This is a list of teams that once played in the National Hockey League but no longer exist. This includes franchises which have moved to different cities. The years of operation only reflect the time in which that team was in the NHL; it does not take into account any time in which the franchise operated in another league (such as the World Hockey Association).
First | First year in the NHL |
Last | Last year in the NHL |
Record | Win–loss–tie–overtime record |
Win% | Winning percentage |
PA | NHL (1918–1926) / Stanley Cup playoff (1927–present) appearances |
SC | Stanley Cup wins |
* | Denotes active franchise |
^ | City would later receive a new franchise |
Team | First | Last | Relocated to | Seasons | Record | Win% | PA | SC | Reason for relocation/disbandment | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Montreal Wanderers | 1917 | 1918[g] | Defunct | 1 | 1–5–0 | .167 | 0 | 0 | Lack of available players due to World War I and arena burned down[1] | [2] |
Quebec Bulldogs^ | 1919 | 1920 | Hamilton Tigers | 1 | 4–20–0 | .167 | 0 | 0 | Sold to a Hamilton-based company[3] | [4] |
Hamilton Tigers | 1920 | 1925 | Defunct | 5 | 47–78–1 | .377 | 0 | 0 | Ceased operations due to players' strike; players were bought by the New York Americans.[5] | [6] |
Pittsburgh Pirates^[a] | 1925 | 1930 | Philadelphia Quakers | 5 | 67–122–23 | .370 | 2 | 0 | Financial problems during the Great Depression[7] | [8] |
Philadelphia Quakers^ | 1930 | 1931 | Defunct | 1 | 4–36–4 | .136 | 0 | 0 | Financial problems during the Great Depression[7] | [9] |
Ottawa Senators^[b] | 1917 | 1934 | St. Louis Eagles | 16[h] | 258–221–63 | .534 | 9 | 4 | Financial problems during the Great Depression[10] | [11] |
St. Louis Eagles^ | 1934 | 1935 | Defunct | 1 | 11–31–6 | .292 | 0 | 0 | Financial problems during the Great Depression[12] | [13] |
Montreal Maroons | 1924 | 1938 | Defunct | 14 | 271–260–91 | .509 | 11 | 2 | Financial problems during the Great Depression[14] | [15] |
Brooklyn Americans^[c] | 1925 | 1942 | Defunct | 17 | 255–402–127 | .406 | 5 | 0 | Financial problems, plus lack of players due to World War II; formally ceased in 1946.[16] | [17] |
California Golden Seals^[d] | 1967 | 1976 | Cleveland Barons | 9 | 182–401–115 | .343 | 2 | 0 | In search of better financial conditions; Cleveland is the hometown of minority owner George Gund III.[18] | [19] |
Kansas City Scouts | 1974 | 1976 | Colorado Rockies | 2 | 27–110–23 | .241 | 0 | 0 | Financial problems; sold to a group of investors with the intention to move.[20] | [21] |
Cleveland Barons | 1976 | 1978 | Minnesota North Stars (merge) | 2 | 47–87–26 | .375 | 0 | 0 | Both teams with financial problems. To date, the Barons are the last NHL franchise to cease operations.[22] | [19] |
Atlanta Flames^ | 1972 | 1980 | Calgary Flames* | 8 | 268–260–108 | .506 | 6 | 0 | Financial problems; sold to Nelson Skalbania with the intention to move to Calgary.[23] | [24] |
Colorado Rockies^[e] | 1976 | 1982 | New Jersey Devils* | 6 | 113–281–86 | .325 | 0 | 0 | Sold to John McMullen in search of better financial conditions; New Jersey is McMullen's home state.[25] | [21] |
Minnesota North Stars^ | 1967 | 1993 | Dallas Stars* | 26 | 758–970–334 | .449 | 17 | 0 | In search of better financial conditions.[26][27] | [28] |
Quebec Nordiques | 1979 | 1995 | Colorado Avalanche* | 16 | 497–599–160 | .459 | 9 | 0 | Financial problems; sold to a Denver-based group.[29] | [30] |
Winnipeg Jets^[f] | 1979 | 1996 | Arizona Coyotes* | 17 | 506–660–172 | .442 | 11 | 0 | Sold to a group of investors with the intention to move in search of better financial conditions.[31] | [32] |
Hartford Whalers | 1979 | 1997 | Carolina Hurricanes* | 18 | 534–709–177 | .438 | 8 | 0 | In search of better financial conditions.[33] | [34] |
Atlanta Thrashers | 1999 | 2011 | Winnipeg Jets* | 11[i] | 342–437–45–78 | .447 | 1 | 0 | Financial problems; sold to a Winnipeg-based company TNSE. | [35] |