability guidelines. -->
[[Image:Wgretz edit2.jpg|180px|thumb|[[Wayne Gretzky]] in a [[New York Rangers]] uniform in 1997.]]
The Reigning [[Hart Trophy]] winner (Given to the league's most valuable player) is [[Alexander Ovechkin]].
The top five point scoring forwards in the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]] were [[Alexander Ovechkin]], [[Evgeni Malkin]], [[Jarome Iginla]] (all current Hart Trophy nominees), [[Pavel Datsyuk]] and [[Joe Thornton]]. The top goal scorer was Alexander Ovechkin with 65,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/app?formids=PropertySelection%2CPropertySelection_0%2CPropertySelection_1%2CPropertySelection_2%2CPropertySelection_3%2CPropertySelection_4%2CPropertySelection_5%2CSubmit&component=reportBuilder.%24SimpleForm&page=Home&service=direct&submitmode=&submitname=&PropertySelection=0&PropertySelection_0=0&PropertySelection_1=0&PropertySelection_2=0&PropertySelection_3=0&PropertySelection_4=0&PropertySelection_5=4&Submit=Get+Stats |title=NHL.com -Stats |publisher=NHL.com |author=NHL.com |accessdate=2008-04-24 |date=2008–04–28}}</ref> followed by [[Ilya Kovalchuk]] (52) and Jarome Iginla (50). The top four scoring defencemen were [[Nicklas Lidström|Nicklas Lidstrom]], [[Sergei Gonchar]], [[Mark Streit]], and [[Brian Campbell]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/app?formids=PropertySelection%2CPropertySelection_0%2CPropertySelection_1%2CPropertySelection_2%2CPropertySelection_3%2CPropertySelection_4%2CPropertySelection_5%2CSubmit&component=reportBuilder.%24SimpleForm&page=Home&service=direct&submitmode=&submitname=&PropertySelection=0&PropertySelection_0=0&PropertySelection_1=0&PropertySelection_2=5&PropertySelection_3=0&PropertySelection_4=0&PropertySelection_5=8&Submit=Get+Stats |title=NHL.com -Stats |publisher=NHL.com |author=NHL.com |accessdate=2008-04-24 |date=2008–04–28}}</ref> and the top goaltenders (by wins) were [[Evgeni Nabokov]] (46), [[Martin Brodeur]] (44), [[Miikka Kiprusoff]] (39), [[Henrik Lundqvist]] (37), and [[Cam Ward]] (37).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/nhlstats/app?formids=PropertySelection%2CPropertySelection_0%2CPropertySelection_1%2CPropertySelection_2%2CPropertySelection_3%2CPropertySelection_4%2CPropertySelection_5%2CSubmit&component=reportBuilder.%24SimpleForm&page=Home&service=direct&submitmode=&submitname=&PropertySelection=0&PropertySelection_0=0&PropertySelection_1=0&PropertySelection_2=6&PropertySelection_3=0&PropertySelection_4=0&PropertySelection_5=1&Submit=Get+Stats |title=NHL.com -Stats |publisher=NHL.com |author=NHL.com |accessdate=2008-04-24 |date=2008–04–28}}</ref>
== 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 [[Eastern Bloc|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]].<ref name="Europe">{{cite web |title=New world order: as the Olympics have shown, the influx of players from across the Atlantic brought changes to the NHL game |publisher=The Sporting News |date=2002–02–25 |accessdate=2006-06-11 |first=Larry |last=Wigge |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_8_226/ai_83450464}}</ref> European players were drafted and signed by NHL teams in an effort to bring in more "skilled offensive players".<ref name="europe2">{{cite web |title=Canadians left behind as NHL goes for firepower |publisher=Canadian Press |date=199–06–27 |accessdate=2006-06-11 |first=Bill |last=Beacon |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/HockeyNHLDraft99/jun27_can.html}}</ref> Although recently there has been a decline in European players as more American players enter the league.<ref name="More Americans?">{{cite web |title=NHL landscape changes |publisher=IIHF |date=2008–05–10 |accessdate=2008-05-13 |first=ANDREW |last=PODNIEKS |url=http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/browse/2/article/nhl-landscape-changes.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=187&cHash=5abfb28b5e/}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Europe" /> 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. <ref name="Canadians Coaching the World">{{cite web |title=Canada's top export: coaches |publisher=IIHF |date=2008–05–08 |accessdate=2008-05-13 |first=RISTO |last=PAKARINEN |url=http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/canadas-top-export-coaches.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=a2631f795d/}}</ref> In [[Winter Olympics|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]]).<ref name="NHLers too Olympics?">{{cite web |title=NHL won’t commit to Olympics beyond ’10 |publisher=NBC Sports |date=2006–02–18 |accessdate=2006-06-11 |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/11406892/}}</ref> Currently the NHL has players from 18 different countries, with the majority (52.0 percent during the [[2007–08 NHL season]]) coming from Canada.<ref name="europe_players">{{cite web |url=http://live82.ihwc.net/english/article/recaps/index.ihwc?artId=2398 |title=NHL still likes Czechs best |author=IWHC.net |publisher=IWHC.net |date=2006–05–16 |accessdate=2006-06-09}}</ref>
For more information about the origins of NHL players, see the [[list of NHL statistical leaders by country]].
