Last Updated on October 10, 2023 by Alex PT
Canada has seven NHL teams. From the days of their first NHL season, the seven teams in Canada are: Vancouver Canucks (1970), Montreal Canadians (1917), Toronto Maple Leafs (1917), Calgary Flames (1980), Ottawa Senators (1992), Winnipeg Jets(2011), and Edmonton Oilers (1979)
List Of NHL Hockey Teams In Canada
We’ve prepared a list of the Canadian hockey teams in the NHL. Let’s go through each of their details.
Montreal Canadiens
1. Retired Numbers: Yvan Cournoyer (12), Henri Richard (16), Elmer Lach (16), Serge Savard (18), Jacques Plantes (1), Doug Harvey (2), Emile Bouchard (3), Bob Gainey (23), Ken Dryden (29), Patrick Roy (33), Jean Beliveau (4), Bernie Geoffrion (5), Guy Lapointe (5), Howie Morenz (7), Maurice Richard (9), Guy Lafleur (10), Dickie Moore (12), Larry Robinson (19)
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 83
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Guy Lafleur 1,246 Goals: Maurice Richard: 544 Assists: Guy Lafleur 728
4. Founded: 1909 as member of NHA; 1917 as part of NHL
5. Arena: Centre Bell 21, 273
6. Stanley Cups: 23
7. Hall of Famers: 55
Ottawa Senators
1. Retired Numbers: Frank Finnigan (8), Daniel Alfredsson (11), Chris Phillips (4)
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 16
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Daniel Alfredsson 1,108 Goals: Daniel Alfredsson 426, Assists: Daniel Alfredsson 682
4. Founded: 1992 (no relation to Ottawa Senators of 1917-34)
5. Arena: Canadian Tire Centre 19,153
6. Stanley Cups: nil
7. Hall of Famers: Dominik Hasek
Toronto Maple Leafs
1. Retired Numbers: Syl Apps (10), George Armstrong (10), Mats Sundin (13), Dave Keon (14), Turk Broda (1), Johnny Bower (1), Hap Day (4), Red Kelly (4), Bill Barilko (5), Ace Bailey (6), Frank Mahovlich (27), Darryl Sittler (27), Doug Gilmour (93), King Clancy (7), Tim Horton (7), Charlie Conacher (9), Ted Kennedy (9), Wendel Clark (17), Borje Salming (21)
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 68
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Mats Sundin 987, Goals: Mats Sundin 420, Assists: Borje Salming 620
4. Founded: 1917 (formerly known as Arenas, and St. Patrick’s)
5. Arena: Scotiabank Arena 18,819
6. Stanley Cups: 13
7. Hall of Famers: 61
Winnipeg Jets
1. Retired Numbers: nil
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 4
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Ilya Kovalchuk 615, Goals: Ilya Kovalchuk 328, Assists: Blake Wheeler 390
4. Founded: 1999 (as Atlanta Thrashers) 2011 Winnipeg Jets
5. Arena: Bell MTS Place, 16,345
6. Stanley Cups: nil
7. Hall of Famers: nil
Vancouver Canucks
1. Retired Numbers: Pavel Bure (10), Stan Smyl (12), Trevor Linden (16), Markus Naslund (19)
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 27
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Henrik Sedin 1,070 Goals: Daniel Sedin 393, Assists: Henrik Sedin 830
4. Founded: 1970
5. Arena: Rogers Arena 18,910
6. Stanley Cups: nil
7. Hall of Famers: Cam Neely, Pavel Bure, Mats Sundin, Igor Larionov, Mark Messier
Calgary Flames
1. Founded: 1972 as Atlanta Flames; first year in Calgary 1980-81
2. Arena: Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289
3. Stanley Cups: 1989
4. Hall of Famers: Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Grant Fuhr, Al MacInnis, Brett Hull, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Sergei Makarov, Martin St. Louis
5. Retired Numbers: Lanny McDonald 9, Jarome Iginla 12, Mike Vernon G
6. NHL Playoff Appearances: 29
7. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Jarome Iginla 1095, Goals: Jarome Iginla 525, Assists: Al MacInnis 609
Edmonton Oilers
1. Retired Numbers: Al Hamilton (3), Paul Coffey (7), Glenn Anderson (9), Mark Messier (11), Jari Kuri (17), Grant Fuhr (31), Wayne Gretzky (99)
2. NHL Playoff Appearances: 21
3. Franchise Scoring Leaders: Points: Wayne Gretzky 1773, Goals: Wayne Gretzky 626, Assists: Wayne Gretzky 1147
4. Founded: 1971 1972-1979 WHA; first NHL season 1979-80
5. Arena: Rogers Place 18,500
6. Stanley Cups: 5 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990
7. Hall of Famers: Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Adam Oates, Jacques Plante, Chris Pronger, Norm Ullman
Defunct Canadian NHL Teams
Some NHL teams in Canada are not in existence anymore. Don’t be surprised to see Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets on this list of defunct Canada NHL teams. That’s because there are another Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets. The old Ottawa Senators existed between 1917-1934. Just so you know, the only the that the newest Ottawa Senators have in common with the old version is the team name. Moving to the Winnipeg Jets! They changed to become the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes.
