The National Hockey League's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins. It is the forerunner of the NHL's Northeast Division, which later became the Atlantic Division.

Division lineups

1974–1976

Bruins

Sabres

Golden Seals

Maple Leafs

1974-76 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• California Golden Seals
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1973–74 season

• The Adams Division is formed as a result of NHL realignment
• The Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs come from the East Division
• The California Golden Seals come from the West Division

1976–1978

Bruins

Sabres

Barons

Maple Leafs

1976-78 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Cleveland Barons
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1975–76 season

• The California Golden Seals moved to Richfield, Ohio, to become the Cleveland Barons

1978–1979

Bruins

Sabres

North Stars

Maple Leafs

1978-79 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Minnesota North Stars
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1977–78 season

• The Cleveland Barons merge with the Minnesota North Stars. The merged franchise continues as the Minnesota North Stars, but leaves the Smythe Division to assume the Barons' place in the Adams Division to prevent the Adams from dropping to only three teams.

1979–1981

Bruins

Sabres

North Stars

Nordiques

Maple Leafs

1979-81 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Minnesota North Stars
• Quebec Nordiques
• Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1978–79 season

• The Quebec Nordiques are granted entry into the NHL from the World Hockey Association (WHA)

1981–1992

Bruins

Sabres

Whalers

Canadiens

Nordiques

1981-92 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Hartford Whalers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Quebec Nordiques

Changes from the 1980–81 season

• The Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs move to the Norris Division
• The Hartford Whalers and Montreal Canadiens come from the Norris Division

1992–1993

Bruins

Sabres

Whalers

Canadiens

Senators

Nordiques

1992-93 Adams Division Teams

• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Hartford Whalers
• Montreal Canadiens
• Ottawa Senators
• Quebec Nordiques

Changes from the 1991–92 season

• The Ottawa Senators are added as an expansion team

After the 1992–93 season

The league was reformatted into two conferences with two divisions each:

• Eastern Conference
  • Atlantic Division
  • Northeast Division
• Western Conference
  • Central Division
  • Pacific Division

Regular season Division champions

• 1975 – Buffalo Sabres (49–16–15, 113 pts)
• 1976 – Boston Bruins (48–15–17, 113 pts)
• 1977 – Boston Bruins (49–23–8, 106 pts)
• 1978 – Boston Bruins (51–18–11, 113 pts)
• 1979 – Boston Bruins (43–23–14, 100 pts)
• 1980 – Buffalo Sabres (47–17–16, 110 pts)
• 1981 – Buffalo Sabres (39–20–21, 99 pts)
• 1982 – Montreal Canadiens (46–17–17, 109 pts)
• 1983 – Boston Bruins (50–20–10, 110 pts)
• 1984 – Boston Bruins (49–25–6, 104 pts)
• 1985 – Montreal Canadiens (41–27–12, 94 pts)
• 1986 – Quebec Nordiques (43–31–6, 92 pts)
• 1987 – Hartford Whalers (43–30–7, 93 pts)
• 1988 – Montreal Canadiens (45–22–13, 103 pts)
• 1989 – Montreal Canadiens (53–18–9, 115 pts)
• 1990 – Boston Bruins (46–25–9, 101 pts)
• 1991 – Boston Bruins (44–24–12, 100 pts)
• 1992 – Montreal Canadiens (41–28–11, 93 pts)
• 1993 – Boston Bruins (51–26–7, 109 pts)

Season results

Playoff Division champions

• 1982 – Quebec Nordiques
• 1983 – Boston Bruins
• 1984 – Montreal Canadiens
• 1985 – Quebec Nordiques
• 1986 – Montreal Canadiens
• 1987 – Montreal Canadiens
• 1988 – Boston Bruins
• 1989 – Montreal Canadiens
• 1990 – Boston Bruins
• 1991 – Boston Bruins
• 1992 – Boston Bruins
• 1993 – Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup winners produced

• 1986 – Montreal Canadiens
• 1993 – Montreal Canadiens

Presidents' Trophy winners produced

• 1990 – Boston Bruins

Adams Division titles won by team