== Television and radio ==
In Canada, National Hockey League games are aired nationally by the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] (CBC) and [[The Sports Network]] (TSN). Regional games are broadcast by a number of networks including [[Rogers Sportsnet]] (RSN). French language games are broadcast by the [[Réseau des sports]] (RDS) and [[Réseau Info-Sports]] (RIS), but no longer is on [[Télévision de Radio-Canada|Radio-Canada]] (the French-language counterpart of the CBC), which created a controversy in French-speaking Canada. 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,<ref name="hnic1">{{cite web |author=CBC.ca |publisher=CBC.ca |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/seasoninfo.html |title=HNIC in 2005–06 |date=2005 |accessdate=2006-06-19}}</ref><ref name="hnic2">{{cite web |author=CBC.ca |publisher=CBC.ca |title=Hockey Night in Canada: A history of excellence |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hnic/histrad.html |date=2005 |accessdate=2006-06-19}}</ref> 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 (TV channel)|Versus]] (previously the "Outdoor Life Network" and "OLN"), and by [[NBC]].<ref name="nysun">{{cite web |first=Evan |last=Weiner |publisher=nysun.com |url=http://www.nysun.com/article/34542 |title= Don't Believe the Gripe: The NHL Is Back |date=2006–06–16 |accessdate=2006-06-19}}</ref> NBC replaced the previous over-the-air network, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and has a revenue-sharing agreement with the NHL. 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.<ref name="nysun" /> In addition, select games are broadcast in high definition on the [[HDNet]] cable channel.
[[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.<ref name="nysun" /> For Versus the NHL coverage was a good addition as Versus' [[Nielsen Ratings|ratings]] grew by about 275% when it showed an NHL game,<ref name="nysun" /> but television ratings in the United States have seen record lows.<ref name="cbc_final">{{cite web |title=Post-lockout NHL a success, capped by thrilling seven-game final |first=Pierre |last=Lebrun |url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/sports/060619/s061974.html |publisher=Canadian Press |accessdate=2006-06-19 |date=2006–06–19}}</ref> 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.<ref name="ahn">{{cite web |title=NHL TV Ratings Suffer |first=Christopher |last=Cornell |url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7003815279 |publisher=All Headline news |accessdate=2006-09-20 |date=2006–06–05}}</ref>
The [[2007 Stanley Cup Finals]] were the lowest rated in the United States in history. As a whole, the television ratings on NBC were down 20% from last year's series<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2897126 ESPN - Ratings for Stanley Cup finals down 20 percent - NHL]</ref>, with Game 3's coverage on NBC garnering a mere 1.1 rating<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2007/news/story?id=2894490 ESPN - Game 3 equals NBC's lowest rating ever for prime-time program - NHL]</ref> (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.<ref>{{cite web |title=NHL ratings toppling like dominoes |first=Tom |last=Reed |url=http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/hockey/14828592.htm |publisher=Akron Beacon Journal |accessdate=2006-06-15 |date=2006–06–05}}</ref>
Although 2007 saw low Stanley Cup Finals ratings, the 2008 series between Detroit and Pittsburgh drew one of the highest Stanley cup ratings ever with strong 4.4 as the high overnight rating.
[[XM Satellite Radio]] is the official satellite radio broadcaster of the NHL, as of [[July 1]], [[2007]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=[[XM Satellite Radio]] |date=[[2007-06-28]] |title=XM to Become Exclusive Satellite Radio Carrier of NHL |url=http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1466 |accessdate=2007-06-28}}</ref> 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. Games can also be seen in the UK on [[Five (channel)|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]]. 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. The NHL fan base is also the most affluent and well educated of the four.<ref name="affluent">[http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/bmag/sbsm0408/feature_sports.shtml Champions of the Turnstiles]</ref> NHL season ticket prices have traditionally been higher (given the number of games per season) than the other sports.<ref name="affluent" />
== See also ==
{{Commonscat}}
* [[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]]
* [[List of Black ice hockey players]]
* [[List of Latino ice hockey players]]
* {{cite book |title=Lords of the Rinks |last=Chi-Kit Wong |first=John |year=2005 |isbn=0–8020–8520–2}}
* {{cite book |title=Trail of the Stanley Cup, vols. 1–3 |last=Coleman |first=Charles |year=1966–1969}}
* {{cite book |title=Deceptions and Doublecross |last=Holzman |first=Morey |coauthors=Joseph Nieforth |year=2002 |isbn=1–55002–413–2}}
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
* {{cite book |first=Morey |last=Holzman |coauthors=Joseph Nieforth |title=Deceptions and doublecross : how the NHL conquered hockey |year=2002 |location=Toronto, ON, Canada |publisher=Dundurn Press |isbn=1–55002–413–2}}
* {{cite book |first=Brian |last=McFarlane |title=Brian McFarlane's History of Hockey |year=1997 |location=Champaign, IL |publisher=Sports Publishing Inc |id=ISBN 1–57167–145–5}}
* {{cite web |author=National Hockey League |title=2005–06 NHL Official Rules |url=http://www.nhl.com/rules/index.html |year=2005 |accessdate=2006-06-10 |publisher=NHL.com}}
</div>
== Notes ==
{{Reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.nhl.com/ NHL official website]
* [http://www.nhlpa.com/ NHL Player's Association (NHLPA)]
* [http://www.nhlfa.com/ National Hockey League Fan's Association]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ The Internet Hockey Database]
* [http://www.nhlofficials.com/ The NHL Officials Association Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/NHLVideo NHL on YouTube]
{{NHL}}
{{NAProHockey}}
{{NHL topics}}
[[Category:1917 establishments]]
[[Category:Ice hockey]]
[[Category:National Hockey League]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues]]
[[Category:Sports leagues in Canada]]
[[Category:Sports leagues in the United States]]
{{Link FA|fr}}
{{Link FA|pl}}
{{Link FA|uk}}
[[be-x-old:Нацыянальная хакейная ліга]]
[[bg:Национална хокейна лига]]
[[ca:NHL]]
[[cs:National Hockey League]]
[[da:National Hockey League]]
[[de:National Hockey League]]
[[es:Liga Nacional de Hockey]]
[[fa:لیگ ملی هاکی]]
[[fr:Ligue nationale de hockey]]
[[hr:National Hockey League]]
[[id:National Hockey League]]
[[it:National Hockey League]]
[[he:NHL]]
[[lv:NHL]]
[[lt:NHL]]
[[hu:National Hockey League]]
[[nl:National Hockey League]]
[[ja:NHL]]
[[no:National Hockey League]]
[[pl:National Hockey League]]
[[pt:National Hockey League]]
[[ru:Национальная хоккейная лига]]
[[simple:National Hockey League]]
[[sk:Národná hokejová liga]]
[[sh:NHL]]
[[fi:NHL]]
[[sv:National Hockey League]]
[[tr:National Hockey League]]
[[uk:Національна хокейна ліга]]
[[zh:國家冰上曲棍球聯盟]]