In 2011, when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, another NHL franchise was given to Winnipeg. These two teams are different and there’s no affiliation between them since they were renamed to the Jets. By the way, before the Senators, Nordiques, and Jets started playing in the NHL, they had played in subsequent leagues. We’ve prepared a list of the dates that explains when these teams started playing in the NHL.
1. Hamilton Tigers (1920-25): Sold their players contracts to New York Americans
2. Winnipeg Jets (1979-1996): Changed location to become Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes
3. Ottawa Senators (1917-1934): Changed location to become the St. Louis Eagles, which later crumbled
4. Quebec Nordiques (1979-1995): Changed location to become the Colorado Avalanche
How Many NHL Teams Are There?
In total, there are 32 teams in the NHL including 25 teams in the United States and 7 teams in Canada. Just as you know, there are two main conferences including Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The Western Conference is made up of two divisions; Pacific and the Central while the Eastern Conference is made up of two divisions; the Atlantic and Metropolitan
Western Conference
1. Central
Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets.
2. Pacific
Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks, and Arizona Coyotes.
Eastern Conference
1. Atlantic
Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
2. Metropolitan
New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals
Benefits of Playing in NHL Teams in Canada
Playing for NHL teams in Canada offers several unique benefits and challenges:
- Passionate Fan Base: Canadian NHL teams enjoy some of the most passionate and dedicated fans in the league. The atmosphere at games is electric, creating an unforgettable experience for players.
- Hockey Tradition: Canada is the birthplace of hockey, and its teams are steeped in tradition. Players have the opportunity to be part of the sport’s rich history.
- International Exposure: Canada’s NHL teams receive significant international attention, contributing to a player’s visibility and marketability on a global scale.
- Competitive Rivalries: Canadian teams have intense rivalries with one another, leading to high-stakes and emotionally charged games that players relish.
- Supportive Communities: Players often find that Canadian cities provide welcoming and supportive communities for themselves and their families.
- Access to Resources: Canadian teams often have state-of-the-art facilities and resources to support player development and wellness.
- Cultural Diversity: Canada’s multicultural cities offer players exposure to diverse cultures and experiences, enriching their personal lives.
- National Pride: Representing a Canadian team can be a source of immense national pride, with fans across the country rallying behind their NHL squads.
Challenges:
- Media Scrutiny: Playing in Canada can mean more media attention, which can be both a benefit and a challenge. Players may face higher expectations and scrutiny.
- Travel Demands: Canada’s vast geography leads to extensive travel, which can be physically demanding for players.
- Weather: Some Canadian cities experience harsh winter weather, which can be a challenge for players who aren’t accustomed to it.
- Taxes: Canada has relatively high taxes, which can affect a player’s take-home income.
Closing Thoughts
There are seven NHL teams in Canada while there are 25 in the United States. Just like we said earlier, nobody loves ice hockey as much as Canada. This country alone has 7 NHL teams, which is more than the number of teams in California. Don’t forget that California has more population than Canada as a country. We’ve reached the closing session of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good and reliable resources in your quest to know about the Canadian hockey teams list with details. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks!
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:National_Hockey_League_teams_based_in_Canada
https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada
